Zoo officials said Tuesday that Soosha was euthanized March 14 after being in failing health and declining to eat.

"It is always difficult to make this type of decision. Despite our best efforts to help her, Soosha's quality of life declined severely over the last few months. As hard as it is, this was the right thing to do. She will be missed by us all very much," said Denver Zoo Vice President of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Scott Larsen.

"She was the last of the iconic Denver Zoo polar bears that came to Northern Shores in 1987," said Denver Zoo spokesperson Tiffany Barnhart.

The life span of a wild female polar bear can be up to the mid-20s, while polar bears in zoos can live into their mid-30s.

Soosha arrived at the Denver Zoo from Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, S.C., in 1987.