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A polar bear known as “the saddest in the world” after his mate passed away has died at a zoo despite attempts to find him a better home.

Arturo, the last captive polar bear in Argentina, died on Sunday in Mendoza at the age of 31.

He had lived in the zoo since the age of eight, but environmental campaign group Greenpeace had said his living conditions were inappropriate.

It was claimed he was forced to live in sweltering heat and that he had become depressed when his long-term mate Peulsa died in 2012.

A campaign backed by singer Cher was launched to have him moved to Canada, with a petition two years ago getting more than 700,000 signatures.

However, authorities at the zoo said he was too old to be moved safely.

Greenpeace spokesman Soledad Sede said: “We hope that he will be the last polar bear to be held in a zoo in our country.

"We hope that his case will oblige the authorities to review the state of other exotic species still living in the same situation."