One of the world's oldest polar bears is dead at the age of 34. Indianapolis Zoo officials say the bear named Tahtsa (TOT'-sah) died Wednesday after years of declining health. Veterinarians decided to euthanize her when she could no longer stand. Staffers say the bear may have suffered from a neurological problem, but a necropsy -- the animal version of an autopsy -- will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

Tahtsa was born Nov. 20, 1974, at the Denver Zoo. She lived at the Louisville (Ky.) Zoo from March 1976 until Oct. 10, 2006, when she came to Indianapolis on loan. Zoo staffers say polar bears can live into their mid-20s in the wild, sometimes a little longer in captivity.