A polar bear has actually passed away at a zoo after swallowing a toy ball tossed into his enclosure by a visitor.
The 25-year-old polar bear, called Umka, consumed the ball after a young visitor tossed it within.
He swallowed it, however was not able to absorb it.
The ball stayed in his stomach and ultimately eliminated him.
Umka then passed away at the Yekaterinburg Zoo in Russia’s Ural Federal District on April 20.
The bear was born in the rural region of Billings in Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District and was orphaned as a young cub.
He had a fortunate escape from a pack of pet dogs when he was saved by residents. The scrap offered Umka an unique black scar on his forehead, which he had for life.
He was kept in a barn by the residents, who looked after him over the following 4 months, bringing him fish and walrus and seal meat.
As he grew, he started to present a risk to the residents, provided polar bears’ predatory nature.
However, as he had actually been raised by human beings, he was unprepared to be launched back into the wild.
A long-term house was discovered for him at the Yekaterinburg Zoo, and he was moved there after a long flight through Moscow in 1998.
He rapidly ended up being popular with visitors and zoo personnel alike, who released a declaration following the cherished bear’s death.
The declaration read: ‘The zoo staff are very upset about the loss of their animal. Aina, Umka’s neighbour and faithful buddy, is likewise in grieving.
‘Dear visitors, we prompt you to appreciate the animals at the zoo! Even a big and powerful predator cannot secure itself from thoughtlessly tossed “gifts”. Forgive us, Umka.’
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