Highland Wildlife Park Polar bear Mercedes put to sleep

Sad news indeed, if not entirely unexpected. At least with Walker now in place the days of Polar Bears in public British zoos did not die with her and she left a legacy of by all accounts an excellent enclosure for her successors.
 
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This is devastating news indeed for everybody. She has the distinction of being the first and so far only polar bear that I have seen, and polar bears are a species that I had wanted to see for about 19 years before I finally got the chance to see her and watch her at Highlands last June.

That marks two well known and well loved individuals that the zoo world has lost this week - absolutely heartbreaking :(
 
Javan Rhino said:
This is devastating news indeed for everybody. She has the distinction of being the first and so far only polar bear that I have seen, and polar bears are a species that I had wanted to see for about 19 years before I finally got the chance to see her and watch her at Highlands last June.

That marks two well known and well loved individuals that the zoo world has lost this week - absolutely heartbreaking :(
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It is indeed, at least Mercedes lived to a good old age,unlike the little lad at Twycross who was only eighteen months old, I never got to the Highland Wildlife Park to see her in her new home, I wish now I had.
 
The loss of a great animal in the UK zoo scene; condolences to the many staff, visitors and volunteers who've known her for many years. :( As Maguari said, a legacy founder for a future of better polar bear welfare.
 
It was a real privelege to see her romping about in the snow at HWP over the past couple of years. Amazing animal who will be terribly missed - she's usually my first stop at HWP once through the first reserve :(
 
It is sad to hear she has passed away, but comfort should be drawn from the fact that she did have a very long and happy life. I've sent my sympathies to all the keepers and staff that have cared for Mercedes through the years, and shared some of my photos of her. It was a pleasure to have had the opportunity to see such a magnificent animal and she will be missed.
 
this is really sad news. i never got to see her in her new home, but i was hoping to make the trip up north later this year.

fantastic photos, lesley, she looks so happy.
 
It is very sad, but her death , in a way, marks a new era for Polar Bear keeping in the UK , on a much smaller scale of course than before, but Highland can now lead the way. A new female will be sure to follow to join "Walker" in due course. RZSS have been trying to put off the inevitable, and difficult, decision to euthanase her on veterinary grounds.
 
Nanook, your final comment about the "RZSS have been trying to put off the inevitable decision to euthanse her on veterinary grounds" I find rather odd. Before I comment further, are you suggesting that RZSS have been compromising her welfare by not euthanasing Mercedes sooner for non-veterinary reasons?
 
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