APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — The Minnesota Zoo said goodbye to one of its most beloved family members this week, announcing the 17-year-old brown bear died after suffering from liver cancer.
A Facebook post by the zoo said Kenai, the largest of its three brown bears, was in the late stages of the disease when he passed.
"This is a hard loss for our staff and the Zoo as a whole," the post read. "Kenai was an important ambassador for his wild counterparts and his presence will be dearly missed."
The zoo said Kenai came to Minnesota by way of Alaska, where he was found orphaned in 2006. Two other bears, Sadie and Haines, were also found orphaned earlier that year and the three were ultimately brought together at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
In 2008, the bears were transferred to Minnesota, where zoo staff said they'd behaved as if they were siblings for the last 15-plus years.
"Although unrelated, they acted in many ways like siblings, with Kenai being lovingly referred to as the laid back 'little brother' – always willing to tag along with Haines and let Sadie be the unquestioned leader of their group," the post said.
The Minnesota Zoo said it will provide "expert and compassionate care" to Saide and Haines, who are currently in a light stage of winter hibernation.
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