John Ball Zoo Giving Back In Honor of Yogi The Bear

Many people may think of the mischievous Hannah Barbara cartoon bear anytime they hear the name Yogi

But for many in West Michigan, it was synonymous with the large brown bear who has been living at Grand Rapids' John Ball Zoo since 1994.

And earlier this week, Zookeepers had to say goodbye to a friend of the zoo after 31 years of life when his arthritis became too much for him to handle due to his advanced age. While he lived well past his life expectancy thanks to the care he received at the West Michigan zoo.

Jaime Racalla, zookeeper supervisor at John Ball Zoo, had some kind words to say about the beloved bear.

John Ball Zoo is heartbroken by the loss of Yogi, who was a beloved presence at the Zoo for almost 30 years [...] We’re very proud of the long life he had and the excellent care he received from our team into his later years. It is heartwarming to know that Yogi will continue to bring tokens of joy and comfort to children through the stuffed animal drive in his honor.

Yogi came to the John Ball Zoo in 1994 after he was a little too friendly with people at Yellowstone National Park. Had the zoo not taken him, he may have been put down by the park rangers. Instead, he became a favorite here in Grand Rapids by visitors and staff alike.

So, in honor of his cuddly nature, the John Ball Zoo plans to collect teddy bears to donate to the DeVos Children's Hospital. What a great tribute!

If you'd like to donate, you can drop off a new teddy bear with the tags still on to the Guest Services office at the John Ball Zoo during their hours (10am - 4pm) now until October 19th.

You'll be sorely missed, Yogi. But it's so wonderful to see your legacy will still be bringing joy to children in need in West Michigan.