World's oldest captive polar bear dies

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The world's oldest captive polar bear was euthanized in Winnipeg, Canada, at the age of 42 with veterinarians saying she had multiple organ failure.

Gordon Glover, the zoo's coordinator, said in a media release the the polar bear named Debby was surrounded by her handlers and Assiniboine Park Zoo veterinarians Monday when she was given the lethal injections.

Last year, the animal was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest living polar bear, the Winnipeg Sun reported.

In August, zoo Curator Bob Wrigley announced Debby's health was showing signs of failure.

"For the past two years she's had a number of small strokes," Wrigley, said at the time. "She's probably lost over 100 pounds in the past year or so. She's just lost her appetite."

Debby was born and orphaned in Russia in 1966 and was moved to Winnipeg a year later, the report said. She had six cubs, which are all still alive. Her lifelong mate Skipper died in 1999 at the age of 34, the zoo said.

A ceremony in the bear's memory was scheduled for midday Saturday at the zoo.