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Miami Herald

Oldest Asian black bear in human care in US has ‘last best day.' Meet Beezler

The oldest Asian black bear under human care in the U.S. was given her 'last best day' before being humanely euthanized at the age of 30, Colorado zoo officials said. Beezler, who stood at 2 and a half feet tall to the shoulder and was part of a breed that isn't commonly seen in zoos, came to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 1994 along with her sister Honey, who died in 2022, according to a June 30 Facebook post by the Colorado Springs-based zoo. 'It may sound strange, but we work hard and have hours of discussions to make sure we're giving each animal its Last Best Day,' Bob Chastain, president and CEO at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, said in the post. 'We wanted to make sure Beezler was healthy enough to pass peacefully. That meant a few things for us. She needed to eat something so we could keep her medicated, and we needed her to be comfortable and peaceful while the process took place. The team was able to achieve that peaceful passing for Beezler, and that's comforting to all of us. She'll be deeply missed.' As part of the 'bright brown' eyed and 'fluffy' girl's 'last best day' before being euthanized on June 29, she was given cookies, whipped cream, muffins and meatballs while she soaked in the sun one last time, the zoo said. Staff went to see Beezler to say their goodbyes, sign a card and 'express their gratitude for her,' zookeepers said. Although she was considered 'old,' Beezler would even surprise her 'care team by climbing up' a structure that sat 15 feet high, the zoo said. 'She was the oldest Asiatic black bear in human care in the country, but it seems like she only turned 'old' really recently,' Jessi Palmer, Rocky Mountain Wild animal keeper, said in the post. 'She was still so mentally sharp, observant and engaged. It's like we knew she was old, but she didn't believe it. I think many people who are aging related to her and were inspired by her. She just kept going.' Asian black bears typically live up to 25 years in the wild and as long as 39 years in captivity, and they are considered a vulnerable species, with 60,000 remaining in the world, according to Britannica. Rocky Mountain Wild senior animal keeper, Erika Furnes, worked with Beezler for nine years and said the 'adorable' girl was always able to 'keep you on your toes,' the zoo said. The bear known for her 'sweet' and 'patient' confidence also had a 'side of respectable sass,' the zoo said. 'During training sessions, sometimes Beezler was training us,' Furnes said. 'If you weren't delivering her training rewards the right way — holding the tongs at just the right angle, getting the food portions perfect and pacing them as quickly as she wanted them — she would start taking the food from the tongs with a bit more quickness and intensity. She was still gentle, taking the food just with her lips, but she would definitely communicate if your performance wasn't up to her standards.' Furnes said Beezler taught staff 'a lot about making accommodations for aging animals' as their 'bodies slow down.' Toward the end of her life, what was once her pool was turned into a dirt pile, 'which she loved,' the zoo said. Beezler always remained young at heart, even basking in 'young bear enrichment' like tearing up a log that had porcupine scent on it, the zoo said. People would attend the zoo just to see Beezler, even sometimes asking where she was when she was in her den taking a nap, the zoo said. 'A big part of our role is to help guests fall in love with animals, but she didn't need us,' Furnes said. 'She did that on her own. People connected with her in so many ways, and she was the perfect ambassador for her species.'