Perth Zoo has farewelled one of its longest residents, a beloved 26-year-old male sun bear, known as Jamran.
The species of bear native to Southeast Asia was brought to Perth Zoo nearly 20 years ago, after a fundraising effort by WA residents saved him from Cambodia, where he was found tied to a pole outside a restaurant.
In a post uploaded to Perth Zoo’s social media page on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson confirmed the passing of Jamran.
“We’ve said a sad goodbye to our beloved male Sun Bear, Jamran,” the post began.
“Over the past years, 26-year-old Jamran had been receiving ongoing veterinary care to support him through age-related issues.
“His carers had been doing an incredible job leading him through health care training which enabled regular health-checks and they could even provide catrophen injections to help with his arthritis.
“But as we know, despite the very best care we just can’t stop nature from taking its course. At a recent health check, our vets determined he could no longer experience the quality of life he deserved. The best decision for his welfare was to say goodbye.”
Jamran — or Jammy as he was affectionately known to his keepers — came from harsh beginnings, having been poached from the wild as a cub.
Had he not been rescued it is likely the sun bear would have experienced a very cruel fate that so many bears suffer at the hands of the illegal wildlife trade.
But, thanks to the fundraising efforts in 2007, Jamran and female Bopha were brought to the sanctuary of Perth Zoo.
It was not an easy beginning for Jamran, who brought some emotional trauma with him from his cruel start to life and was initially scared of humans.
He was still a little wary of men, but had grown into a trusting bear thanks to the work of Perth Zoo, that was eager for honey and had a particular fondness for sardines.
Perth Zoo’s Laura shared her memories of Jammy to mark his devastating passing.
“Jamran and his story touched the hearts of so many. Despite a difficult start in life, his personality quickly won people over,” she began.
“He was clever, charismatic, quirky, and endlessly endearing, leaving a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
“Some of my fondest memories of working with Jammy were watching him engage with enrichment in his environment. Seeing him catch flies is a sight I’ll never forget.
“He would become completely absorbed in the challenge, patiently observing and strategising before making a lightning-fast move to secure his prize.
“Equally unforgettable was his tendency to cover himself in sardines, wearing the scent with all the confidence of someone applying the world’s finest cologne.
“Those moments perfectly captured Jamran’s unique character and the joy he brought to those around him. He will be well and truly missed.”
In the wild, sun bears are a solitary species and only come together to breed. Jamran and Bopha lived side-by-side in separate habitats and rarely spent time together.
It is expected Bopha will notice he is gone, with the zoo’s animal carers looking to closely monitor her over the coming weeks should she need support.