Yorkshire Wildlife Park: UK's oldest polar bear dies
The UK's oldest polar bear has died after he was "unexpectedly taken ill" on Friday. The 22-year-old bear, named Victor, suffered terminal kidney failure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. A team of vets tried to help but had no choice but to put him to sleep, park managers said. During his life, which was all spent in captivity, the "prolific breeder" fathered 13 cubs and is survived by his grandchildren around the world. Park management said Victor had been a "great ambassador for his species" and would be "greatly missed by everyone". Born at Rostock Zoo in Germany in 1998, Victor was moved to Rhenen in the Netherlands and was part of the European breeding programme. After being retired from the programme, he was taken to Yorkshire Wildlife Park in 2014. The park said he "spent his days enjoying the lakes and expansive habitat" at their reserve. During this time, he was joined by four other polar bears - Pixel, Nissan, Nobby and, most recently, Rasputin . The directors of Yorkshire Wildlife Park thanked the vets who "responded so quickly" after Victor was taken ill. They also paid tribute to the "dedicated staff who have loved and cared for Victor since his arrival and who today are saddened at the loss of one who was a favourite for staff and visitors alike". "Victor was a great ambassador for his species, inspiring generations and drawing attention to the plight of his species in the wild and the threat of climate change. "He will be greatly missed." Yorkshire Wildlife Park is home to the only polar bears in England. The only other bears in the UK live at Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here . Polar bear brought to UK for safety of cubs Polar bears given pollen allergy tests Second polar bear for wildlife park 'Prolific breeder' Victor retires Yorkshire Wildlife Park Callum Zide: Mum and daughter jailed over roles in Sheffield cocaine kingpin's drug empire Gary Ata: Owners of Kelham flats win three-year legal battle against Sheffield rogue landlord Caught on camera in Leeds: 46 pictures of people West Yorkshire Police urgently want to speak to Academy Open Evening: Join Outstanding Brayton Academy at their Open Evening on Thursday 28 September Carver Street stabbing: Yorkshire police urge witnesses to come forward with information after reports were made of a stabbing and someone being hit by a car in Sheffield City Centre A slice of history from Denby Dale dubbed the pie village Morocco rescuers dig with bare hands as foreign aid sent US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' A Serbian scientist's long quest to name Srebrenica's dead How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans. Video The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.