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Beloved grizzly bear dies at STL Zoo

A beloved grizzly bear at the St. Louis Zoo has died. He was 25.
Bert the bear

ST. LOUIS -- A beloved grizzly bear at the St. Louis Zoo has died. He was 25.

Bert and his brother, Ernie, came to St. Louis in 1991 after being rescued from Alaska. When they were just cubs, their mother was shot by a state wildlife agent after she was found raiding suburban homes near Anchorage.

The zoo says the cubs quickly outgrew their temporary housing and were going to be put down unless a permanent home could be found. That's when the St. Louis Zoo offered them a new forever home.

Bert was euthanized Tuesday because of age-related problems. Veterinarians at the zoo said he was experiencing irreversible mobility issues.

"We are saddened by the loss of Bert, who has been a great bear for many years," said Steve Bircher, curator at the zoo, in a release. "He lived and died with dignity."

Bert's brother Ernie died in 2011 at age 21.

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