Star VII, an iconic 8-year-old reindeer cherished by the Anchorage community in Alaska, has died. The famous reindeer led parades and cultural events as an unofficial mascot of the city.

An Alaskan community is grieving the loss of a cherished reindeer who passed away just weeks after a masked intruder was caught on camera spraying him with an unknown substance.

Surveillance footage revealed that in January, a masked individual used bolt cutters to enter Star’s pen, leading the reindeer into the city. The following month, the same person was seen spraying an unknown substance into the pen, directly at Star.

Subsequently, Star developed severe health issues, including pneumonia and significant weight loss, ultimately leading to his slow decay, which had to be relieved by euthanasia on April 1st.

There has been a pet reindeer housed in downtown Anchorage since the 1950s. Star, which had his own Facebook page, constantly got visitors to his pen, attracting tourists and locals alike.

These deliberate acts of trespassing and poisoning not only resulted in the tragic loss of a beloved animal but also raised significant concerns about community safety and animal welfare.

We call upon the Anchorage Police Department and relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into these incidents, identify and prosecute those responsible.

Photo: Mark Thiessen / AP file