By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Shoushan Zoo (壽山動物園) announced the death of its oldest resident, a 30-year-old Formosan black bear (台灣黑熊) named “Grandma Mary” (瑪莉), who passed away in her sleep on the morning of April 27.
Mary had been under the care of the zoo since 2020. Zoo officials described her as a gentle and refined figure whose slow-paced activities, such as stretching and walking through fallen leaves, provided comfort to visitors. To accommodate her advanced age and mobility issues, staff had customized her habitat with a specialized bath and modified pond to allow easier access.
Keepers noted that Mary was highly sensitive to the voices and scents of her regular caretakers. “Mary was not just a member of the zoo; she was like a gentle elder of the family,” a spokesperson said.
Mary is the fourth senior animal to die at Shoushan Zoo this year. Her passing follows the deaths of “Ali” (阿里), a 52-year-old African elephant, on Feb. 14; “Zhao-hai” (昭海), a 19-year-old white tiger, on Feb. 22; and “Er-ge” (二哥), a 23-year-old African lion, on April 13.
The zoo stated that her 30-year life represented a complete and meaningful journey, marking the end of an era for the facility’s senior animal population.
