North American Polar Bear Population 2024

MidwestFan

MidwestFan

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
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
 
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?
 
blospz said:
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?
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Has the law actually changed, or has an exception been made?
 
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 said:
Permits are required by laws.
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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.
 
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 said:
Suka at Detroit has emerged from her den. No cubs.
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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.

Neil chace said:
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?
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
LionTamarin said:
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.
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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?
 
Neil chace said:
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?
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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.
 
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