Mercedes the polar bear has been put to sleep after a recent rapid deterioration in her welfare, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has announced.
The 30-year-old female bear was moved from Edinburgh Zoo to a new, larger enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore two years ago.
She had been suffering severe arthritis which was treated with painkillers.
The RZSS said it was with great sadness that it announced the death.
Mercedes was captured after being rescued from being shot in Canada in 1984 and added to the animal collection at Edinburgh Zoo.
She was relocated to the park at Kincraig in 2009.
During her 25 years in Edinburgh, Mercedes reared two cubs, both sired by her partner Barney, who was born at Whipsnade Zoo.
After the death of Barney in 1996, Mercedes lived by herself at Edinburgh Zoo until she moved to the Highland Wildlife Park in 2009.
A two-year-old male polar bear called Walker was introduced to Mercedes's enclosure in November 2010.
However, an ageing Mercedes was not happy to play with a young cub.
Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-13094316
