Bear euthanized at Salisbury Zoo following apparent stroke

A bear who has spent more than a decade at the Salisbury Zoo, has died, after apparently suffering a stroke.

The Salisbury Zoo says on October 12, their 24-year-old Andean bear, Gritto, started showing stroke like symptoms, and was sedated for evaluation. The veterinarian’s exam apparently didn’t show any physical trauma, or causes of the symptoms, other than a probable neurological event. Once he awoke from sedation, he was given medication to help with his recovery, and his condition was watched closely.

On October 15, Officials say that it became apparent that Gritto showed modest improvement, remained significantly debilitated. It was reportedly then, that the decision was made to euthanize the bear.

Gritto was born in January 1991, at the San Diego Zoo, before being transferred to the San Antonio Zoo. He arrived at the Salisbury Zoo in the spring of 2003, as a companion for their older Andean female bear, Poopsie. She was the oldest Andean bear in captivity when she passed away at 37.

Chaska, a female bear from the National Zoo, was then brought in for Gritto. The two then had Alba, born in January 2015.