Mercedes faces being put down

Mercedes - one of the country's most popular animal attractions - is suffering from crippling arthritis and is on a cocktail of drugs to deal with her condition.

And the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland may have to end the 30-year-old bear's life if her health does not improve.

Her condition emerged not long after 50,000 was raised to move her from the city's zoo to a larger enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms National Park.

Mercedes' condition came to light in recent months and the park's vets are currently trying a new course of treatment to see if she responds.

So far she has far exceeded the average 20-year polar bear life-span, but one member of staff at the society said that Mercedes' keepers would still be "devastated" if she had to be put down. The half-ton bear moved to the park in Kingussie in October 2009 after concerns were raised over the size of her enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo.

Simon Girling, a vet for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: "Mercedes suffers from advanced osteoarthritis, for which there is unfortunately no cure.

"This condition is seen in most elderly polar bears both in the wild and in captivity. We're managing her condition with various medication and pain relief, and we're currently trying her on some new medication. If Mercedes deteriorates further in the future and begins to suffer, it is probable that with sadness we will have to consider humane euthanasia. However, we are not at this stage yet."

Douglas Richardson, animal collection manager at the Highland Wildlife Park, added: "Mercedes is 30 years old, which is extremely old for a polar bear, and it is to be expected that her health may be deteriorating."

Recently the Evening News reported how Edinburgh Zoo culled Red River Hog piglets, Sammi and Becca, after they were deemed to be "surplus" of the species, although there is no suggestion that Mercedes' circumstances are the same.

A spokeswoman previously said the zoo worked closely with the European Endangered Species Programme, who had recommended the babies were culled rather than rehomed.