Two days after announcing the death of beloved grizzly bear Koda, the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo says a post-mortem examination found a large tumour pressing on the bear’s upper spine. “Before Koda’s passing, the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams observed changes that raised concern about a possible spinal injury. A post-mortem examination has now confirmed that Koda had a large tumour pressing on his upper spine,” the zoo said. According to the zoo, Koda received daily health checks from animal care staff and regular monitoring from veterinary professionals. His last full veterinary examination under anesthesia was conducted in June 2024, when there were no signs of a tumour or spinal condition. The zoo says the tumour would require advanced imaging, such as a CT scan, to be detected. Zoo staff closely monitored Koda’s comfort and quality of life as his health declined before making the decision to humanely euthanize him. “The tumour’s size and location meant it was not surgically treatable. While this finding is difficult, it provides further context for Koda’s recent decline in health and confirms that the difficult decision to humanely euthanize him was made with his comfort and quality of life as the priority,” the zoo said. The zoo announced Koda’s death on Monday. Koda was an orphaned cub rescued from the Jasper area and cared for by staff at the Edmonton Valley Zoo before later living at the Calgary Zoo with his brother, Mistaya. The pair were eventually moved to Saskatoon, where Koda spent the past 18 years. “Koda was deeply cared for by the staff who worked with him every day. Our priority was to make the most compassionate decision for him,” zoo manager Jeff Mitchell said in Monday’s release. “Our priority was to make the most compassionate decision for him, guided by his welfare and quality of life.”
