Nora, Racine Zoo’s Andean Bear, Dies Of Cancer At 28

RACINE, WI — Nora, the Racine Zoo's 28-year-old female Andean Bear, was laid to rest on Saturday after a short, and tragically decisive battle with cancer.

Earlier this week, zookeepers said they discovered that Nora had an aggressive form of cancer in her mouth, leading to pain and difficulty eating.

After consulting with Andean bear experts and veterinary oncologists, surgery and chemical therapies were not options for Nora, and the decision was made for humane euthanasia, Racine Zoo officials said.

With a life expectancy of 20 years in the wild, Nora far exceeded expectations, living to 28 years of age.

Nora was born at the Lincoln Park Zoo in January 1992, and spent time at Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Ohio before moving to the Racine Zoo to retire in 2016.

When she came to the Racine Zoo, Nora quickly became a keeper favorite, Zoo staff said. "With her sweet disposition, funny yoga positions while sleeping, and her total and complete love for grape jelly, it was hard not to love her," the Racine Zoo said in a statement Wednesday.

Nora was often seen lounging on the big tire bed enjoying the sunshine, building a nest in the cave, or roaming the exhibit checking out the smells. Keepers always noted how into scents she was, often lining her bed with perfumed items.

"Nora touched the hearts of many in her 28 years, and the Racine Zoo was lucky to be a part of her legacy," the Racine Zoo said Wednesday in a statement.