RIP Ali Oop

For those that liked this movie, you may be interested to know that Ali Oop that bear has passed away.

He was 27. He died Thursday July 17, 2008 at Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail, AB after succumbing to complications due to old age.  His Mum and trainer Ruth Labarge was at his side the whole time.
 
Ali Oop or Oop, as he was called by those that knew him, will live on through his many films and in the hearts of the thousands of people that got the chance to meet him.  Oop played roles in; Dr. Dolittle 2, Wild America, The last Trapper, Trueheart, and a number of TV commercials.  However it is the work he did in Grizzly Falls alongside 12 year old Daniel Clark that will forever be his signature role.
 
Ali Oop grabbed headlines across the world in the summer of 2005 as “The Kissing Bear”.  Young and old alike took away lifelong memories after having the chance to lock lips with this handsome movie star and have their photo taken.  This story broke as Animal Activists called it “Dangerous”.  This opportunity was only presented to people after they had attended a presentation by Labarge on Bear safety and how humans can unknowingly train Bears behaviors when sharing space with them either in captivity or in the wild.  The story made Ali Oop known worldwide and visitors from many different countries came to Innisfail to meet this famous bear.  He was instrumental in educating these people and touching their hearts about the plight of bears in todays’ world.  His work will live forever through the enlightenment that he shared with everyone who met him. 

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return." - Moulin Rouge