A papa polar bear to several captive-born zoo cubs has died.
Marty, one of the fixtures at the Toledo Zoo's Arctic Encounter exhibit since arriving from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in 1999, was put to sleep last Thursday. He was less than a month shy of his 25th birthday, the life expectancy of male captive-born polar bears, according to Michael Frushour, Toledo Zoo curator of mammals.
The big fella's demise, while sad, was expected.
A couple of years ago, Marty was diagnosed with what Mr. Frushour described as "age-related kidney disease."
"We knew there would come a day in which his kidneys would eventually fail," he said.
Marty hadn't been eating as much and wasn't as active as he'd been in the past.
"The urine sample showed us his kidneys were not functioning well at all," Mr. Frushour said.
So while zoo officials had the mighty bear sedated for an exam, they agreed his kidneys were so far gone that it was time to euthanize him.
Marty's legacy will be in passing along polar bear genes to the next generation, so more people can be inspired to learn about the plight of polar bears in general as Earth's climate continues to warm and the struggles of that species continues in the wild.
Unlike polar bears in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, those at the Toledo Zoo live in a controlled environment, complete with air-conditioned units, cool year-round water, and plenty of food.
"In the zoos, we're able to facilitate any need that they have," Mr. Frushour said.
They are ambassadors for their species, though, and Mr. Frushour said Marty was a good one.
"He definitely inspired a lot of people," he said.
Marty and the Toledo Zoo's captive female polar bear, Crystal, who hails from Belgium, had several cubs together. He might have sired another one with her before he died, Mr. Frushour said.
The zoo is waiting to see if the two produced another cub during the recently completed mating season, he said.
"They were a very prolific breeding pair," Mr. Frushour said.
The zoo hopes to replace Marty with another male polar bear, although this upcoming cub for Crystal — if she is indeed pregnant — could be her last because of her age. She turns 23 this week.
Born in late 1996, Marty first came to the Toledo Zoo from Chicago in 1999.
In 2007 he went to the Pittsburgh Zoo for a year, and came back to the Toledo Zoo in 2008.
Marty, one of the fixtures at the Toledo Zoo's Arctic Encounter exhibit since arriving from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in 1999, was put to sleep last Thursday. He was less than a month shy of his 25th birthday, the life expectancy of male captive-born polar bears, according to Michael Frushour, Toledo Zoo curator of mammals.
The big fella's demise, while sad, was expected.
A couple of years ago, Marty was diagnosed with what Mr. Frushour described as "age-related kidney disease."
"We knew there would come a day in which his kidneys would eventually fail," he said.
Marty hadn't been eating as much and wasn't as active as he'd been in the past.
"The urine sample showed us his kidneys were not functioning well at all," Mr. Frushour said.
So while zoo officials had the mighty bear sedated for an exam, they agreed his kidneys were so far gone that it was time to euthanize him.
Marty's legacy will be in passing along polar bear genes to the next generation, so more people can be inspired to learn about the plight of polar bears in general as Earth's climate continues to warm and the struggles of that species continues in the wild.
Unlike polar bears in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, those at the Toledo Zoo live in a controlled environment, complete with air-conditioned units, cool year-round water, and plenty of food.
"In the zoos, we're able to facilitate any need that they have," Mr. Frushour said.
They are ambassadors for their species, though, and Mr. Frushour said Marty was a good one.
"He definitely inspired a lot of people," he said.
Marty and the Toledo Zoo's captive female polar bear, Crystal, who hails from Belgium, had several cubs together. He might have sired another one with her before he died, Mr. Frushour said.
The zoo is waiting to see if the two produced another cub during the recently completed mating season, he said.
"They were a very prolific breeding pair," Mr. Frushour said.
The zoo hopes to replace Marty with another male polar bear, although this upcoming cub for Crystal — if she is indeed pregnant — could be her last because of her age. She turns 23 this week.
Born in late 1996, Marty first came to the Toledo Zoo from Chicago in 1999.
In 2007 he went to the Pittsburgh Zoo for a year, and came back to the Toledo Zoo in 2008.
A papa polar bear to several captive-born zoo cubs has died.
Marty, one of the fixtures at the Toledo Zoo's Arctic Encounter exhibit since arriving from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in 1999, was put to sleep last Thursday. He was less than a month shy of his 25th birthday, the life expectancy of male captive-born polar bears, according to Michael Frushour, Toledo Zoo curator of mammals.
The big fella's demise, while sad, was expected.
A couple of years ago, Marty was diagnosed with what Mr. Frushour described as "age-related kidney disease."
"We knew there would come a day in which his kidneys would eventually fail," he said.
Marty hadn't been eating as much and wasn't as active as he'd been in the past.
"The urine sample showed us his kidneys were not functioning well at all," Mr. Frushour said.
So while zoo officials had the mighty bear sedated for an exam, they agreed his kidneys were so far gone that it was time to euthanize him.
Marty's legacy will be in passing along polar bear genes to the next generation, so more people can be inspired to learn about the plight of polar bears in general as Earth's climate continues to warm and the struggles of that species continues in the wild.
Unlike polar bears in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, those at the Toledo Zoo live in a controlled environment, complete with air-conditioned units, cool year-round water, and plenty of food.
"In the zoos, we're able to facilitate any need that they have," Mr. Frushour said.
They are ambassadors for their species, though, and Mr. Frushour said Marty was a good one.
"He definitely inspired a lot of people," he said.
Marty and the Toledo Zoo's captive female polar bear, Crystal, who hails from Belgium, had several cubs together. He might have sired another one with her before he died, Mr. Frushour said.
The zoo is waiting to see if the two produced another cub during the recently completed mating season, he said.
"They were a very prolific breeding pair," Mr. Frushour said.
The zoo hopes to replace Marty with another male polar bear, although this upcoming cub for Crystal — if she is indeed pregnant — could be her last because of her age. She turns 23 this week.
Born in late 1996, Marty first came to the Toledo Zoo from Chicago in 1999.
In 2007 he went to the Pittsburgh Zoo for a year, and came back to the Toledo Zoo in 2008.
Marty, one of the fixtures at the Toledo Zoo's Arctic Encounter exhibit since arriving from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in 1999, was put to sleep last Thursday. He was less than a month shy of his 25th birthday, the life expectancy of male captive-born polar bears, according to Michael Frushour, Toledo Zoo curator of mammals.
The big fella's demise, while sad, was expected.
A couple of years ago, Marty was diagnosed with what Mr. Frushour described as "age-related kidney disease."
"We knew there would come a day in which his kidneys would eventually fail," he said.
Marty hadn't been eating as much and wasn't as active as he'd been in the past.
"The urine sample showed us his kidneys were not functioning well at all," Mr. Frushour said.
So while zoo officials had the mighty bear sedated for an exam, they agreed his kidneys were so far gone that it was time to euthanize him.
Marty's legacy will be in passing along polar bear genes to the next generation, so more people can be inspired to learn about the plight of polar bears in general as Earth's climate continues to warm and the struggles of that species continues in the wild.
Unlike polar bears in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, those at the Toledo Zoo live in a controlled environment, complete with air-conditioned units, cool year-round water, and plenty of food.
"In the zoos, we're able to facilitate any need that they have," Mr. Frushour said.
They are ambassadors for their species, though, and Mr. Frushour said Marty was a good one.
"He definitely inspired a lot of people," he said.
Marty and the Toledo Zoo's captive female polar bear, Crystal, who hails from Belgium, had several cubs together. He might have sired another one with her before he died, Mr. Frushour said.
The zoo is waiting to see if the two produced another cub during the recently completed mating season, he said.
"They were a very prolific breeding pair," Mr. Frushour said.
The zoo hopes to replace Marty with another male polar bear, although this upcoming cub for Crystal — if she is indeed pregnant — could be her last because of her age. She turns 23 this week.
Born in late 1996, Marty first came to the Toledo Zoo from Chicago in 1999.
In 2007 he went to the Pittsburgh Zoo for a year, and came back to the Toledo Zoo in 2008.
