Staff and zoo visitors are mourning the passing of Waldo the grizzly bear who died at the Assiniboine Park Zoo at the age of 36, said officials.

The grizzly bear and his sister Hilda were orphaned in 1974 near Banff and came to Winnipeg from the Calgary Zoo later that year.

Waldo's sister passed away three years ago.

Waldo died in his sleep last week and few bears reach the age he lived to, said zoo staff.

Officials said the grizzly bear will be missed by many of the zoo's staff, along with thousands of visitors.