Brown Bear at Taipei Zoo

Taipei Zoo recently made the difficult decision to euthanize 'Little Chiao', a female brown bear who had been a resident for nearly two decades. The bear, estimated to be at least 24 years old, was put to sleep after medical staff confirmed the recurrence of a mammary tumor. This decision came following an animal welfare assessment that included imaging tests.

Little Chiao had been experiencing several health issues. Zoo staff observed she was having difficulty breathing, showed signs of fatigue, and had lost her appetite. Additionally, there was redness and swelling at the site of a previous surgery. Further tests revealed that the tumor had spread to her lungs, significantly impacting her quality of life.

The zoo explained that continuing treatment would have required another surgery, which would have been too risky given the bear's deteriorating lung condition. After careful consideration, the animal welfare team concluded that euthanasia was the most humane option to prevent further suffering.