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Credit RZSS<\/p>\nThe body of the UK\u2019s oldest polar bear has been donated to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh for scientific research.<\/p>\n
Polar bear Victoria died last month aged 28, at her home at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland\u2019s (RZSS) Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore.<\/p>\n
The wildlife conservation charity\u2019s experts carried out an on-site post mortem, which established that the 400kg bear had \u201cadvanced arthritis in her limbs and spine\u201d.<\/p>\n
Victoria\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The Museum\u2019s previous research on bear skeletons, conducted to establish the effect of arthritis on limbs, had informed end-of-life care for Victoria.<\/p>\n
An RZSS spokesman said: \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cVarious blood, tissue and organ samples have been preserved for research by RZSS, while her remains are now in the collections of National Museums Scotland.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Nick Fraser, Keeper of Natural Sciences at National Museums Scotland, said: \u201cOur natural science collections form an invaluable resource for current and future researchers in Scotland and across the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She was transported to the Highland Wildlife Park in 2015 as a mate for resident male Arktos.<\/p>\n
They produced the UK\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Her third and last cub, Brodie, born in 2021, remains at the Highland Wildlife Park.<\/p>\n
The decision for Victoria to be \u201cput to sleep\u201d was taken following advice from RZSS vets, \u201ctaking into account her quality of life and wellbeing\u201d.<\/p>\n
Keepers said 28 years-old was the equivalent of her being in her 90s in human years.<\/p>\n
Following her death, RZSS said in a statement: \u201cWith only a small percentage of polar bears living past 18 in the wild, at 28, Victoria\u2019s age is testament to the world class care she received from her keepers and veterinary team.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Credit RZSS<\/p>\n
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