Beezler the Asiatic Black Bear (1993-2025)
Obituary
Beezler, an Asiatic black bear, died at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo after over 30 years in captivity.
Beezler, an Asiatic black bear, died at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado in July 2025. She had been held at the zoo for approximately 30 years. The zoo stated she was the oldest Asiatic black bear in captivity at the time of her death.
Asiatic black bears are found in Central to South East Asia, and Japan, in coniferous forests to tropical rainforests. The IUCN Red List classifies Asiatic black bears as vulnerable, and their population is decreasing. They are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as hunting. Though hunting these bears is generally illegal, laws are poorly enforced. They are poached for their paws, which are considered a delicacy and their gall bladders, which are used in Traditional Medicine.
In 2004, Korea launched a conservation project to restore Asiatic black bears in Jirisan National Park and released three pairs of bears. Twenty years later, 80 bears live in the area. In-situ conservation, meaning the practice of protecting species in their natural habitats, is the best way to ensure a species' survival.
Bears, who enjoy large ranges in the wild, endure extreme suffering in captivity. Many bears in zoos exhibit stereotypies such as pacing and swaying from side to side, which indicates severe psychological distress. Exhibiting bears is solely for our entertainment and serves no conservation purposes. World Animal Protection urges everyone who loves bears to avoid zoos and enjoy them at accredited sanctuaries or in the wild.
