The body of the UK’s oldest polar bear has been donated to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh for scientific research.
Polar bear Victoria died last month aged 28, at her home at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore.
The wildlife conservation charity’s experts carried out an on-site post mortem, which established that the 400kg bear had “advanced arthritis in her limbs and spine”.
Victoria’s blood, tissue, ovaries, serum and liver have now been preserved for research by RZSS and other organisations, while her body was transported to Edinburgh for National Museums Scotland.
The Museum’s previous research on bear skeletons, conducted to establish the effect of arthritis on limbs, had informed end-of-life care for Victoria.
An RZSS spokesman said: “We undertake postmortem examinations of all our animals on site as standard. With Victoria we were able to establish that she had advanced arthritis in her limbs and spine.
“Various blood, tissue and organ samples have been preserved for research by RZSS, while her remains are now in the collections of National Museums Scotland.”
Dr Nick Fraser, Keeper of Natural Sciences at National Museums Scotland, said: “Our natural science collections form an invaluable resource for current and future researchers in Scotland and across the world.
“The development of a collection such as ours over centuries enables scientists to study developments in animal populations over those periods, and to apply new techniques as they emerge to learn more.”
Victoria was born at Rostock Zoo in Germany on 12 December 1996, and had her first cub, a female named Malik, in 2008 at Aalborg Zoo in Denmark.
She was transported to the Highland Wildlife Park in 2015 as a mate for resident male Arktos.
They produced the UK’s first polar bear cub in 25 years in December 2017. The cub, named Hamish, went to live with a group of other young males at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in November 2020, just weeks before his third birthday.
Her third and last cub, Brodie, born in 2021, remains at the Highland Wildlife Park.
The decision for Victoria to be “put to sleep” was taken following advice from RZSS vets, “taking into account her quality of life and wellbeing”.
Keepers said 28 years-old was the equivalent of her being in her 90s in human years.
Following her death, RZSS said in a statement: “With only a small percentage of polar bears living past 18 in the wild, at 28, Victoria’s age is testament to the world class care she received from her keepers and veterinary team.
“She leaves an incredible legacy through her cubs who play an essential role in the European breeding programme, which ensures a healthy and genetically diverse population of these bears living in human care.”
Credit RZSS
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