Snow, Reid Park Zoo’s 17-year-old polar bear, has died.
The bear was found by her zookeeper this morning in its usual sleeping area.Snow was in her normal sleeping position and there were no obvious signs of trauma, zoo officials posted on the Facebook page today.
While the 500-pound Snow had chronic health issues, she was improving and had eaten well and was swimming on Sunday.
Snow had been at the zoo since February, and the sun had seemed to improve her itchy, patchy pelt from skin allergies.
Snow and her twin brother, Klondike, were born at the Denver Zoo but were transferred to SeaWorld Orlando at the age of 1, when they outgrew their exhibit.
Snow's exhibit at SeaWorld was entirely indoors with artificial lighting and faux landscaping. Snow also suffered from the bone-weakening disease rickets.
