The world's first polar bear to be born in the tropics at the Singapore Zoo has died.

Inuka was put down on humane grounds on April 25, 2018, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) confirmed.

Inuka, 27, was suffering from age-related ailments.

An earlier health check-up on April 3 discovered that Inuka's longstanding arthritis condition and worsening stiff gait had caused its paws to be injured as it was dragging its limbs to move around and the wounds did not improve despite treatment.

In order not to prolong its pain, the decision was made to not revive it from general anesthesia.

Here are some photos of Inuka as a little bundle of joy and new addition to the zoo:

Inuka was born to Sheba and Nanook in December 1990. He made his first public appearance when he was only three month old.

Nanook and Sheba came from the Winnipeg Zoo in Canada, and Cologne Zoo in Germany respectively.

The Singapore Zoo successfully set up an extensive breeding programme, leading to Inuka's birth.

Aside from Inuka, Sheba, and Nanook, Singapore had a fourth polar bear called Anana.

She was caught from the Canadian wild and brought to the zoo in 1979.

After the birth of the polar bear cub, it was given the name Inuka which was chosen from a nation-wide naming contest. Inuka means "silent stalker" in Inuit.

Inuka loved frolicking in the water with his mother Sheba.

Sheba, Nanook, and Anana died in 2012, 1995, and 1999 respectively, leaving Inuka as the only polar bear left at the Singapore Zoo.

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Last polar bear in Singapore

Inuka will be Singapore’s last polar bear.

In 2006, the zoo announced that it would no longer bring anymore polar bears to an equatorial climate after discussions with its Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee.

WRS has also confirmed that they will not be bringing in another polar bear to Singapore in the foreseeable future as they will be transforming Singapore Zoo into a rainforest-themed zoo.

All photos courtesy of WRS