The Seneca Park Zoo says it’s celebrating the life of Aurora, its female polar bear who died this week at the age of 28.
Aurora was born at a zoo in Utah and came to Rochester in 1991. Since then, she’s been a star at Seneca Park and inspired action on behalf of polar bears in the wild.
Zoo Director Larry Sorel says a necropsy showed the bear was suffering from liver failure and a compromised gall bladder. Most bears in zoos live an average of 24 years.
Zoo officials say Aurora’s health began to decline in recent weeks and finally the decision was made to euthanize her.