SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A polar bear brought to SeaWorld San Diego when the park's "Wild Arctic" exhibit opened in the late 1990s died Tuesday.
Park officials said a necropsy will be performed to determine a cause of death for Szenja, a 21-year-old female.
Park officials said caregivers and veterinary staff noticed a loss of appetite and energy in the bear over the past week and were monitoring her condition. Even still, her death was unexpected, according to park officials.
The average lifespan of a polar bear varies depending on the source. SeaWorld cites Polar Bears International's estimate of 15-18 years in the wild, though a small percentage can range up to 30 years or so.
"Szenja was a beloved member of our animal family, so this is a very difficult day for all of us," said Al Garver, the park's vice president of zoological operations.
"Szenja not only touched the hearts of those who have cared for her over the last two decades, but also the millions of guests who had a chance to see her in person," Garver said. "We're proud to have been a part of her life and to know that she inspired people from around the world to want to protect polar bears in the wild."
SeaWorld estimated that around 50 million visitors have seen Szenja at the exhibit over the years. She was also the subject of studies into polar bear hearing sensitivity, social habits, reproductive hormones and seasonal behavior patterns.
Szenja was born at the Wuppertal Zoo, near Dusseldorf, Germany, in October 1995, and was brought to San Diego two years later.
