Inuka, the only polar bear born in the tropical region has died in Singapore at the age of 27. The bear died after the decline in its health over the past five years. Reportedly, the animal lived two years more than the average lifespan of the creatures in captivity. Inuka which means 'Silent Stalker' was known for his playful nature, however in the later period of his life was inactive due to arthritis.

An examination at the start of this month revealed that his health was deteriorating substantially. He had trouble supporting his body after the weakening of his limbs along with dental issues and ear infections. Despite proper treatment, his health refused to improve, and thus they decided not to revive him from anaesthesia. Inuka over the years had become less interested in daily activities and stopped showing interest in his playing sessions.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore shared the news of his death on Facebook. The animal being quite popular, social media is pouring in with messages from mourning animal lovers.

Here is the Facebook post:

Inuka was born on December 26, 1990. His father Nanook was from the wild in Canada and mother Sheeba was from a German zoo. In 2006, the Singaporean zoo decided not to keep any more polar bears after Inuka. The bear's presence in Singapore has been a subject of controversy animal rights activists.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), only 22,000 polar bears remain in the wild now. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies them as a vulnerable species. Polar bears are typically found in cold regions like Canada and Russia which is their natural habitat.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 25, 2018 01:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).