Perth Zoo has farewelled Jamran, a 26-year-old male sun bear who had been cared for at the Australian sanctuary for almost two decades.
Known affectionately as Jammy by his keepers, Jamran was put to sleep after vets concluded that age-related health problems meant he could no longer enjoy the quality of life he deserved.
In a statement, Perth Zoo said Jamran had received ongoing veterinary care and had been trained to take part in regular health checks. His carers were also able to administer catrophen injections to help manage his arthritis.
“But as we know, despite the very best care we just can’t stop nature from taking its course,” the zoo said. “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 was rescued as a cub after being poached from the wild and found tied to a pole outside a restaurant in Cambodia. A fundraising campaign by people in Western Australia in 2007 helped bring him and a female sun bear, Bopha, to Perth Zoo.
The bear initially feared humans and carried the effects of his traumatic early life with him. Although he remained wary of men, the zoo said he gradually became a trusting animal with a distinctive appetite for honey and a particular fondness for sardines.
Perth Zoo staff member Laura remembered Jamran as “clever, charismatic, quirky, and endlessly endearing”, saying his personality had won people over despite his difficult beginning.
She recalled watching him tackle enrichment activities, including catching flies. “He would become completely absorbed in the challenge, patiently observing and strategising before making a lightning-fast move to secure his prize,” she said.
His love of sardines also produced memorable scenes, with Laura recalling how he would cover himself in the fish and wear the smell “with all the confidence of someone applying the world’s finest cologne”.
Sun bears are solitary in the wild and generally come together only to breed. Jamran and Bopha lived in separate habitats at Perth Zoo and rarely spent time together.
Animal carers expect Bopha to notice his absence and will monitor her closely in the coming weeks in case she needs additional support.
