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World’s Saddest Polar Bear Dies After 22 Years In Argentina’s Zoo
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World’s Saddest Polar Bear Dies After 22 Years In Argentina’s Zoo

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On July 3, Arturo, the “World’s saddest polar bear,” died at the age of 30 after 22 years of captivity at the Mendoza Zoological Park in Argentina.

Arturo’s living conditions made him go “insane.” He often exhibited behavior such as repetitive movements that usually showcase the stress of captivity. Hundreds of thousands of people petitioned to rescue him from the horrible conditions he was living in (Argentina is not the best place for a polar bear, after all), but the zoo refused to let him go. You were deprived of everything a polar bear is supposed to experience but may you rest in peace, Arturo. You’re finally free.

More info: Facebook (h/t: thedodo)

“Arturo spent a lifetime in conditions that I think would be inherently stressful and unkind to him as an animal”

“Every part of a polar bear’s body is designed for snow, for ice, for predatory habits and roaming huge distances”

“For 30 years Arturo was deprived of it,” explained Barry MacKay who tried to have Arturo relocated to a zoo in Canada

“I hope that we can put an end to keeping these animals in environments that aren’t good for them”

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May you rest in peace, Arturo. You’re finally free

Watch the video here:

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Julija Televičiūtė

Julija Televičiūtė

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Crazy in love with my sweet rescue pup https://www.instagram.com/rescueshepskybella/

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Julija Televičiūtė

Julija Televičiūtė

Author, Community member

Crazy in love with my sweet rescue pup https://www.instagram.com/rescueshepskybella/

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cooley_bird52 avatar
Barbara Jamison Cooley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I couldn't even watch him in this video all the way through. I am sick that people let him suffer so. I don't go to Zoos, or Circuses any more. Just too sad for the animals that are there.

lisswest100 avatar
larissa west
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow this video shows this poor polar bear in stress yet the zoo does nothing about it... What is this world why are humans so selfish? Cant we change the way humans treat animals... We need to sue this zoo. Who is with me?

lyone_fein avatar
Lyone Fein
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do we treat so many animals this way? We are the cruelist, most selfish species.

susanfri2009 avatar
Susan Davies
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shunning zoos and circuses is just a start. We need strong, enforceable international laws for the protection of animals, endangered or not. This was 22 years of captivity torture, and people went every day and looked at it for entertainment, watching the animal go crazy. For 22 years. And other people were paid to keep it there. Shame on Argentina, what a terrible, cruel, backward country.

ramoratz avatar
Ruth Moratz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. I avoid zoos, circuses and any place that uses animals as a form of entertainment and do my best to educate others. Sadly, most people are selfish, and only care about themselves and having fun, even at the expense of others.

Load More Replies...
kathinka avatar
Katinka Min
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate zoos with exotic animals and I despise people who pay money to watch suffering animals in zoos (and sea worlds). They are psychopaths - and raising their kids to be the same! No person with a sane mind and a shred of empathy would enjoy watching this kind of suffering. 22 years. My God.

sumaeid1974 avatar
MadameButterfly
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rest in peace beautiful soul,you are free now,may the owners of the zoo never find a moment of peace!! :,(

maggiemoonbeam avatar
maggiemoonbeam
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bless his big bear heart. I hope he has found peace at last. And, though I doubt that any of us could use the zoo we can certainly mount a shame campaign against the people who denied Barry MacKay's request to relocate him to Canada. It should be easy to find out who they are. But nothing can give Arturo his life, a better life, back. My heart breaks for you, magnificent bear.

maggiemoonbeam avatar
maggiemoonbeam
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry I didn't proofread -- I meant that I doubted we could SUE the zoo, not USE the zoo. My apologies. Bloody autocorrect!

Load More Replies...
christi-anelang avatar
Christie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is soooooooo sad. 22 years!! Oh s**t! What creatures are we!!! S**t. Blame on all of us f*****g humanes!!!

ramoratz avatar
Ruth Moratz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This post keeps popping up and it makes me sadder each time I see it. This zoo and the people who watched him suffer there are the very definition of evil, sick and selfish.

barbie_mcmurray avatar
Barbie Mcmurray
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well i have to put it like it is Argentina is on my s___ list!!! i will not be visiting there, How could so called humans be so cruel? What about the other animals. Ithink the wrong animals are in the cages. Hopefully a dying breed.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor thing!!! You see the bear acting like that but still won't let him go, WTF!!!! Them human ain't shyt!!!

katayoonfeizizadeh avatar
Kat Phase
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How would those responsible like it if they were forced to live in a fridge for 30 years????

baruskad avatar
Barča Dvořáková
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zoo like this is the hell, not the place to animals live!!! I understand there is many creatures which can live only in some kind of reserve, but these horrible zoos have to be all closed! Animals are alone in horrible places. This is not life, that is prison just for human pleasure!!!

cathy_bedard avatar
Cathy Bedard
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How terrible a species we are to continually subject animals to life in captivity in unnatural climates so humans can go see them. I haven't been to zoos, circuses, marine land, discovery cove in years and years since various organizations have been shedding light on the plight on animals. Let's all be part of the solution...

em_bowker avatar
Em Bowker
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if you spent 22 years in solitary confinement , you'd go insane too. so sad!

qimraj avatar
Khim Jar
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My heart breaks literally and tears all at the 1st picture. I cant even finish scrolling, let alone the video. Please, please, I hope something is done to raise an awareness for matters like this. I'm sorry my species treated you so badly, po bear. I really am. Youre release from your sorrow now. I'm sorry.

amynoulas avatar
Pastel Unicorn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh. People can be such insensitive, destructive and awful beings. If a person was in the polar bear's position, it would be deemed as cruel

amynoulas avatar
Pastel Unicorn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And sick, but if it is an animal people are ok with it? How utterly pathetic. Animals have feelings too!

Load More Replies...
ramoratz avatar
Ruth Moratz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just so incredibly sad. :( There are too many heartless and greedy people in this world.

sbeachlover14 avatar
Brenda Stansberry
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How sad... I hate he had a life like this... It's so unfair to keep a beautiful animal like this and make him so miserable!! Bless his heart... RIP Arturo... may you run free in heaven and always be happy!

madelinebarone avatar
Almandine Fox
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think most zoos are sanctuaries that keep their populations up and keep them well fed. But this, this is evil. In no way is this >

madelinebarone avatar
Almandine Fox
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

beautiful creature being treated like it should. This is abusive and that zoo should be shut down because they obviously don't know what >

Load More Replies...
sumaeid1974 avatar
MadameButterfly
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please God,show every human that tortures an animal pain and suffering,and may they never find peace of mind ever! :,(

roberto avatar
Robert O
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As I understand it, zoos are private business. As a business they do not had to give one good G** D***m about the opinion of anyone else. As a result we have a**h***s who are willing to let animals suffer for endless amounts of time, as commodities not living creatures

crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, as a private business, they are even bound to the opinion of anyone else. Consumer behaviour is a strong force. Admittedly, it is hard to leverage it in a case like this.

Load More Replies...
julia-miller avatar
Julia Miller
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish Cher would’ve intervened like she did for the elephant. Arturos misery has haunted me for yrs. that he was never rescued from those hellish conditions & died there just breaks my heart still

mariarohlen avatar
Maria Rohlen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heartbreaking, I wish people stopped paying to see abused animals at zoos and circuses.

stacy-howard07 avatar
Stacy Howard
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me SO sick!! I cried and cried after reading Arturo's story a few years ago. People were boycotting and sending numerous petitions, and a animals rights group tried to have him transferred to a zoo in Canada where he could have better treatment... an enclosure that was cold and made for a polar bear...because he could no longer be returned to the wild. This poor bear SUFFERED at the hands of "humans" because they are GREEDY and did it all for money!!! This should NOT have been legal, and I think the people responsible should've been arrested and convicted for animal cruelty!!

andrewmlink avatar
Andrew Link
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor thing! You would think at least the government would hold the zoo more responsible to such blatant abuse!

forest_stranger avatar
Ivan Deak
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel so horribly sorry for this tortured animal. The sick sad management of this zoo should be immediately sacked and purged of the field as they have zero competency in conservation. They were just prolonging the torture of this poor bear, what for? Money. RIP Arturo!

meddleghan avatar
Chuchip Conley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't fathom the mental stress. that's hell if I could ever describe it.

avanik11 avatar
Ava Leora
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could barely even scroll down without tearing up, such beautiful strong animals treated like nothing more than a display, RIP Arturo

stojancevicnadja avatar
NS.cutepanda
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its so sad that people are trying to make atraction from everything yet they forget about a very important thing and that is enviroment for those animals..

sparocraftoliviawl avatar
•_•
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why does this keep happening.. No matter how many people get arrested, and warned for keeping Them captive, no one stops :-(

cooley_bird52 avatar
Barbara Jamison Cooley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I couldn't even watch him in this video all the way through. I am sick that people let him suffer so. I don't go to Zoos, or Circuses any more. Just too sad for the animals that are there.

lisswest100 avatar
larissa west
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow this video shows this poor polar bear in stress yet the zoo does nothing about it... What is this world why are humans so selfish? Cant we change the way humans treat animals... We need to sue this zoo. Who is with me?

lyone_fein avatar
Lyone Fein
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do we treat so many animals this way? We are the cruelist, most selfish species.

susanfri2009 avatar
Susan Davies
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shunning zoos and circuses is just a start. We need strong, enforceable international laws for the protection of animals, endangered or not. This was 22 years of captivity torture, and people went every day and looked at it for entertainment, watching the animal go crazy. For 22 years. And other people were paid to keep it there. Shame on Argentina, what a terrible, cruel, backward country.

ramoratz avatar
Ruth Moratz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. I avoid zoos, circuses and any place that uses animals as a form of entertainment and do my best to educate others. Sadly, most people are selfish, and only care about themselves and having fun, even at the expense of others.

Load More Replies...
kathinka avatar
Katinka Min
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate zoos with exotic animals and I despise people who pay money to watch suffering animals in zoos (and sea worlds). They are psychopaths - and raising their kids to be the same! No person with a sane mind and a shred of empathy would enjoy watching this kind of suffering. 22 years. My God.

sumaeid1974 avatar
MadameButterfly
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rest in peace beautiful soul,you are free now,may the owners of the zoo never find a moment of peace!! :,(

maggiemoonbeam avatar
maggiemoonbeam
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bless his big bear heart. I hope he has found peace at last. And, though I doubt that any of us could use the zoo we can certainly mount a shame campaign against the people who denied Barry MacKay's request to relocate him to Canada. It should be easy to find out who they are. But nothing can give Arturo his life, a better life, back. My heart breaks for you, magnificent bear.

maggiemoonbeam avatar
maggiemoonbeam
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry I didn't proofread -- I meant that I doubted we could SUE the zoo, not USE the zoo. My apologies. Bloody autocorrect!

Load More Replies...
christi-anelang avatar
Christie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is soooooooo sad. 22 years!! Oh s**t! What creatures are we!!! S**t. Blame on all of us f*****g humanes!!!

ramoratz avatar
Ruth Moratz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This post keeps popping up and it makes me sadder each time I see it. This zoo and the people who watched him suffer there are the very definition of evil, sick and selfish.

barbie_mcmurray avatar
Barbie Mcmurray
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well i have to put it like it is Argentina is on my s___ list!!! i will not be visiting there, How could so called humans be so cruel? What about the other animals. Ithink the wrong animals are in the cages. Hopefully a dying breed.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor thing!!! You see the bear acting like that but still won't let him go, WTF!!!! Them human ain't shyt!!!

katayoonfeizizadeh avatar
Kat Phase
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How would those responsible like it if they were forced to live in a fridge for 30 years????

baruskad avatar
Barča Dvořáková
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zoo like this is the hell, not the place to animals live!!! I understand there is many creatures which can live only in some kind of reserve, but these horrible zoos have to be all closed! Animals are alone in horrible places. This is not life, that is prison just for human pleasure!!!

cathy_bedard avatar
Cathy Bedard
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How terrible a species we are to continually subject animals to life in captivity in unnatural climates so humans can go see them. I haven't been to zoos, circuses, marine land, discovery cove in years and years since various organizations have been shedding light on the plight on animals. Let's all be part of the solution...

em_bowker avatar
Em Bowker
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if you spent 22 years in solitary confinement , you'd go insane too. so sad!

qimraj avatar
Khim Jar
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My heart breaks literally and tears all at the 1st picture. I cant even finish scrolling, let alone the video. Please, please, I hope something is done to raise an awareness for matters like this. I'm sorry my species treated you so badly, po bear. I really am. Youre release from your sorrow now. I'm sorry.

amynoulas avatar
Pastel Unicorn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh. People can be such insensitive, destructive and awful beings. If a person was in the polar bear's position, it would be deemed as cruel

amynoulas avatar
Pastel Unicorn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And sick, but if it is an animal people are ok with it? How utterly pathetic. Animals have feelings too!

Load More Replies...
ramoratz avatar
Ruth Moratz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just so incredibly sad. :( There are too many heartless and greedy people in this world.

sbeachlover14 avatar
Brenda Stansberry
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How sad... I hate he had a life like this... It's so unfair to keep a beautiful animal like this and make him so miserable!! Bless his heart... RIP Arturo... may you run free in heaven and always be happy!

madelinebarone avatar
Almandine Fox
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think most zoos are sanctuaries that keep their populations up and keep them well fed. But this, this is evil. In no way is this >

madelinebarone avatar
Almandine Fox
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

beautiful creature being treated like it should. This is abusive and that zoo should be shut down because they obviously don't know what >

Load More Replies...
sumaeid1974 avatar
MadameButterfly
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please God,show every human that tortures an animal pain and suffering,and may they never find peace of mind ever! :,(

roberto avatar
Robert O
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As I understand it, zoos are private business. As a business they do not had to give one good G** D***m about the opinion of anyone else. As a result we have a**h***s who are willing to let animals suffer for endless amounts of time, as commodities not living creatures

crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, as a private business, they are even bound to the opinion of anyone else. Consumer behaviour is a strong force. Admittedly, it is hard to leverage it in a case like this.

Load More Replies...
julia-miller avatar
Julia Miller
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish Cher would’ve intervened like she did for the elephant. Arturos misery has haunted me for yrs. that he was never rescued from those hellish conditions & died there just breaks my heart still

mariarohlen avatar
Maria Rohlen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heartbreaking, I wish people stopped paying to see abused animals at zoos and circuses.

stacy-howard07 avatar
Stacy Howard
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me SO sick!! I cried and cried after reading Arturo's story a few years ago. People were boycotting and sending numerous petitions, and a animals rights group tried to have him transferred to a zoo in Canada where he could have better treatment... an enclosure that was cold and made for a polar bear...because he could no longer be returned to the wild. This poor bear SUFFERED at the hands of "humans" because they are GREEDY and did it all for money!!! This should NOT have been legal, and I think the people responsible should've been arrested and convicted for animal cruelty!!

andrewmlink avatar
Andrew Link
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor thing! You would think at least the government would hold the zoo more responsible to such blatant abuse!

forest_stranger avatar
Ivan Deak
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel so horribly sorry for this tortured animal. The sick sad management of this zoo should be immediately sacked and purged of the field as they have zero competency in conservation. They were just prolonging the torture of this poor bear, what for? Money. RIP Arturo!

meddleghan avatar
Chuchip Conley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't fathom the mental stress. that's hell if I could ever describe it.

avanik11 avatar
Ava Leora
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could barely even scroll down without tearing up, such beautiful strong animals treated like nothing more than a display, RIP Arturo

stojancevicnadja avatar
NS.cutepanda
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its so sad that people are trying to make atraction from everything yet they forget about a very important thing and that is enviroment for those animals..

sparocraftoliviawl avatar
•_•
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why does this keep happening.. No matter how many people get arrested, and warned for keeping Them captive, no one stops :-(

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