Ailing Himalayan black bear dies at Odisha’s Nandankanan zoo

Bhubaneswar: An ailing Himalayan black bear ‘Shambhu’ died following prolonged illness at Nandankanan Zoological Park here on city’s outskirt.

The 30-year-old Shambhu, a male in breed, breathed his last at around 5.05 pm on Sunday. He was ailing since past three months.

The bear had skipped food in the past two months. Reports said that he was diagnosed with a tumour. After his condition deteriorated, he was undergoing treatment at the zoo.

Shambhu was kept at enclosure 16 B inside the zoo where he was put on liquid diet.

Shambhu was born to Himalayan black female bear Bulu and male breed Nalu at Nandankanan in 1988.

After his death, the number of Himalayan black bears dropped to only five at Nandankanan.