Female polar bear killed at Detroit Zoo by male companion

Detroit Zoo officials said they're in mourning after a female polar bear was killed by the Zoo’s adult male bear on Monday, February 8, 2021.

Anana, 20, died when Nuka, 16, was attempting to breed with her.

Her death was a shock, according to Detroit Zoological Society Chief Life Sciences Officer Scott Carter, who said the two bears had lived together without incident in 2020.

“This was completely unexpected and the Detroit Zoo staff is devastated by the loss of Anana in this sudden and tragic event,” Carter said.

He added the Detroit Zoo has not experienced the killing of one animal by another animal in decades; the last occurrence was also with polar bears in 1988.

After being apart for several months, Nuka and Anana were re-introduced last week as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Polar Bear Species Survival Plan, a cooperative population management and conservation program that helps ensure the sustainability of healthy captive animal populations. This program is vital to sustaining this endangered species and can result in successes like the recent birth of twin cubs, fathered by Nuka at the Detroit Zoo. Currently there are only about 55 polar bears in 25 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums.

Nuka has lived at the Detroit Zoo since 2011 and has lived with, and bred with, several other female bears without showing harmful behavior. Anana came to the Detroit Zoo in January, 2020, and was introduced to Nuka at the end of March.

Global warming has destroyed much of their natural habitat, leaving only an estimated 31,000 polar bears in the world.

Meanwhile the Detroit Zoo’s other adult female polar bear, Suka, is safe in a private maternity den with one of her cubs. The zoo recently released photos of its latest addition -- two soft-and sweet-looking cubs.

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Two polar bear cubs born at the Detroit Zoo [PHOTOS+VIDEO]

The Detroit Zoological Society – a renowned leader in humane education, wildlife conservation, animal welfare and environmental sustainability – operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. With an annual regional economic impact of more than $167 million, the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak is one of Michigan’s largest paid family attractions, hosting more than 1.3 million visitors annually.

Its 125 acres of award-winning naturalistic habitats are home to 2,800 animals representing 239 species.

The Arctic Ring of Life, which houses the polar bears, is one of the zoo's most popular attractions.

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