Columbus Zoo mourns loss of 15-year-old polar bear

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is mourning the loss of its 15-year-old polar bear, Anana.

Anana started showing unusual behaviors in early September, the zoo said. Initial treatments didn’t help Anana’s condition and extensive testing did not provide a diagnosis.

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The zoo said the possibility of an autoimmune syndrome could not be ruled out, so Anana was “aggressively treated.” Her condition initially improved, but then her health declined dramatically over the last week.

The zoo made the decision to humanely euthanize her on Wednesday.

A complete postmortem exam was performed at the Ohio State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and the results will be available in a few weeks, the zoo said.

Anana and her twin sister, Aurora, were born on Nov. 26, 2006 at the Toledo Zoo before moving to the Pittsburgh Zoo in 2008, the zoo said. In February 2010, she arrived at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Anana’s care team said they will remember her as being the best at making comfy nap spots and a “true princess” for never wanting to get on the scale to reveal her weight.