Beloved Orphaned Alaska Bear Dies At Minnesota Zoo

Sad story from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, as a beloved resident bear that was orphaned in Alaska – aptly named Kenai – has died at the age of 17. Here’s KARE TV in the Twin Cites with more:

The zoo said Kenai came to Minnesota by way of Alaska, where he was found orphaned in 2006. Two other bears, Sadie and Haines, were also found orphaned earlier that year and the three were ultimately brought together at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. 

In 2008, the bears were transferred to Minnesota, where zoo staff said they’d behaved as if they were siblings for the last 15-plus years.

“Although unrelated, they acted in many ways like siblings, with Kenai being lovingly referred to as the laid back ‘little brother’ – always willing to tag along with Haines and let Sadie be the unquestioned leader of their group,” the post said.

The Minnesota Zoo also posted the following message on Facebook:

It is with profound sadness we share that Kenai, the beloved brown bear that has been part of the Minnesota Zoo family for more than 15 years, has passed away.

Kenai was the largest of the three brown bears at the Zoo. At 17 years old, he was in the latter stages of liver cancer.

Kenai’s journey goes all the way back to Alaska, where he was found orphaned in September of 2006. Earlier that year, two other orphaned cubs had been found – Sadie and Haines. All three were brought to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where they remained for their first two years of life before coming to the Minnesota Zoo.

The three came to Minnesota in 2008. Although unrelated, they acted in many ways like siblings, with Kenai being lovingly referred to as the laid back “little brother” – always willing to tag along with Haines and let Sadie be the unquestioned leader of their group.

This is a hard loss for our staff and the Zoo as a whole. Kenai was an important ambassador for his wild counterparts and his presence will be dearly missed.

Our staff will continue to provide expert and compassionate care to Haines and Sadie, who are currently in their behind-the-scenes habitat for torpor (similar to a light winter hibernation).