Male polar bear kills female polar bear at Detroit Zoo

Updated: Feb 10, 2021 / 03:07 AM EST

In this undated photo provided by the Detroit Zoological Society, Anana a Polar Bear walks in his enclosure at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, Mich. A male polar bear killed Anna, a 20-year-old female polar bear at the Detroit Zoo when he attempted to mate, Monday, Feb. 9, 2021, officials said. (Detroit Zoological Society via AP)

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — Officials say a male polar bear killed a female polar bear at the Detroit Zoo when he attempted to mate.

The zoo says 16-year-old Nuka killed Anana on Monday after being apart for several months.

Scott Carter, the zoo’s life sciences officer, says the death was “completely unexpected.” The zoo says Nuka has lived at the zoo since 2011 and bred with other female bears without harmful behavior.

Anana, who was 20 years old, arrived at the zoo in suburban Detroit in January 2020 and was introduced to Nuka a few months later.

The zoo says the mating program “is vital to sustaining this endangered species.”