Gus the Polar Bear Dead: Iconic Central Park Zoo Animal Euthanized at 27 Due to Trouble Eating And Swallowing (PHOTO)

The Wildlife Conservation Society's Central Park Zoo lost their beloved polar bear, Gus, on Tuesday.

WCS veterinarians euthanized the 27-year-old polar bear under anesthesia, as Gus was experiencing difficulty eating and exhibited signs of poor appetitie.

"Gus had been exhibiting abnormal feeding behavior with low appetite and difficulty chewing and swallowing his food," the Zoo said in a news release. "During the procedure, veterinarians determined Gus had a large, inoperable tumor in his thyroid region. A necropsy will be conducted to determine the full pathology of the condition."

Gus out lived the median life expectancy of 20 years for a polar bear. An estimated 20 million people have visited Gus at the zoo throughout his life. The polar bear is an icon, which many New Yorks have grown up with.

"Gus was an icon at the Central Park Zoo and a great source of joy for our visitors and staff," said Jim Breheny, WCS Executive Vice President of Zoos and Aquarium, in a news release. "He was an important ambassador for his species bringing attention to the problems these bears face in the wild due to a changing environment. Polar bears are apex predators - the kings of their domain, but vulnerable in a world affected by climate change brought on by human activity."

The polar bear was born at the Toledo Zoo in 1985. Three years later, the Central Park Zoo was Gus' permanent home.

"Gus was a media favorite and appeared in many local and national newspapers and television newscasts as the face of the Central Park Zoo," the Zoo said.

The iconic animal first gained the media spotlight when people became concerned about his repetitive swimming pattern. The Zoo created an "enrichment program" to keep his body healthy and his mind active.

Check out the video of Gus below.

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