The polar bear, who had the hilarious name of “Jerka,” was killed by a mutated form of the virus that she caught from the zoo’s zebra population. (Who are the REAL jerkas here?

Zoo Polar Bear Thanks Zebra for Deadly Herpes Virus Exotic animals in Germany’s Wuppertal Zoo aren’t just sharing smiles and admiration from visitors. They are sharing deadly viruses, too.

In 2010 at the Wuppertal Zoo in Germany, brain inflammation killed one female polar bear, Jerka, and sickened her male companion, Lars, whom veterinarians were able to save.

Zoos bring together different animal species that would never encounter each other in the wild. On occasion, this can have unforeseen consequences. When in 2010 at the Wuppertal Zoo one polar bear ...

When the polar bears started dying, nobody suspected the zebras. Jerka was the first. The 20-year-old polar bear was born in captivity, and had lived in Germany’s Wuppertal Zoo since the age of two.

In 2010 at the Wuppertal Zoo in Germany, brain inflammation killed one female polar bear, Jerka, and sickened her male companion, Lars, whom veterinarians were able to save. Brain-swelling disease ...

Zebra virus spreads to polar bears. Published. 17 August 2012. Image source, AFP. Zoos are being warned to be on the lookout for deadly viruses that can jump between different animals.

In 2010 at the Wuppertal Zoo in Germany, brain inflammation killed one female polar bear, Jerka, and sickened her male companion, Lars, whom veterinarians were able to save. IE 11 is not supported.

In 2010 at the Wuppertal Zoo in Germany, brain inflammation killed one female polar bear, Jerka, and sickened her male companion, Lars, whom veterinarians were able to save. Brain-swelling disease ...