Taipei Zoo's brown bear 'Little Chiao' put down after health deteriorates

Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) "Little Chiao" (小喬), a female brown bear who lived at the Taipei Zoo for nearly two decades, was euthanized Tuesday after medical staff confirmed a recurrence of a mammary tumor, the zoo said.

The bear, estimated to be at least 24 years old, "left peacefully" following an animal welfare assessment earlier in the day that included imaging tests, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

Samples taken from the swelling on Little Chiao's lower abdomen were preliminarily diagnosed as malignant tumor cells, showing that lung metastasis lesions had expanded since March.

According to the Taipei Zoo, staff had recently observed the bear experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite and redness and swelling at the site of a previous surgery.

The zoo said continuing treatment would have required another mammary tumor removal surgery while the bear's lung condition continued to worsen, which would have made it impossible to maintain a good quality of life for the animal.

The decision to euthanize Little Chiao was reached after careful discussion by the animal welfare assessment team, the zoo said.

Little Chiao was brought to Taipei Zoo in 2006 after being abandoned by a circus.

The animal became well known for its lively behavior which included swimming, digging and exploring its surroundings, the zoo said.