The North Carolina Zoo is deeply saddened to announce the loss of male polar bear Payton on Oct. 25. The North Carolina Zoo staff and animal care team are devastated by the loss of this beloved polar bear.
Payton was being transferred to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky as part of a polar bear breeding partnership. The transfer was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Payton was accompanied by an experienced care team during the planned transfer operation.
After the care team left the North Carolina Zoo with Payton, they performed routine checks on the 1,000-pound polar bear during the trip. On the second check, less than two hours away from the North Carolina Zoo, the care team found Payton non-responsive. He was immediately transported to a nearby large animal veterinarian, who confirmed that Payton had passed.
The bear was transported back to the North Carolina Zoo, where a necropsy (an animal autopsy) was conducted by Zoo veterinary staff.
According to Dr. Jb Minter, the Zoo’s Director of Animal Health, “The necropsy indicated some evidence of cardiac disease, a tumor on his adrenal gland as well as some moderate osteoarthritis in keeping with his advanced age. Tissue samples will be sent to outside laboratories for further testing to help determine the cause of his death.”
A full investigation into the incident will be conducted.
Payton arrived at the North Carolina Zoo in January 2021 to be a mate for female polar bear Anana, as recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The AZA uses a science-based approach to matching bears under human care in an attempt to foster more cub births. He had previously been at the Memphis Zoo and was born at Brookfield Zoo Nov. 8, 2003.
Polar bear keeper Melissa Vindigni reminisced, "He was the best boy bear. His trust was worth the effort to earn and it was a privilege and honor to have earned that. He loved training and interacting with his keepers and vet techs and his trust in us really shined with his willingness to work with us on his own health care. I learned so much from him and I was blessed to work with him. I will never forget the things he taught me."
About the North Carolina Zoo
At the North Carolina Zoo, we celebrate nature. As the world’s largest natural habitat Zoo, we inspire a lifelong curiosity about animals for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit our Zoo each year. Our dedicated team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate care for the more than 1,800 animals and 52,000 plants that call our Park home. We also lead efforts locally and globally to protect wildlife and wild places because we believe nature’s diversity is critical for our collective future. The North Carolina Zoo invites all of our guests to witness the majesty of the wild in the heart of North Carolina and welcomes everyone to join in our mission to protect nature’s diversity. Visit NCZoo.org to begin your life-changing journey.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.