North American Polar Bear Population 2022
- Thread starter MidwestFan
- Start date
TWINS AT TOLEDO https://twitter.com/ToledoZoo/status/1598319812500914176?s=20&t=4lo6eW0mnDZQvV6tRbTs2g
Fantastic news!!
Fantastic news!!
I did not expect to find news this great this morning! It looks like we are on track for my hope of a year where the polar bear population breaks even, and its only December 1st! This also frees up Nuka to return to Detroit or breed elsewhere, which would also be great for producing cubs next year!
Alaska Zoo - Anchorage, AK (0.1)
Cranbeary F (Kavek x Voda) b. 2001.11.21
San Diego Zoo - San Diego, CA (1.2)
Kalluk M (WILD x WILD) b. 2000
Chinook F (WILD x WILD) b. 1995
Tatqiq F (WILD x WILD) b. 2000
Brookfield Zoo - Brookfield, IL (1.1)
Hudson M (Aussie x Arki) b. 2006.12.14
Hope F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2015.12.03
Lincoln Park Zoo - Chicago, IL (1.1)
Siku M (Marty x Crystal) b. 2009.12.03
Talini F (Triton x Barle) b. 2004.11.22
Louisville Zoo - Louisville, KY (1.1)
Qannik F (WILD x WILD) b. 2011.01.10
Lee M (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1999.11.27
Detroit Zoo - Royal Oak, MI (0.3)
Suka F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2012.11.21
Astra F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17
Laerke F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17
Como Park Zoo - Saint Paul, MN (2.1)
Neil M (Irsinak x Skeena) 1995.12.09 [sterile]
Nanuyaak (WILD x WILD) b. 1994
Kulu M (Lee x Aurora) b. 2019.11.28
Kansas City Zoo - Kansas City, MO (1.1)
Berlin F (Icee x Connie) b. 1989.12.11
Nuniq M (Nanuq x Aurora) b. 2016.11.14
Saint Louis Zoo - St. Louis, MO (1.0)
Kali M (WILD x WILD) b. 2013
Albuquerque BioPark Zoo - Albuquerque, NM (2.0)
Kiska M (Andy x Chinook) b. 1996.11.19 [sterile]
Koluk M (Andy x Chinook) b. 1996.11.19 [sterile]
Buffalo Zoo - Buffalo, NY (1.1)
Sakari M (Marty x Crystal) b. 2012.11.21
Luna F (Nanuq x Anana) b. 2012.11.27
Seneca Park Zoo - Rochester, NY (0.1)
Anoki F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1996.11.20
North Carolina Zoo - Asheboro, NC (1.1)
Anana F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1999.11.27
Payton M (Aussie x Arki) b. 2003.11.08
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium - Powell, OH (0.2)
Aurora F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2006.11.25
Toledo Zoo - Toledo, OH (1.1)
Crystal F (Orca x Saskia) b. 1998.11.10
Nuka M (Kavek x Voda) b. 2004.11.25
to-be-named later ? (Nuka x Crystal) b. 2022.11.30
to-be-named later ? (Nuka x Crystal) b. 2022.11.30
Oregon Zoo - Portland, OR (0.2)
Nora F (Nanuq x Aurora) b. 2015.11.06
Amelia Gray F (Nanuq x Anana) b. 2016.11.08
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium - Pittsburgh, PA (0.1)
Snowflake F (Herman II x Becky) b. 1995.11.28
Memphis Zoo - Memphis, TN (1.1)
Haley F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 2002.11.15
Koda M (Kavek x Voda) b. 2004.11.25
Hogle Zoo - Salt Lake City, UT (1.1)
Nikita M (Marty x Nanuyaak) b. 2006.11.21
Neva F (Nanuq x Aurora) b. 2016.11.14
Henry Vilas Zoo - Madison, WI (1.1)
Berit F (Olaf x Ulu) b. 1998.12.28
Borealis M (Maty x Crystal) b. 2018.12.09
Total US Population (40)
16.22.2
Cranbeary F (Kavek x Voda) b. 2001.11.21
San Diego Zoo - San Diego, CA (1.2)
Kalluk M (WILD x WILD) b. 2000
Chinook F (WILD x WILD) b. 1995
Tatqiq F (WILD x WILD) b. 2000
Brookfield Zoo - Brookfield, IL (1.1)
Hudson M (Aussie x Arki) b. 2006.12.14
Hope F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2015.12.03
Lincoln Park Zoo - Chicago, IL (1.1)
Siku M (Marty x Crystal) b. 2009.12.03
Talini F (Triton x Barle) b. 2004.11.22
Louisville Zoo - Louisville, KY (1.1)
Qannik F (WILD x WILD) b. 2011.01.10
Lee M (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1999.11.27
Detroit Zoo - Royal Oak, MI (0.3)
Suka F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2012.11.21
Astra F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17
Laerke F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17
Como Park Zoo - Saint Paul, MN (2.1)
Neil M (Irsinak x Skeena) 1995.12.09 [sterile]
Nanuyaak (WILD x WILD) b. 1994
Kulu M (Lee x Aurora) b. 2019.11.28
Kansas City Zoo - Kansas City, MO (1.1)
Berlin F (Icee x Connie) b. 1989.12.11
Nuniq M (Nanuq x Aurora) b. 2016.11.14
Saint Louis Zoo - St. Louis, MO (1.0)
Kali M (WILD x WILD) b. 2013
Albuquerque BioPark Zoo - Albuquerque, NM (2.0)
Kiska M (Andy x Chinook) b. 1996.11.19 [sterile]
Koluk M (Andy x Chinook) b. 1996.11.19 [sterile]
Buffalo Zoo - Buffalo, NY (1.1)
Sakari M (Marty x Crystal) b. 2012.11.21
Luna F (Nanuq x Anana) b. 2012.11.27
Seneca Park Zoo - Rochester, NY (0.1)
Anoki F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1996.11.20
North Carolina Zoo - Asheboro, NC (1.1)
Anana F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1999.11.27
Payton M (Aussie x Arki) b. 2003.11.08
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium - Powell, OH (0.2)
Aurora F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2006.11.25
Toledo Zoo - Toledo, OH (1.1)
Crystal F (Orca x Saskia) b. 1998.11.10
Nuka M (Kavek x Voda) b. 2004.11.25
to-be-named later ? (Nuka x Crystal) b. 2022.11.30
to-be-named later ? (Nuka x Crystal) b. 2022.11.30
Oregon Zoo - Portland, OR (0.2)
Nora F (Nanuq x Aurora) b. 2015.11.06
Amelia Gray F (Nanuq x Anana) b. 2016.11.08
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium - Pittsburgh, PA (0.1)
Snowflake F (Herman II x Becky) b. 1995.11.28
Memphis Zoo - Memphis, TN (1.1)
Haley F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 2002.11.15
Koda M (Kavek x Voda) b. 2004.11.25
Hogle Zoo - Salt Lake City, UT (1.1)
Nikita M (Marty x Nanuyaak) b. 2006.11.21
Neva F (Nanuq x Aurora) b. 2016.11.14
Henry Vilas Zoo - Madison, WI (1.1)
Berit F (Olaf x Ulu) b. 1998.12.28
Borealis M (Maty x Crystal) b. 2018.12.09
Total US Population (40)
16.22.2
@MidwestFan runs this thread, so will want to be the one posting these population updates.
I also see you've pretty much copy and pasted his initial list which should've required crediting him too.
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
So with the new cubs at Toledo, did the population break even this year?
As of today, the population has broken even. I'll be anxiously watching the population over the next month hoping it stays that way, or even better, we get a year where the population grows!
I actually typed up everything myself. My intent was to make sure that the style of the update was on form to the initial post, though. I did not realize that updating the list would be objectionable so I am sorry for that.
No worries, we just usually leave updating the thread to the thread creator. Thread updates for most population lists usually come at the beginning of the year
No worries, we just usually leave updating the thread to the thread creator. Thread updates for most population lists usually come at the beginning of the year
Don't go saying stuff like that second sentence
Haha, I mean I would say most of the threads do get updated at the start of the year but you are absolutely correct that not all do (I also post updates to some of my threads later in the year at times).Don't go saying stuff like that second sentence
Giving me deadlines I didn't know I had lol
I've been thinking, after the great news from Toledo today, does anyone have any news out of Hogle, Columbus, or Memphis? Are all three females still denning, or has anyone seen them on exhibit? While I'm perfectly happy just having two births this year, it'd be great if we ended up seeing more cubs!
Soon it's also going to become time to start paying attention to polar bear transfers, as oftentimes those occur between denning season and the next year's breeding season. Probably the most likely transfer would be Nuka returning to Detroit, to breed with Suka, but there are certainly some other transfers I'd expect to see. Most importantly, there needs to be a transfer putting Lee back into a breeding situation, he's a genetically valuable, proven male whose genes are being wasted at Louisville. Amelia Grey is another one who should certainly be sent to a breeding situation. The other big question then would be as to where, if anywhere Astra and Laerke go. Detroit has the room that theoretically they could keep them, Suka, and a male, but it'd be interesting to see if this is the route the SSP takes or if we see them transferred elsewhere.
Soon it's also going to become time to start paying attention to polar bear transfers, as oftentimes those occur between denning season and the next year's breeding season. Probably the most likely transfer would be Nuka returning to Detroit, to breed with Suka, but there are certainly some other transfers I'd expect to see. Most importantly, there needs to be a transfer putting Lee back into a breeding situation, he's a genetically valuable, proven male whose genes are being wasted at Louisville. Amelia Grey is another one who should certainly be sent to a breeding situation. The other big question then would be as to where, if anywhere Astra and Laerke go. Detroit has the room that theoretically they could keep them, Suka, and a male, but it'd be interesting to see if this is the route the SSP takes or if we see them transferred elsewhere.
I can confirm that Nuka is supposed to head back to Detroit for the next breeding season (at least as of earlier this year) and as we've all suspected Lee is to head back to Columbus if Aurora has no cubs this denning season. I will also say there are a few more planned transfers for the next breeding season if no cubs are produced from the current pairs, in order to mix things up for hopefully better breeding results. I'm looking forward to seeing what ends up happening to Astra and Laerke though!
Where did you find this information? I have no objection to it because the articles that I found yesterday that said the cubs were born the day before have been completely taken down but it would be good to know.
I commented on the zoo's post on facebook, asking when they were born. That is what they told me.
The oldest bear in the population, and by a good five years. It's a shame that she never had any offspring, as not only is her advanced age a testament to the incredible care she has received over the years, but also of her incredible genetics, as she's five years older than the next oldest living polar bear! I'm glad to hear she looks so good and is active, as this means she likely isn't in pain/dealing with arthritis (a common issue across many taxa including bears), and hopefully she lives at least a few more years. Personally, I suspect Kansas City is a likely option (and one of the better options) for one of the two Detroit cubs, once they are old enough to breed, as Berlin is post-reproductive and Nuniq is an available breeding-age that is less related to them as a direct Marty x Crystal descendant would be (albeit still related through the grandparents of both bears)
Noting that today's Blizzard's birthday, I looked at the population birthdays and noticed that there are only two bears in the population born later than December 11th (today's date), Berit and Qannik. Of course most births don't get announced the day they occur, this had me thinking: does anyone know the status of our other females, or any potential cubs? I know Buffalo is a definite no (I saw Luna outside on my most recent visit- covered with so much mud you could've mistaken her for a brown bear, lol!), but has anyone been to or been in contact with Hogle, Memphis, or Columbus lately? Those are the three zoos I'd say there's a decent chance of cubs at, so any updates about those three facilities would be great. Something in my gut is saying there's at least one more cub out there, but only time will tell if that's true or not.