Polar Bear Cub Watch

Oh, I was really hoping for a cub at the Columbus Zoo! But maybe this works out for Nanuq as he can move back on exhibit when the females stop showing signs of denning. Or maybe something will happen after all.

So let's look at the list thus far:


Brookfield Zoo: No test results yet.
Cincinnati Zoo: Elvis detects no pregnancy.
Columbus Zoo: Elvis detects no pregnancy.
Detroit Zoo: No test results yet.
Denver Zoo: No test results yet.
Kansas City: Elvis detects no pregnancy.
Memphis Zoo: No test results yet.
Pittsburgh Zoo: No test results yet.
Maryland Zoo: No test results yet.
San Diego Zoo: No test results yet.
Sea World San Diego: Elvis detects pregnancy!
Seneca Park Zoo: No test results yet.
Toledo Zoo: No test results yet.

That's 13 zoos...I wonder what zoo is missing? Was a female artificially inseminated this year or am I missing one?
 
Since the Maryland Zoo is pretty good at answering questions on facebook, I asked if anything occurred in the spring to give them signs of a baby on the way. They said the two polar bears did mate then and Anoki is denning. They are looking for signs and will know soon if a pregnancy has occurred or not. I asked about Elvis, but there was no mention about him in their reply so maybe he didn't participate with their zoo or gave them some hopeful news.
 
Toronto Zoos sole surviving cub is being called Remy by the vet staff caring for him because he came to them on Rememberance day. A fitting name for the little fighter and a great way to honour our brave troops. Hes apparently doing very well being hand reared. They have high hopes for him.
 
* Anana (Brookfield Zoo) was on exhibit today. I am assuming either the zoo is allowing her to go in and out on her own whim or perhaps her signs of denning have gone away.

* Berit (Cincinnati Zoo) was detected by Elvis not to be pregnant. Whether she is or not, she has started to show signs and is currently denning.
 
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Well, it looks like this may be a year with no cubs in the US. Here is the latest update

Brookfield Zoo: Anana back on exhibit.
Cincinnati Zoo: Berit was on exhibit, but then started to den later.
Columbus Zoo: Both females back on exhibit.
Detroit Zoo: ?
Denver Zoo: Cranbeary back on exhibit.
Kansas City: Berlin back on exhibit.
Memphis Zoo: ?
Pittsburgh Zoo: Kobe back on exhibit.
Maryland Zoo: Anoki is still denning!
San Diego Zoo: I am assuming Chinook is back on exhibit.
Sea World San Diego: Unfortunately I saw a photo of this weekend and Sjenza was back on exhibit.
Seneca Park Zoo: Aurora back on exhibit.
Toledo Zoo: Nan back on exhibit.

Time will tell if any cubs were born and they are being hand raised. It took until February-March last year for Buffalo Zoo to announce that they were doing so.
 
Well for those of you who need a polar bear cuteness fix try visting Toronto Zoos website. In a rare move for our zoo they are posting photos, videos and updates on our little cutie. Hes up and walking now. A naming contest should be starting soon too.

Toronto Zoo | Polar bear cub
 
From facebook confirmations and photos, it looks like we are cub less for this season. Hopefully something will happen at the end of this year for the next birthing season.
 
In a not so surprising turn Winnipeg's Assinibione Park and Zoo has picked up 10 month old orphaned twins. The brother and sister will be arriving at the zoo shortly to take up residence in Journey to Churchill with last years orphans Kaska and Aurora, former nuisance bear Storm and Toronto born Hudson. And they arent even at capacity yet. The zoo could still hold 6 more adult bears plus cubs. More cubs could be arriving as this was the same time of year as Storm, Kaska and Aurora were all rescued. In 5 or so years Assiniboine will have 6 mature bears, 5 of which are completely unrepresented in the captive population, so they have every chance of becoming a polar bear producing powerhouse.

Orphaned polar bear cubs coming to Winnipeg zoo - Manitoba - CBC News
 
Since this thread got bumped up, lets discussed this year's possibilities for the US:

Brookfield Zoo: Anana breed with Hudson and her keepers will den her when she starts to show signs.
Cincinnati Zoo: No mating was observed this year.
Columbus Zoo: Both mated with Nanuq. I'm hopeful for this zoo!
Detroit Zoo: I would assume the two mated.
Denver Zoo: Maybe mated?
Kansas City: I'm a little worried due to Berlin's age and never having a cub.
Memphis Zoo: Maybe mated?
Pittsburgh Zoo: Koda mated with three females, but he hasn't had any results in the past.
Maryland Zoo: Breeding occurred.
San Diego Zoo: I thought I read the mating pair were not recommended to breed this year, but then I read an article on the zoo's website confirming that they did.
Sea World San Diego: Hopefully one of the two females has a cub.
Seneca Park Zoo: I think Aurora's baby days are over.
Toledo Zoo: I'm probably the most optimistic about Nan having a cub.
 
blospz said:
Since this thread got bumped up, lets discussed this year's possibilities for the US:

Brookfield Zoo: Anana breed with Hudson and her keepers will den her when she starts to show signs.
Cincinnati Zoo: No mating was observed this year.
Columbus Zoo: Both mated with Nanuq. I'm hopeful for this zoo!
Detroit Zoo: I would assume the two mated.
Denver Zoo: Maybe mated?
Kansas City: I'm a little worried due to Berlin's age and never having a cub.
Memphis Zoo: Maybe mated?
Pittsburgh Zoo: Koda mated with three females, but he hasn't had any results in the past.
Maryland Zoo: Breeding occurred.
San Diego Zoo: I thought I read the mating pair were not recommended to breed this year, but then I read an article on the zoo's website confirming that they did.
Sea World San Diego: Hopefully one of the two females has a cub.
Seneca Park Zoo: I think Aurora's baby days are over.
Toledo Zoo: I'm probably the most optimistic about Nan having a cub.
Click to expand...

Cincinnati Zoo's bears did mate this year. Whether it was recorded by staff I don't know, but it was certainly witnessed by visitors, including myself, on two different occasions earlier in the year.
 
WhiteTiger said:
Cincinnati Zoo's bears did mate this year. Whether it was recorded by staff I don't know, but it was certainly witnessed by visitors, including myself, on two different occasions earlier in the year.
Click to expand...

Well, that's good to know then. Hopefully one of the sessions were successful.
 
Alright, lets kick off this season! After visiting the Maryland Zoo today, I was told by a docent and zookeeper that Anoki, the female polar bear has been denning for the past week or so. I'm not sure if she was starting to show signs yet, but they put her in the area as a precaution. She is doing well; eats breakfast and sleeps most of the day. She has built a couple small nests in the hay. The zoo has two video cameras in her den and can watch her 24/7.

If you know any US zoos that have started to den up their female polar bears, write in this thread.
 
Up here in Canada Toronto's Nikita has begun to show denning behaviours but she does this every year with no result so take that with a grain of salt. I haven't heard if Aurora is doing likewise just yet.

At Zoo Sauvage de St. Felicein, Aisaqvak has been removed from display so she can begin denning if she wishes.

No news yet on Taiga at Aquarium Du Quebec.

However the first new cubs of the year have arrived in the form of 11 month old twins Blizzard (M) and Star (F). They were found wandering on their own in northern Manitoba and after an extensive search for their mother they were rescued. The twins just went on display at Assiniboine Park and Zoo's Journey to Churchill where they will begin introductions to the zoos other four polar bears Toronto born Hudson and last years three rescues Storm, Aurora and Kaska. You would think at 6 they would hit capacity but they have only hit half of their adult bear capacity. They can comfortably hold 12 adults and cubs.
 
Thanks team tapir, I'll update my list. So that's now Brookfield, most likely Columbus, Detroit, Kansas City, Maryland, Seneca park, San Diego zoo and sea world, and most likely Toledo.
 
It doesn't look promising for Seneca Park Zoo: Where are the bears? |

Also, a week or so ago the San Diego Zoo said they had no news from the weekly ultrasounds with Chinook. That might not be a great sign either.
 
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