![Male Polar Bear Kills Female Bear at Detroit Zoo](http://townsquare.media/site/84/files/2021/02/GettyImages-82275695.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Male Polar Bear Kills Female Bear at Detroit Zoo
Earlier this week a 20-year-old female polar bear at the Detroit Zoo was killed by another bear while attempting to breed.
20-year-old Anana died when 16-year-old male Nuka was attempting to breed her. It was the first killing of an animal by another animal since 1988. So what went wrong? That's what experts are trying to figure out as it was a complete shock to everyone.
Nuka has been at the Detroit Zoo since 2011 and has lived and bred with several other female bears without incident. As a matter of fact, the recent birth of twin cubs, fathered by Nuka is proof of that.
Anana had only been at the Detroit Zoo a little over a year and was introduced to Nuka back in March.
According to a press release from the Detroit Zoo, after being apart for several months, Nuka and Anana were re-introduced last week as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Polar Bear Species Survival Plan, a cooperative population management and conservation program that helps ensure the sustainability of healthy captive animal populations.
Detroit Zoological Society Chief Life Sciences Officer Scott Carter:
This was completely unexpected and the Detroit Zoo staff is devastated by the loss of Anana in this sudden and tragic event.
I'm not sure what happens after a deadly attack like this. Does Nuka continue living there? I would like to think so since it was an isolated case and it's only in their nature to behave like this.
![Banana 101.5 logo](https://townsquare.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WWBNFM.png?w=100)
WATCH OUT: These are the deadliest animals in the world
More From Banana 101.5
![Check Out These Newborns at Lansing’s Potter Park Zoo!](http://townsquare.media/site/694/files/2022/07/attachment-Bintlets-cover.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Ready to Go Back in Time? Dinosauria Returns to Detroit Zoo](http://townsquare.media/site/87/files/2022/05/attachment-Untitled-design-40.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Adorable Zoo Atlanta Panda Picks Michigan State Over Pittsburgh In Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl](http://townsquare.media/site/692/files/2021/12/attachment-yangyangpeachbowlpick.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Michigan Zoo Offers Essential Workers Discount – The Good News](http://townsquare.media/site/87/files/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-28-at-6.53.04-AM.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Woman Climbs Into Lion Exhibit at Zoo [VIDEO]](http://townsquare.media/site/84/files/2019/10/Screenshot_3.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Girl Falls Into Panda Zoo Exhibit [VIDEO]](http://townsquare.media/site/84/files/2019/02/Screenshot_51.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Chimp In Grand Rapids Flings Poo Into A Grandmother’s Face [VIDEO]](http://townsquare.media/site/84/files/2017/04/Chimp-Poo.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Gorilla In Zoo Tries Breaking Glass To Get To A Family [VIDEO]](http://townsquare.media/site/84/files/2015/04/Gorilla.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Are Vicious Polar Bear Really Migrating Into Michigan?](http://townsquare.media/site/84/files/2015/02/Sean-Gallup-Getty.jpg?w=980&q=75)