Wednesday 6 July 2016

The Saddest Polar Bear In The World Has Died

Thousands petitioned to have Arturo released from his concrete cage in an Argentinian zoo.

Arturo, a 30-year-old polar bear who was living alone in an Argentinian zoo, has sadly died.

Afp / AFP / Getty Images

He appeared to have already been suffering for some time. He was blind in his right eye, lost a lot of weight in the months up to his death, and his sense of smell had faded.

The bear was brought to Argentina in 1993. He spent his life in Mendoza, a city where average temperatures can reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celcius).

Greenpeace had argued it was inhumane to keep him there, and had spearheaded a petition to remove the animal to Canada. However, zoo officials fought hard to keep Arturo, saying he was "close to his keepers", the BBC reported.