North American Polar Bear Population 2024

[MidwestFan]

U.S.:
Alaska Zoo - Anchorage, AK (0.2)
Cranbeary F (Kavek x Voda) b. 2001.11.21
Kova F (WILD x WILD) b. 2021/2022 (est)

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 (0.1)
Qannik F (WILD x WILD) b. 2011.01.10

Detroit Zoo - Royal Oak, MI (1.1)
Suka F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2012.11.21
Nuka M (Kavek x Voda) b. 2004.11.25

Como Park Zoo - Saint Paul, MN (2.1)
Neil M (Irsinak x Skeena) 1995.12.09 [sterile]
Nanuyaak F (WILD x WILD) b. 1994
Kulu M (Lee x Aurora) b. 2019.11.28

Kansas City Zoo - Kansas City, MO (1.0)
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 (1.0)
Kiska 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 (0.1)
Anana F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1999.11.27

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium - Powell, OH (1.1)
Aurora F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2006.11.25
Lee M (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1999.11.27

Toledo Zoo - Toledo, OH (2.1)
Crystal F (Orca x Saskia) b. 1998.11.10
Kallu M (Nuka x Crystal) b. 2022.11.11
Kallik B M (Nuka x Crystal) b. 2022.11.11

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

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium – Tacoma, WA (0.2)
Astra F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17
Laerke F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17

Henry Vilas Zoo - Madison, WI (1.1)
Berit F (Olaf x Ulu) b. 1998.12.28
Borealis M (Marty x Crystal) b. 2018.12.09

Total US Population (38)
16.22


Ex-US:
Canada:
Calgary Zoo - Calgary, AB (2.0)
Baffin M (WILD x WILD) b. 2016 (est)
Siku M (WILD x WILD) b. 2015 (est)

Assinibione Park Zoo - Winnipeg, MB (2.5)
Kaska F (WILD x WILD) b. 2012 (est)
Nanuq F (WILD x WILD) b. 2015 (est)
Star F (WILD x WILD) b. 2013 (est)
Willow F (WILD x WILD) b. 2016 (est)
Storm M (WILD x WILD) b. 2010 (est)
York M (WILD x WILD) b. 2014 (est)
Agee F (Imarec x Mirsha) b. 1995.01.03

Aquarium du Quebec - Quebec, QC (3.0)
Kinuk M (Yelle x Aisaqvak) b. 2018.11.27
Shouka M (Yelle x Milak) b. 2018.12.10
Humphrey M (Inukshuk x Aurora) b. 2013.11.09

Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat - Cochrane, ON (3.0)
Ganuk M (Inukshuk x Aisaqvak) b. 2009.11.30
Henry M (Nelson x Liya) b. 2013.05.09
Inukshuk M (WILD x WILD) b. 2002 (est)

Toronto Zoo - Toronto, ON (3.1)
Aurora F (WILD x WILD) b. 2000 (est)
Juno F (Inukshuk x Aurora) b. 2015.11.11
Nikita F (WILD x WILD) b. 2000 (est)
Hudson M (Inukshuk x Aurora) b. 2010.10.11

Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Felicien – Saint-Felicien, QB (2.1)
Aisaqvak F (WILD x WILD) b. 2002 (est)
Milak F (Felix x Victoria) b. 2008.11.07
Yelle M (? x ?) b. 2005.11.26

Total Canada Population (22)
15.7

Mexico:
Guadalajara Zoo – Guadalajara, MX (0.1)
Agata F (? x ?) b. 1997.11.23

Total Mexico Population (1)
0.1

 

[wild boar]

I was able to confirm with a friend who is a docent at Detroit Zoo that Suka is still denned up.

Oh, good!

 

[blospz]

I am not sure if any of us know the answer to this question, but with the law changed to allow wild caught polar bears to breed, would you the United States be allowed to bring over captive polar bears from other countries as well to help with breeding?

 

[TinoPup]

I am not sure if any of us know the answer to this question, but with the law changed to allow wild caught polar bears to breed, would you the United States be allowed to bring over captive polar bears from other countries as well to help with breeding?

Has the law actually changed, or has an exception been made?

 

[15399]

Has the law actually changed, or has an exception been made?

It was never a law to begin with, it was a permitting question. The USFWS changed the permits for polar bears they own to allow breeding.

 

[JVM]

I mentioned this in the previous thread before the rule change was announced, so it got buried, but while I was at Saint Louis Zoo last September, it was strongly indicated to the public they intended to breed Kali at some point in the future.

 

[wild boar]

Has the law actually changed, or has an exception been made?

There generally aren't exceptions to laws, but rather exceptions allowed by the law in question.

It was never a law to begin with, it was a permitting question. The USFWS changed the permits for polar bears they own to allow breeding.

Permits are required by laws.

 

[15399]

Permits are required by laws.

Yes, but under the law federal agencies often have a lot of leeway over the regulations and stipulations in the permits they grant. In this case, the USFWS changed the permits issued to the zoos with wild-caught polar bears, the law these permits were granted under (Marine Mammal Protection Act) did not change, and never had a requirement that they could not breed.

 

[JVM]

I can understand why @wild boar was confused as I am fairly certain someone in an older thread here cited the Marine Mammal Protection Act directly as banning the breeding of wild-caught polar bears. I was hopeful it was something closer to what @Neil chace is describing which sounds much more reasonable and frankly less silly than such a ban. Glad to see things clarified.

 

[MeiLover]

Suka at Detroit has emerged from her den. No cubs.

 

[15399]

Suka at Detroit has emerged from her den. No cubs.

This stinks, I'd hate it if we had a cub-less year again. Has anyone heard any news out of either Hogle or Columbus? I suspect Nuka's transfer might've been a little too late to get cubs this year.

 

[MeiLover]

This stinks, I'd hate it if we had a cub-less year again. Has anyone heard any news out of either Hogle or Columbus? I suspect Nuka's transfer might've been a little too late to get cubs this year.

I was told recently that Aurora is apparently still in her den.

 

[IndianRhino]

I was told recently that Aurora is apparently still in her den.

Guess not

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Instagram: "After a denning period that lasted a few months, the Zoo’s Polar Frontier region care team determined that our resident polar bear, Aurora, is not pregnant. While understandably disappointing, the team is happy she is healthy and ready to rejoin male polar bear, Lee, soon. Zoo guests have the opportunity to see Aurora in the habitat during their visit, and, once she has settled in, polar bear Lee will be reintroduced to the habitat as well. We know you’ve missed Aurora, so feel free to visit the Zoo to say hello to her and all of the other winter-loving animals soon!"

 

[wild boar]

Suka at Detroit has emerged from her den. No cubs.

So perhaps I was only wrong in the semantics of what I was told. I'm inclined to think she was beginning to transition at the time.

This stinks, I'd hate it if we had a cub-less year again. Has anyone heard any news out of either Hogle or Columbus?

About a week ago, I called the Utah zoo and was transferred to one of the polar bear keepers (which is nice because most facilities' operators will put you on hold and ask you a question themselves instead of connecting you) who said Neva should be done in a few days, but they were hoping to be surprised.

 

[Lycaon]

Looks like Haley's emerged from her den as well:

Memphis Zoo on Instagram: "Koda and Haley are in their element! ‍ CZO Courtney #polarbear #bear #snow #snowday #love #animals #memphiszoo"

 

[15399]

I suspect we might've had a cub-less year this time around, which is certainly a shame considering there were three deaths too. Hopefully, 2024 will be a better year for the SSP, and right now I'll be paying attention for any transfer news, especially in relation to Qannik and Kali as possible breeding animals now. Unfortunately, with no success breeding at Columbus or Toledo, there aren't any obvious proven males to pair Qannik with.

 

[Lycaon]

What about the polar bears in Canadian zoos? Are they still not able to transfer to the US due to MMPA restrictions? Because the polar bears in Canada's population could bring some genetic value to the population.

 

[15399]

What about the polar bears in Canadian zoos? Are they still not able to transfer to the US due to MMPA restrictions? Because the polar bears in Canada's population could bring some genetic value to the population.

Any imports take a lot of time and money- especially for species like polar bears that have lots of regulations around them. I honestly don't know if it would be possible, and even if it was there aren't many in Canada that'd be worth bringing to the United States, since I want to say a lot of the males in Canada are sterilized since they don't really have a need for breeding. Sure, bringing in Juno from Toronto and/or one of the younger females from Assiniboine could be beneficial, but is it worth the effort it'd take to do that?

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

Looks like Haley's emerged from her den as well:

Memphis Zoo on Instagram: "Koda and Haley are in their element! ‍ CZO Courtney #polarbear #bear #snow #snowday #love #animals #memphiszoo"

That's really too bad to see no cubs in Memphis - again! Fingers crossed that we don't get two cub-less years in a row!

 

[Hyak_II]

Any imports take a lot of time and money- especially for species like polar bears that have lots of regulations around them. I honestly don't know if it would be possible, and even if it was there aren't many in Canada that'd be worth bringing to the United States, since I want to say a lot of the males in Canada are sterilized since they don't really have a need for breeding. Sure, bringing in Juno from Toronto and/or one of the younger females from Assiniboine could be beneficial, but is it worth the effort it'd take to do that?

Yes.it would be *absolutely* beneficial to the US population to acquire Canadian bears. Founder representation the state is disgustingly skewed while being limited to begin with, and there are very few breeding age animals. Even the import of one or two new animals could prove incredibly useful to the population.

Also get real about the whole cost/hassle thing. Barring permitting, in terms of logistics and cost, moving a polar bear is no more difficult than moving a tiger, lion, or other large, strong animal. Insinuating it is otherwise impractically prohibitive to do so is just plain ignorant.