'End of an era': Telford zoo pays tribute to 'mischievous' raccoon Big Bear after death aged 13

Hoo Zoo in Telford has said goodbye to its last raccoon, marking the end of more than 30 years of raccoons at the attraction.

‘Big Bear’, who was born at the Telford zoo in 2013, was put to sleep on Thursday (October 22) after suffering from degenerative arthritis.

In a statement, Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World described the raccoon as a “real character, full of personality and mischief”.

Originally named Bear, he earned the nickname Big Bear after his younger brother, Little Bear, arrived a couple of years later.

The zoo said Bear had been suffering from degenerative arthritis associated with old age over the past few months. Despite the care and attention of its keeper and veterinary teams, his condition had deteriorated.

The decision was made to put him to sleep peacefully to prevent further suffering.

At 13, Bear had reached a remarkable age for a raccoon. Hoo Zoo said raccoons typically live for just two to three years in the wild, although they can live considerably longer in captivity thanks to veterinary care, good nutrition and the absence of natural predators.

His death marks a significant moment in the history of Hoo Zoo, which has been home to raccoons since 1995.

However, the zoo said it was now extremely unlikely that it would welcome another raccoon, following the introduction of Invasive Alien Species legislation in 2017, which placed strict restrictions on the keeping and movement of the animals.

Reflecting on the loss, Hoo Zoo said the absence of raccoons would be felt by generations of visitors and staff who had enjoyed seeing them over the years.

The zoo also thanked all the keepers, past and present, who had cared for Bear throughout his life, as well as the visitors who had come to see him.