four or more legged friends
Week of Unbearable Losses for Hungarian Zoos
Remember all the wailing and bleeting that followed the recent death in Germany of celebrity polar bear "Knut"? Well, now it's our turn.
A few days ago a 23-year-old female polar bear named "Bimba" - who arrived at the Budapest Zoo only a month ago - was unexpectedly diagnosed with liver cancer and had to be put to sleep. Bimba had been brought to Budapest as part of the polar bear European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) managed by EAZA, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.
Meanwhile, "Gabi," a 25-year-old brown bear at the Miskolc Zoo, also had to be put to sleep earlier this week due to several chronic diseases.
Pretty sad, no? And now just consider that, unlike with Knut, no one seems to give a crap. :(
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COMMENT!I totally give a crap............how sad to loose
these beautiful creatures!
Am sad too, how do we help them? do the zoos have
enough funding? hope some wealthy funds or
individuals are helping their financing
Guess Knut was popular because he was showcased as a
baby..
I am a member of a group of KNUT-addicted friends can guarantee you, we are so very sorry because of the losses of your precious and I am convinced also so very much loved animals. Feel virtually hugged all you animal lovers and especially bear- lovers and -keepers in Hungaria.
All animal lovers and especially bear lovers care very much! We who loved Knut also love each and every bear in our world community and are very much saddened by the deaths of Bimba and Gabi. Our condolences to all of you in Hungary who loved and cared for these wonderful bears.
Sarsam
Bimba's death does hurt us! She is the mother of Giovanna who also won the hearts of all Knut fans while staying with him in Berlin and who now lives happily in Munich.
And the loss of Gabi is sad also.
May both bears be always remembered as what they are: precious members of the Bear Clan.
I wonder if these bears were fed fresh live fish or just pulverized fish meal prepared via extrusion via a Romanian fish farm?
I am very sad too about your loss of those beautiful and beloved bears.Bears are special, not only Knut,whom I loved, but all of them!
Many bear hugs
A direct correlation between world population growth and the loss of habitat and wilderness health. The population of the world needs to be controlled. You think these bear examples are bad? The same thing is happening to the human population of the world. Higher populations = detriment to all living humans. Total world population should never be more than about 4 billion. There is no religious, political or natural reason to overpopulate the Earth...
As many of the other Knut and bear friends, I definitely do give a crap! When we heard last year that Pistoia was planning to give up their polar bears, many of us worried what was going to become of her. To hear now that she died so shortly after being resettled, makes we very sad. Moreover, I know of a man in Pistoia who had cared for Bimba for many years who will be devastated.
Gabi I did not know, yet her death does does not leave me untouched. Recently one begins to wonder why illnesses are not recognized and zoo-kept animals appear to die at relatively young ages so frequently lately. We all know a zoo director who considers the death of animals daily routine regardless of their age. That is something most animal friends can and will not ever agree upon.
May both bears rest in peace.
