Zero, the Milwaukee County Zoo's nationally famous moat-dwelling polar bear, is safely out and back in a holding area after being anesthetized by zoo officials.
At 7 this morning, zookeepers used several darts to tranquilize the 1,100-pound bear, who refused to leave his moat after falling into it Oct. 13. Zoo spokeswoman Jennifer Diliberti said the move came because "things were hanging on for a little bit too long," and Zero was showing less interest in the big herring-baited crate that had been lowered into the moat to trap him.
Zero was anesthetized using the same drugs that have been used safely on him on other occasions.
While he snoozed this morning, 10 members of the zoo staff entered the moat and used a cargo net to lift him into the crate. A crane donated by Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental lifted the crate from the moat, and a forklift transported it and Zero to an indoor holding area.
Zoo staff were monitoring Zero, and they expected him to wake up late today, Diliberti said. The bear will return to public view "as soon as he's able," Diliberti said.