Argentina’s Polar Bear ‘Arturo’ Will Stay at the Mendoza Zoo · Global Voices
Laura Schneider

Image from the Facebook page OSO POLAR Arturo (Arturo the POLAR BEAR). Text: “I'm a polar bear – what part of polar don't you understand?”
A group of medical specialists determined that Arturo the bear, the only polar bear in captivity in Argentina, should stay in Mendoza instead of being transferred to Canada, after an intense heat wave put his health at risk.
The blog Un Mundo en Paz (A World of Peace) [es] explains:
Por unanimidad, los especialistas decidieron que el  se quede en . Analizaron que por su edad, 23 años, no puede ser sometido a una serie [de] análisis necesarios para el traslado y en  no podría recibirlo porque el animal no cumple con los requisitos que exige el protocolo de ese país.
Unanimously, the specialists decided that  would stay in . They determined that because of his age, 23, he could not be submitted to the series [of] analyses needed for the move, and in  he would not be received because he does not meet the requirements of the country's protocol.
In January of 2014, due to the demands and pleas made by different groups that the bear be put in a place more suitable for his species, the governor of the city of Mendoza, Francisco Pérez (@PacoPerez), announced from his Twitter account that the bear was being evaluated physically to determine the possibility of eventually moving him to Canada:
Comunico que nuestro Gobierno, en caso que la junta médica así lo determine, aprueba y apoya la decisión de trasladar al Oso Arturo.
— Francisco Pérez (@PacoPerezMza) enero 24, 2014
Let it be know that our Government, if the medical board decides it is best, will approve and support the decision to move Arturo the bear.
Durante Febrero, una junta médica conformada por Veterinarios locales, nacionales y extranjeros, evaluará la salud del Oso Arturo.
— Francisco Pérez (@PacoPerezMza) enero 24, 2014
In February, a medical board made up of local, national and foreign veterinarians will evaluate the health of Arturo the bear.
Esta junta determinará si Arturo está en condiciones de soportar un traslado, teniendo como principal propósito salvaguardar su salud.
— Francisco Pérez (@PacoPerezMza) enero 24, 2014
This board will determine whether Arturo is in good condition to deal with a move, being that the main goal is to safeguard his health.
Si la junta médica lo aprueba, y el Oso Arturo puede ser trasladado, dos entidades canadienses estarían interesadas en recibirlo.
— Francisco Pérez (@PacoPerezMza) enero 24, 2014
If the medical board approves it, and Arturo the bear can be moved, two Canadian entities are interested in receiving him.
This news brought about a lot of happiness and gratitude towards the governor, and the community was waiting for the medical board to arrive on February 7th to do the evaluation.
As one might expect, the news that the bear will stay in Mendoza has generated reactions from those who were waiting for the results. On Twitter, Argentines are commenting on the case under the hashtag #OsoArturo.
For their part, the Association of Civil Servants and Lawyers for the Rights of Animals (AFADA) [es] presented a statement [es] announcing the request for a habeas corpus for the polar bear's illegal loss of liberty.
The Facebook page Ecológicos Unidos [es], calls for continuing to fight [es] for the polar bear:
MENSAJE URGENTE A AQUELLAS PERSONAS QUE TIENEN GANAS DE AYUDAR AL OSO POLAR ARTURO Y TIENE IDEAS NUEVAS PARA LOGRAR SU TRASLADO
Nosotros probamos con todo y no lo logramos … pero no quiere decir que alguien más preparado y con más herramientas no pueda hacerlo !
NO DISCUTAN CON NOSOTROS , HÁGANLO URGENTE ! ARTURO NO TIENE TIEMPO !
URGENT MESSAGE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP ARTURO THE POLAR BEAR AND HAVE NEW IDEAS FOR MOVING HIM
We tried everything and we weren't successful … but that doesn't mean that someone more prepared and with more tools can't do it!
DON'T ARGUE WITH US, DO IT QUICKLY! ARTURO DOESN'T HAVE TIME!
The page OSO POLAR Arturo [es] does the same, and reports [es] that the result is “the worst news” they could have imagined.
Image from the Facebook page OSO POLAR Arturo (Arturo the POLAR BEAR)
The AFP [es] news agency shared a video of the news, showing the protesters awaiting the result:
Meanwhile, Greenpeace Argentina [es] calls for joining the fight [es] to improve the conditions in the enclosure where Arturo is now.