h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Franz was the only male polar bear in Estonia. He lived in Tallinn Zoo. Today his caretaker forgot to close the door of his quarters and he went out for a walk. He was walking in front of the cage, lost and confused and for getting him back to the cage they had to put him to sleep. He got overdose though and died. Franz was a bit more than 20 years old, they say that he could have lived up to 40 years. I saw him only couple weeks ago, hard to believe that this huge and mighty animal is dead.

awww...hope is happy in bear heaven...

I hope so.

Awww ... Sad story indeed.

Here's to Franz - and the wish for a good time in polar bear heaven is a good one, indeed

Coincidentally and not related at all, I just finished re-reading Alistair MacLean's Bear Island

To Franz!

about reading about bears you should read John Irving "setting free the bears".

I hope his wife and daughter won't grieve too much. They live in the next cage.

.. I hate these stories with a sad ending

..

Franz was born wild on Franz Josef Land.

named after Franz Josef .. did he have a moustache as well?

his wife isn't called Elisabeth I assume?

That's Franz: http://www.postimees.ee/080907/esileht/siseuudised/281880_foto.php#33

Wife's name is Vaida.

Poor Franz. What a beautiful creature.

The zookeepers must be devastated.

Oh, they are. Franz was a good bear. Well, considering that he had quite some offspring. Few years ago he bit off a hand of some drunk who tried him some company though. But it was all the drunk's fault.

The only place I ever lived that has a good zoo is San Antonio. They have polar bears. I used to love watching them. There is just something special about them. They have it fixed so you can watch them swim.

Yeah, our polar bears love to swim, too. Good fun, that.
I like zoos, over the last years I try to visit 1-2 a year.

Did you go to the London Zoo? I wanted to but didn't make it.

Nope. Another good reason to go back there.

I think the zoo there is supposed to be a good one. Maybe someday we'll both be able to see it.

My problem with going to London is that I don't want to leave. And there is no way I could ever afford to move there, so it is a bit sad.