By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – One of the most beloved animals at Bloomington’s Miller Park Zoo has passed away.

Candy, the oldest Malayan Sun Bear in North America died Thursday, and Zoo Superintendent Jay Tetzloff said a preliminary examination indicates Candy died from renal failure. She was 33 years old.

Candy had been evaluated for lethargy for less than a day-and-a-half, and it was determined Candy’s condition was grave and that she should be euthanized.

WJBC’s Katie Crow was a junior zookeeper while a student at Holy Trinity about 13 years ago, and she vividly remembers feeding Candy.

“I used to give her treats – pretzel sticks with peanut butter and meal worms on them – and she would eat them right through the fence,” Crow explained. “I loved her”

Candy was born at Zoo Miami on Valentine’s Day 1984, so zookeepers said her birthday celebrations were especially memorable.

Candy and her mate, Chapin arrived at the Miller Park Zoo in 1998, but like many other Sun Bears, they did not have any offspring.

Chapin died from bone cancer in 2010. He was 27.

Candy far exceeded the median life expectancy for female Malayan Sun Bears, which is 23.1 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Memorials for Candy can be made to the Miller Park Zoological Society.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].