Outpouring of sadness, heartbreak over Inuka’s death

SINGAPORE – Upon learning that Singapore Zoo's beloved polar bear Inuka was suffering from ailing health two weeks ago, Mdm Lee Shiau Lan had been faithfully visiting its enclosure every chance she got.

With her smartphone, Mdm Lee would dutifully document Inuka's surroundings at its frozen tundra enclosure through voiceovers, walkthrough videos and photos that she will "keep as personal memories".

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She would also pen her well-wishes on various get-well cards, and typically would stay for "up to half a day" to admire the Republic's last polar bear.

All that changed on Wednesday (April 25).

After arriving at the zoo at around 10am, Mdm Lee had asked the staff about Inuka's much-publicised health check-up.

Her worst fears were confirmed when she learnt that Inuka was not revived from anaesthesia on "humane grounds" after a health examination that morning showed the 27-year-old bear's condition failed to improve significantly despite intensive treatment.

"At first, I thought they were joking… I couldn't believe it," said an emotional Mdm Lee, who said Inuka appeared well just a couple of days ago. "I haven't cried yet… I'm still shocked."

While the Malaysian permanent resident found it difficult to explain her strong connection to the polar bear, the self-professed animal lover said she and her husband, a fellow Inuka fan, are frequent visitors to the zoo.

Beyond visiting at least once a month and professing her love for River Safari giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia, Mdm Lee said she has a stash of Inuka memorabilia, and is on a WhatsApp chat group with other Inuka fans where they exchange polar-bear related trivia and baby pictures of Inuka.

Recounting how she had a "bad feeling" after learning about Inuka's ill health two weeks ago, Mdm Lee said she increased her visits and had been making the trip by bus from her Ang Mo Kio home to the zoo around 10 times since.

Saying that Inuka had looked "sad and lonely" in recent years, Mdm Lee hopes the zoo can put up a statue of Inuka as a tribute to the polar bear.

On Wednesday, staff at the Singapore Zoo had the unenviable task of breaking the news of Inuka's death to visitors, especially to children.

"We see Inuka almost every day, so (suddenly), for us, we will never get to see him anymore… It's very sad," said a staff member who declined to be named. He added his fondest memory was of Inuka happily "munching" on salmon.

The staff member also recounted how, over the past two weeks, the usually quiet frozen tundra enclosure was filled with visitors who were eager to catch a glimpse of Inuka.

For visitors who had flocked from shores afar, Inuka's passing also came as a big blow. Indian national Shashikant Jain, 41, had specially brought his 9-year-old daughter to the zoo on their first trip to Singapore, after hearing stories from friends about the zoo's famous polar bear.

"It's something different…You can see other animals, but polar bears are (rare)... We feel very sorry (about the loss)," he said.

Another visitor, who declined to be named, said that visiting Inuka had been one of the key stops for her three children in their growing up years, and expressed sadness at Inuka's passing.

"We've travelled to many countries, like Norway, Australia and Japan but didn't had a chance to see a polar bear (up close)… it was so nice to see Inuka swimming in the water," she said.

Mr Kenny Ng, 29, who visited the zoo with his girlfriend on Wednesday, said trips to the zoo to visit Inuka were a huge part of his childhood.

As a "polar bear in a tropical climate", Mr Ng said Inuka was one of the zoo's biggest highlights and it was a "shame" to hear the news of its passing.

As per the zoo's practice, Inuka's body will undergo a full autopsy to "add to the knowledge of science", said Wildlife Reserves Singapore's deputy chief executive and chief life sciences officer Cheng Wen-Haur, with the possibility of keeping part of his body for "future education purposes".

Responding to the news that there are plans to refurbish and redesign the enclosure for a potential sea lions exhibit, Mr Ng quipped: "Nothing beats a polar bear!"

Born on Dec 26, 1990, in the Singapore Zoo, Inuka is the fourth polar bear to call Singapore home, and will be the last.

The zoo had previously announced that polar bears will no longer be part of its exhibits, following discussions with its Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee in 2006.

A private memorial service will be held on Thursday for Inuka, with the dress code themed blue and white as a tribute to the polar bear's love for the water.