A rescued circus bear at a popular Scots zoo has sadly been put to sleep after battling an underlying spinal condition.
Carmen, a European brown bear, was saved by kind-hearted staff at the Five Sisters Zoo in West Lothian alongside two other bears in March, 2012.
The trio were part of a circus troupe that travelled around Europe and were kept chained inside tiny cages no bigger than themselves.
After a mammoth fundraising campaign, Carmen soon began her new life at the West Calder zoo but was left with a lasting reminder of her previous cruel treatment.
Despite much love and attention from her keepers, Carmen’s battle with a spinal condition became too painful and she had to be put to sleep at the age of 36.
Breaking the tragic news, Five Sisters Zoo said: “It is with great sadness we have to inform you all that we had to say goodbye to our beloved Bear, Carmen.
“Carmen always had a slight limp since she arrived at the zoo from her previous cruel life but recently her underlying spinal condition unfortunately deteriorated and despite our best efforts and treatment since she awoke from hibernation, she was no longer coping and we had to make the heartbreaking decision to let her go and be free from pain.
“She reached the remarkable age of 36 years old but spent 28 years of this cruelly chained and muzzled as a circus Bear before being rescued by Five Sisters Zoo in March 2012.
“Watching her cheeky face as she feasted on her favourite foods in her beautiful woodland home or playing in her pond, one would never have guessed how horrible and tragic her previous life was.
“We take great consolation in knowing that she lived out her latter years being a very happy and well loved Bear. We are all going to miss you so much sweet girl.”
Heartbroken staff previously said goodbye to fellow rescue bear Peggy in 2017 after she too was found to have a degenerative spine condition.
The third rescued bear, Suzy, remains at the zoo alongside Henk and Eso who were saved from a tiny cage outside a hotel in Albania.
Five Sisters Zoo is currently appealing for help to feed their animals during the COVID-19 closure.
To donate, please click here.
