SHAWNEE COUNTY —The Topeka Zoo is mourning the loss of black bear Indie who passed away Wednesday, according to a media release from the zoo.
On Sunday, Indie did not eat all of her food, which isn’t unusual this time of year. On Monday, she showed no signs of improvement by the end of the day.
While preparing to anesthetize her Tuesday morning, she had a seizure. She was then anesthetized and evaluated by veterinary staff. Because her condition continued to worsen, the difficult decision was made to euthanize her.
Indie (short for Independence) came to the Topeka Zoo in June of 2014 after she was orphaned by the loss of her mother. A young boy found Indie while playing in his Oregon backyard and carried the baby bear back to his mother who called local police.
Indie spent the night in “people jail” until she could be picked up by a wildlife rescue. The Topeka Zoo volunteered to take in the orphaned bear.
When Indie arrived at the Topeka Zoo, she was in poor health. She weighed just 7 pounds and had a skin infection on her face that required daily treatment.
Though her past made her a cautious, shy bear, she developed a trusting relationship with her keepers. She was always looking for them and preferred to be near them in her indoor habitat.“The odds seemed to be stacked against Indie at the beginning of her life,” said Simpson. “However, here at the Topeka Zoo, she thrived and made a difference.
She connected with thousands of people, capturing their hearts and helping people learn about the plight black bears face in the wild. She challenged our staff in so many ways and we adored her."