North American Polar Bear Population 2021

In the same Facebook Live they state that Hope is heading to an accredited zoo in the Midwest that has a “robust breeding program for bears.” From this information, I’m guessing Hope may be going to the Columbus Zoo since Columbus and Toledo are the only zoos that have been breeding cubs in the last couple years and Toledo is where Hope’s parents are. Maybe Columbus will acquire a male to breed Aurora, Anana, and Hope in the future. Does Columbus have enough space to accommodate 3 adult females, an adult male and cubs?
 
Animals R AMAZING! said:
In the same Facebook Live they state that Hope is heading to an accredited zoo in the Midwest that has a “robust breeding program for bears.” From this information, I’m guessing Hope may be going to the Columbus Zoo since Columbus and Toledo are the only zoos that have been breeding cubs in the last couple years and Toledo is where Hope’s parents are. Maybe Columbus will acquire a male to breed Aurora, Anana, and Hope in the future. Does Columbus have enough space to accommodate 3 adult females, an adult male and cubs?
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Their exhibit is really large, lots of water and land with plenty of resting spots. I saw a bit of the behind the scenes area and it's a large set up, as well, with room for lots of bears, space to separate denning females, etc
 
Animals R AMAZING! said:
In the same Facebook Live they state that Hope is heading to an accredited zoo in the Midwest that has a “robust breeding program for bears.” From this information, I’m guessing Hope may be going to the Columbus Zoo since Columbus and Toledo are the only zoos that have been breeding cubs in the last couple years and Toledo is where Hope’s parents are. Maybe Columbus will acquire a male to breed Aurora, Anana, and Hope in the future. Does Columbus have enough space to accommodate 3 adult females, an adult male and cubs?
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I spoke to an inside source from the Columbus zoo and they said at the current time they are not getting any new polar bears and not sending any out. It's beyond me what zoo it is, but if they are referring to a past 'robust' breeding program, maybe Brookfield Zoo (although that was over a decade ago)? But Hudson is her uncle.
 
blospz said:
I spoke to an inside source from the Columbus zoo and they said at the current time they are not getting any new polar bears and not sending any out. It's beyond me what zoo it is, but if they are referring to a past 'robust' breeding program, maybe Brookfield Zoo (although that was over a decade ago)? But Hudson is her uncle.
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Henry Vilas?
 
blospz said:
I spoke to an inside source from the Columbus zoo and they said at the current time they are not getting any new polar bears and not sending any out. It's beyond me what zoo it is, but if they are referring to a past 'robust' breeding program, maybe Brookfield Zoo (although that was over a decade ago)? But Hudson is her uncle.
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Are they still planning to send out Lee?
 
blospz said:
Two polar bear cubs!!

Two Polar Bear Cubs Born at the Detroit Zoo - Detroit Zoo
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Absolutely AMAZING news!! Nice to have another successful breeding pair. The only less than ideal part, Suka (the mother) is yet ANOTHER offspring of the hyper prolific Marty x Crystal line. As it stands, all actively breeding groups in the US are either Marty and Crystal, or one of their cubs.

Fingers crossed Nuka can get the job done with the other female at Detroit, proven female Anana, as that pairing would finally produce cubs unrelated to the Marty/Crystal line.
 
Hyak_II said:
Absolutely AMAZING news!! Nice to have another successful breeding pair. The only less than ideal part, Suka (the mother) is yet ANOTHER offspring of the hyper prolific Marty x Crystal line. As it stands, all actively breeding groups in the US are either Marty and Crystal, or one of their cubs.

Fingers crossed Nuka can get the job done with the other female at Detroit, proven female Anana, as that pairing would finally produce cubs unrelated to the Marty/Crystal line.
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The first step would be to get Anana to tolerate Nuka. As of last year whenever they were put on exhibit together, she did not care for him. But I'm hoping her hormones kick in this season and she warms up to him.
 
blospz said:
The first step would be to get Anana to tolerate Nuka. As of last year whenever they were put on exhibit together, she did not care for him. But I'm hoping her hormones kick in this season and she warms up to him.
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When was the last time Anana have Cubs? Also isn’t she kinda old now?
 
John Marchwick said:
When was the last time Anana have Cubs? Also isn’t she kinda old now?
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She had Luna in 2012. She had other cubs that did not survive before that. She is 20 and I am hesitant a baby will happen this late in the game, but because her genes are so valued, I see why they are still trying. Hopefully though she gets a rest in the next few years!
 
blospz said:
She had Luna in 2012. She had other cubs that did not survive before that. She is 20 and I am hesitant a baby will happen this late in the game, but because her genes are so valued, I see why they are still trying. Hopefully though she gets a rest in the next few years!
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Has Luna had Cubs yet? And is she related to the Marty Krystal Line?
 
The changes coming to the Polar Bear program are honestly remarkable. It is kind of crazy how many announcements have come out in just the past week. I looking forward to the upcoming breeding season. Hopefully, the new pairings will bear fruit this fall.

Pairings for the next breeding season:
  • Sakari and Luna - Buffalo
  • Nuka and Anana - Detroit
  • Siku and Talini - Lincoln Park
  • Koda and Haley - Memphis
  • Payton and Anana - North Carolina
  • Marty and Crystal - Toledo
  • ? and Hope - Midwestern Zoo?
I think it is very possible that we see a few more changes this year. Nanuyaak has moved to another facility (I suspect Oregon). Nikita(moving to the Hogle Zoo) may receive a mate. Hudson (Brookfield) may receive a mate. Lee(Louisville) may receive a mate. Hope(Hogle) is moving to a midwestern zoo for breeding. And of course, Nora(Hogle) is moving back to Oregon. I hope we can get some restrictions lifted for the wild-born bears to breed, we have a younger generation coming of age who are all very closely related. (Hope, Nora, Amelia Grey, Neva, Nuniq, Borealis, etc.)
 
blospz said:
The first step would be to get Anana to tolerate Nuka. As of last year whenever they were put on exhibit together, she did not care for him. But I'm hoping her hormones kick in this season and she warms up to him.
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I believe this how Anana has been with other males in the past. If I'm correct, she acted this way with Little One in Cincinnati as well.
John Marchwick said:
Has Luna had Cubs yet? And is she related to the Marty Krystal Line?
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She has not had any cubs yet. She was hand-raised so that may contribute to it. She isn't directly from the Marty/Crystal line, but her father is Nanuq so she has a few half-siblings from that line (Nora, Amelia Grey, Nuniq, and Neva).
 
Jaxton said:
The changes coming to the Polar Bear program are honestly remarkable. It is kind of crazy how many announcements have come out in just the past week. I looking forward to the upcoming breeding season. Hopefully, the new pairings will bear fruit this fall.

Pairings for the next breeding season:
  • Sakari and Luna - Buffalo
  • Nuka and Anana - Detroit
  • Siku and Talini - Lincoln Park
  • Koda and Haley - Memphis
  • Payton and Anana - North Carolina
  • Marty and Crystal - Toledo
  • ? and Hope - Midwestern Zoo?
I think it is very possible that we see a few more changes this year. Nanuyaak has moved to another facility (I suspect Oregon). Nikita(moving to the Hogle Zoo) may receive a mate. Hudson (Brookfield) may receive a mate. Lee(Louisville) may receive a mate. Hope(Hogle) is moving to a midwestern zoo for breeding. And of course, Nora(Hogle) is moving back to Oregon. I hope we can get some restrictions lifted for the wild-born bears to breed, we have a younger generation coming of age who are all very closely related. (Hope, Nora, Amelia Grey, Neva, Nuniq, Borealis, etc.)
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Will *bear* fruit. Ehh? Ehh? ;):D

I jest, but am extremely hopeful given the welcome surprise of twin polar bears at Detroit. I remember hearing back when the Philadelphia Zoo was converting its former polar bear habitat into that for penguins was that there apparently was a baby boom/glut in the polar bear population in zoos and a good chunk if not all breeding females were put on contraceptives, leading to situations of zoos phasing out polar bears or only keeping rescues. Is there more I can find out about this mentality?
 
Jaxton said:
I believe this how Anana has been with other males in the past. If I'm correct, she acted this way with Little One in Cincinnati as well.
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You are correct. She was that way with Nanuq and Hudson too. It can take her a breeding season or two for her to warm up to the males. It's just tough because time is ticking and she's not getting any younger.

Jaxton said:
She has not had any cubs yet. She was hand-raised so that may contribute to it. She isn't directly from the Marty/Crystal line, but her father is Nanuq so she has a few half-siblings from that line (Nora, Amelia Grey, Nuniq, and Neva).
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Her mother's bloodline is underrepresented and any cubs Luna has could be vital. A family bloodline that does not include Marty's genes (besides the Nanuq offspring in Columbus) include Anana (Detroit), Anana (North Carolina Zoo), Lee (Louisville), and Hayley (Memphis). Anoki (Seneca Park Zoo) is also in the family, but has no mate, A.I. has not worked on her, and her breeding window is about to close.

I have a prediction that the "midwestern zoo with a robust polar bear program" is Toledo Zoo. I know it's not Columbus since I asked an inside source who told me no changes in immediate future for the polar bears. Those are the only two zoos with good results in the past decade. Now that would mean Marty would move somewhere, Crystal would also breed with a new male in Toledo or move somewhere, and they would need a new male at Toledo (I'm betting on Lee). Time will tell!
 
blospz said:
I have a prediction that the "midwestern zoo with a robust polar bear program" is Toledo Zoo. I know it's not Columbus since I asked an inside source who told me no changes in immediate future for the polar bears. Those are the only two zoos with good results in the past decade. Now that would mean Marty would move somewhere, Crystal would also breed with a new male in Toledo or move somewhere, and they would need a new male at Toledo (I'm betting on Lee). Time will tell!
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Is Lee the only male of breeding age unrelated to the Marty/Crystal line that wasn't rescued from the wild?
 
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