Sheba the grizzly must be euthanized

Sheba and Shardik have been fixtures at the B.C. Wildlife Park for decades.

But arthritis and old age are taking their toll.

Animal care supervisor Paul Williams said Friday both bears are 35 years old  the equivalent of being in their 80s or 90s in human terms. Arthritis has so badly affected Sheba that she has barely moved in the past weeks.

It's not just today. We've been really monitoring her close for three weeks now, there's just no change in her condition, he said.

And so a decision has been made to euthanize Sheba in the next few days. It's a decision that weighs heavily on wildlife park staff as well as regular visitors.

I've been here 16 years and I've worked with her from Day 1, although I haven't had as much contact the last few years, said Williams.

One employee, Brett McLeod, has worked with Sheba his whole 25-year career at the park.

There's a number of staff who have gotten very close to the bears, said Williams.

It'll be done before we're open to the public so no one will see it. It'll be tough on that day. . . . We can help each other deal with it.

Sheba's body will be buried in a quiet, out of the way spot on the wildlife park property.

No one knows how her brother will react to the loss, Williams said.

We don't know how he'll take it.

In the wild, grizzlies tend to be solitary animals most of their lives. But Shardik and Sheba have been together always.

They were born in the Bella Coola area in 1975. Their mother was a problem bear and was killed; her two cubs were also getting into trouble with humans. They were going to be killed as well, but a UBC bear biologist got them to do diet research instead.

When he was done, the bears were sent to the wildlife park.

Sheba and Shardik have outlived the 20 to 25 years grizzlies typically survive in the wild, and even the estimated 30 years they live in zoos.

Except for the arthritis, they're both still quite healthy. But Sheba's arthritis has become so bad that she just never seems comfortable, even with medications.

Arthritis hadn't taken its toll when Williams was able to spend more time with them at work.

I worked with them for about eight years. I saw them when they were very active still. They would play quite a lot, chase each other quite a lot, he said.

Even three years ago, they would box each other in the pond. That's become less and less as they've gotten older now.

The wildlife park does want to get more grizzlies in the future, but they aren't easy to come by.

For now, the park aims to deal with the loss of one of its long-time residents.

We never know for sure if they are going to come out of hibernation in spring, said Williams.

Generally, they've been great bears to work with.