Female Bear Led a Long Life at the Zoo

LITTLE ROCK (April 13, 2023) – On Thursday, the Little Rock Zoo lost one of its long-term residents, Nona, a 33-year-old grizzly bear living at the Zoo since 1993. Nona, along with her sister, Ann, was rescued from the state of Montana and brought to the Little Rock Zoo at two-years-old. The baby bears had become accustomed to human food (most likely unattended at campsites) - and became comfortable approaching campsites, causing them to be labeled “nuisance bears”. 

Just like many other brown and grizzly bears found in Zoos, Nona and Ann were taken in by the Little Rock Zoo for their own safety and protection. 

Nona was humanely euthanized after a medical examination revealed the bear had advanced dental disease. On April 11, Zoo staff observed an abnormality in the bear’s mouth, so an examination was scheduled to further diagnose. Once the extent of the disease was known and weighing the long-term effect on the bear’s future quality of life, the decision was made to euthanize. Although grizzly bears can live up to the age of 40 in captivity, at 33, Nona had lived a long life. 

Nona leaves behind her sister and littermate, Ann, with whom she had “a typical sister relationship,” said Dr. Sara Stoneburg, the Zoo’s veterinarian. 

One of her keepers, Claire McElroy shared, “Nona had a big personality and was stubborn. She definitely did what she wanted when she wanted.” McElroy added, “She was very smart and picked up on new behaviors quickly.”

When remembered by another one of her keepers, Erin Dauenhauer-Decota added, “Nona was as beautiful as she was sassy.” She further stated, “In fact, she was the queen of sass and had it in abundance.”

Nona will be missed by the Little Rock Zoo family, Zoo members and guests.  Always a “people-oriented” bear, she was known to venture down to the observation glass to “people watch.” In fact, if a guest has taken a picture of a grizzly at the glass window, it was most likely Nona. 

The loss of her fun and engaging personality will leave a big hole in the heart of the Little Rock Zoo. 

About the Zoo:

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit www.aza.org.

For more information on Little Rock Zoo, visit www.littlerockzoo.com or call 501-661-7200.