The Philadelphia Zoo has announced on its Facebook page that Klondike, the oldest polar bear in the United States, has passed away. Klondike, who was 34 years old, was euthanized due to a rapid decline in her health.

Klondike was euthanized on Friday morning, due to a rapid decline in her medical condition. She was also diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Her medical condition grew worse week after week before she passed on.She was already old and had trouble standing and walking. She had difficulty responding to medical treatments. Given that she is of advanced age, had mobility issues and is not easily responding to treatments, the zoo staff decided to euthanize her. 

Klondike exceeded the typical life span of her kind. In captivity, polar bears would live up to about 24 years old in zoos and no more than 20 in the wild. Zookeepers remember Klondike as a fun and joyful bear, diving around in her 125,000 gallon pool. She was a popular attraction to all ages at the zoo. Kevin Murphy, the general curator of the zoo is saddended by this loss and adds, through Discovery, that she is a popular resident and had received great care from her keepers and veterinary staff during her lengthy and healthy life at the Philadelphia zoo. 

Klondike arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo, in October 1981, more than 30 years ago and is one of the two polar bears housed at the zoo. The second one is named Coldilocks. Coldilocks is also 34 years old and now currently holds the title for the nation's oldest polar bear.

Polar bears are endangered species due to the thinning and disappearing ice attributed to climate change and are now under the protection of the Endangered Species Act since May 2008.