Allison Carter

allison.carter@indystar.com

Tundra, a polar bear who previously was on display at the Indianapolis Zoo, has died less than four months after she was moved to the Detroit Zoo.

According to Facebook statements from the two zoos, Tundra became seriously ill on Sunday. According to the Detroit Zoo, the cause of her illness was not immediately apparent. Staff stayed with the polar bear through the night, but by morning, her condition had not improved and veterinarians "made the difficult but humane decision to euthanize her to prevent further suffering."

Her exact cause of death is currently unknown, but a necropsy — the animal equivalent of an autopsy — will be performed.

Tundra was 29 years old. In the wild, polar bears might live 20-30 years, but in captivity, they can live to be 38.

The polar bear was transferred to the Detroit Zoo in June. The Indianapolis polar bear habitat, while safe, would have needed to be upgraded within five years, and Tundra was getting older. Guests noted that the aging polar bear wasn't as active as she once was, especially during the hot Indiana summers.

Zoo officials chose the Detroit Zoo as the best location for Tundra based on its "large spaces and pools with easy slopes for Tundra to enter and exit the water, especially as she gets older," according to an email sent to members.

Indianapolis Zoo says farewell to polar bear

Tundra was born at the San Diego Zoo in 1986. She moved to Indianapolis in 1988, when the zoo's new location in White River State Park opened.

Allison Carter is an engagement producer at IndyStar. Follow her on Twitter: @AllisonLCarter.

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