The Racine Zoo family announced that Hallie, their Andean bear, has died from inoperable cancer.

Hallie’s cancer was discovered May 19 during a routine dental exam, and she was diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma, a type of oral cancer. The bear’s cancer is inoperable because surgery would require removing her entire lower jaw, and reconstruction would be impossible.

The news hit zoo keepers hard.

 

Denise Lockwood has an extensive background in traditional and non-traditional media. She has written for Patch.com, the Milwaukee Business Journal, Milwaukee Magazine and the Kenosha News.