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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Johannesburg zoo says it has put down its only polar bear because it was suffering from liver and heart illnesses.
Zoo officials said Wednesday that 28-year-old Wang had reached his full lifespan and had been pining over the death in January of polar bear GeeBee, his partner of 27 years at the zoo. Keepers had given special treats and even a Valentine's Day celebration to try to cheer up Wang.
Born in 1985, Wang arrived at the Johannesburg zoo one year later as part of a conservation exchange program with a zoo in Japan.
The Johannesburg zoo says it does not plan to replace its polar bears.
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