Boomer bear dies in Odesa zoo

Boomer the bear, who was relocated to the Odesa Zoo in 2019 from the Podilsky Zoo in Vinnytsia region, has died.

This was announced by the director of the Odesa Zoo , Ihor Bilyakov.

According to him, the bear came to the Podilsky Zoo from a traveling circus, and this pre-zoo past negatively affected the bear's health, as he was approximately 21 years old, while, for example, Polyana, a bear who lived in the zoo all her life, is now 25 years old and feels fine.

"The exact age of Boomer is unknown - the circus, as is often the case, did not bother with documents. He was approximately 21 years old. For a bear, this is already a respectable age. And if you add years of exhaustion, exploitation and "care" in circus conditions, the body ages much faster than in a natural or stable environment. Boomer had heart problems. And, unfortunately, this is not new for animals with such a past.

He also commented on the statements made by animal rights activists who criticize Ihor Bilyakov's activities as director of the zoo and who have already accused him of the animal's death.

"We understand that emotions gather more likes than facts. But it is the facts that matter to us - and the welfare of the animals, not the information noise around them. In fact, this sad event demonstrates once again that animals are not entertainment to be used for PR. We have many elderly animals who have been living here for decades, and in addition to our entertainment and social mission, we are a shelter for elderly animals who need to live out their old age in peace," he said.

In January, the Odesa Zoo accused animal rights activists of fakes that block the work of the institution. Because of this, the workers cannot fully care for the animals.

Кирило Бойко