posted 08-01-2020 08:17 PM               

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Como's beloved polar bear, Buzz. Buzz's health declined due to suspected neurological issues and after all treatment options were exhausted with the animal care and veterinary team, the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the 24 year old bear was made.

Buzz, and twin brother Neil, were born December in 1995 at the Louisville Zoo and came to Como Zoo in 2001 from San Diego. They were named for the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

Buzz enjoyed rolling in the dirt, patrolling the exhibit, and bossing around his brother. He was an active participant in the zoo's operant conditioning training program and was the third polar bear in the country to allow zookeepers to draw blood voluntarily (Neil was the second).

Buzz has been a proud ambassador of conservation and will be missed by all.