Pese a los reclamos, el oso Arturo se quedará en el zoo de Mendoza Vets at zoologico de mendoza have decided that Arturo the last polar bear in South america will not leave mendoza zoo for canada, because he might not survive the trip because of his age. The decision is said to be final.
Seems a good evaluation of the situation and why transfer would not be in the interest of the individual. There are parting suggestions of improving its habitat / exhibit at the Mendoza Zoo. Let us hope that happens. And hopefully that the exhibit will be improved upon (also with eventually other bear species in mind … perhaps).
Arthuro is not the only polar bear in South America. There are in Mexico and Chile even polar bears. Thoughts on Arthuro in Argentina: Mendoza: Gesundheitscheck für Arthur für einen möglichen Umzug nach Kanada | Eisbären im Zoo - Polar Bears in Zoos
Mexico is in North/Central America. But yes, unless it has died, there is a polar bear still at Santiago in Chile.
Another article about this poor Polar bear : Arturo the Polar Bear - 'world's saddest animal' alone in zoo in scorching desert zoo - Mirror Online
Look, this is written with by (an) individual(s) with severe tunnel vision, a lack of realism and a tinge of arrogance - "we know and do better" attitude. That is bad as it is! And to finish: never a quid pro quo when demands are made! The best solutions to individual issues are usually devised when genuine cooperation is aimed / opted for and that the zoo parting with a particular animal species to a - better equipped - zoo provides animals in exchange, technical assistance and/or advice to improve conditions. For what it is worth: it remains over and out and for good reasons. The polar bear Arturo - given its present health status - will not leave Argentina. So, why cannot thee let it be!? To compare other polar bears including in climes like Mexico and Chile with name sake Arturo in Mendoza is just too preposterous for words. Each situation must be looked at / dealt with on its on and local conditions almost always apply and what is realistic and the best possible solution. What irritates me most is the very fact that in almost 95% of these features written for a local audience far away from the actual theatre of action and hungry for some good - read sensationalist - storyline will eat every bloody word. On top there is never any serious interest in the redeeming qualities of the zoo in hand, its zoo animal exhibits, standards and procedures and animal welfare, let alone a parting reference to them. If there is even a hint of … than usually the given zoo gets clattered all over rather harshly.
As you can see on the gallery i recently visited Mendoza zoo in Argentina. In general, a nice zoo for native species, but certainly not the place for a polar bear. Arturo has a truly bad enclousure. I never saw Arturo, fortunately he has an air conditioned interior area. It was a hot day and he did not go out. Well, it was impossible to move Arturo to Winnipeg because of his age, so he shall stay in Mendoza. No international company has steped in to improve his enclousure, like coca cola did for Sandra, the orangutan at Buenos Aires zoo, but then she is a non - human person legally and Arturo is only a polar bear. I was rather shocked to find that Arturo had the worst exhibit at the zoo. Often, the most famous animal at a zoo has the best exhibit, but here it was the exact opposite.
Actually the Argentinian court did not give Sandra any new status, it is just misreported in the media.
