[IN MEMORIAM] Gus

Gus, an 18-year-old American black bear and longtime fixture at Durham’s Museum of Life and Science, has died.

Museum officials in a blog post described Gus as “an enduring symbol of kindness, compassion, and wonder for visitors of all ages.”

Last week, tests conducted by the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine led to the discovery of an inoperable mass in the bear’s chest, near his heart and lungs.

“Given the prognosis and his age, the team made the difficult decision to euthanize him,” the blog post stated. “The Animal Care staff were able to spend time with him and say goodbye. Gus was never alone, he had people who loved him close by as the responsible and heartbreaking choice was made to let him go.”

His passing follows close behind the loss of Miss Piggy, the pot-bellied pig, who also had to be euthanized due to her decline in health.

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