Polar Bear Cub Watch

blospz

blospz

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
This thread may not be active, as we may be at the end of birthing season for polar bears, but maybe we can pick this up later in the year/early 2014. With polar bear coupling in U.S. Zoos, are there any still out where there is a chance for cubs? Here's a list of zoos that have polar bears that are not pregnant this season:

San Diego Zoo: The female polar bear insisted on the 1st that she was not pregnant and she wanted to socialize with the other polar bears.
Seneca Park Zoo: Aurora's window has been closed and she's back on exhibit with Zero.
Buffalo Zoo: Anana has been on exhibit recently and has now moved to Brookfield Zoo to start over again.
Columbus Zoo: Not possible since Nanuq just arrived in the fall.
Cleveland, Lincoln Park, Central Park, Bronx, Henry Doorly, Indianapolis & Erie Zoo: Lone polar bears, not possible.
Brookfield Zoo: Aussie and/or Hudson did not have a mate yet.
Louisville Zoo: Senior polar bear and cubs (not possible).
Kansas City: Nikita did not have a mate yet.
Pittsburgh Zoo: Two polar bears did not come together until after breeding season (or am I incorrect?)
Philadelphia Zoo & San Francisco: Two females at each zoo.
Maryland Zoo: Unsuccessful breeding among Magnet and Anoki.
St. Como Zoo: Neutered males.

Wow, writing out that list it looks like it would be easier to do the possibilities as the main list. It doesn't look like there are a lot of polar bear pairings, but with some switches this year, hopefully that will change.

Still Possible:
Alaska Zoo
Cincinnati/Hogle Zoo: Rizzo did mate with the male a few times before she left for the Hogle Zoo.
Denver Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Oregon Zoo: Or are they siblings?
Point Defiance Zoo
Toledo Zoo

Let us know if any of the speculations are indeed false due to a valid reason. Thanks!
 
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Oregon Zoo's bears are all elderly, so they can't breed.
Bronx Zoo also has a single Polar Bear.
I believe Toledo Zoo had a cub recently?
 
Don't think Point Defiance is able to have polar bear cubs at this time, as all of their current polar bears are male.
 
MeiLover, thanks for bringing that up. I just noticed that today and forgot to update it.
 
blospz said:
Maryland Zoo: Unsuccessful breeding among Magnet and Anoki.
Click to expand...

By this, do you mean that Anoki simply didn't conceive/give birth, or did they bear (take that pun as you wish) a DNS/stillborn cub(s)?
 
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Anoki never conceived. I do not think their mating sessions went well as the male, Magnet, was always a little too rough with her. Their keeper said during the summer that they did not mate well so I don't think they ever had a successful, completed round. However, I think I heard they were going to try to pair up the two this breeding season. I feel they may do it more often than before also with the passing of Alaska. Although polar bears are solitary animals, it sounded like the male enjoyed a companion.

Side Note: Before Alaska was too old to breed, her and Magnet did make a cub, however it was a stillborn. But at least it shows he's able to make cubs.
 
UPDATED LIST:

San Diego Zoo: The female polar bear insisted on the 1st that she was not pregnant and she wanted to socialize with the other polar bears.
Seneca Park Zoo: Aurora's window has been closed and she's back on exhibit with Zero.
Buffalo Zoo: Anana has been on exhibit recently and has now moved to Brookfield Zoo to start over again.
Columbus Zoo: Not possible since Nanuq just arrived in the fall.
Cleveland, Lincoln Park, Central Park, Bronx, Henry Doorly, Indianapolis & Erie Zoo: Lone polar bears, not possible.
Brookfield Zoo: Aussie and/or Hudson did not have a mate yet.
Louisville Zoo: Senior polar bear and cubs (not possible).
Kansas City: Nikita did not have a mate yet.
Pittsburgh Zoo: Two polar bears did not come together until after breeding season (or am I incorrect?)
Philadelphia Zoo & San Francisco: Two females at each zoo.
Maryland Zoo: Unsuccessful breeding among Magnet and Anoki.
St. Como Zoo & Point Defiance Zoo: All males.
Oregon Zoo: Brother and sister.
Alaska Zoo: Female on birth control due to no den area.

Still Possible:

Detroit Zoo
Hogle Zoo: Rizzo did mate with the male a few times before she left for the Hogle Zoo.
Denver Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo: Wally may be too old and I believe Snow Lilly never really warmed up to any males.
 
Add Buffalo Zoo as another zoo with a polar bear cub this winter season!
 
Is there any information about the Bears in the Rio Grand Zoo???
Would like to know if anyone new anything or even their sex??
 
from the Alaska Zoo facebook page:





The Alaska Zoo



For those of you that have question about the polar bear cub, here is the press release from the USFW Service.

On March 12, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received word that a female polar bear had been taken near Point Lay, Alaska. The adult female was accompanied by a cub, which was recovered and transferred first to the community of Point Lay, and then to the North Slope Borough’s Department of Wildlife Management (DWM). Subsequent to a health evaluation by the DWM it was determined that the cub is a young male weighing approximately 18.4 lbs. and 3-4 months of age. The Alaska Zoo was requested to arrange the transportation from Barrow and to provide for preliminary care and management of the cub. The cub is currently being held for observation at the Alaska Zoo, and appears to be responding well.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes and appreciates the many partners, including the people of Point Lay (who would like the cub to be named “Kali,” pronounced cully, which is the Inupiat name for Point Lay), the North Slope Borough, Alaska Airlines, the North Slope Borough Police Department, and the Alaska Zoo for their efforts in recovering, transporting, and caring for this young animal.

Kali is currently not on display. Opportunities for public viewing will be determined at a later date by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Kali will not be a permanent resident at the Alaska Zoo, since the Zoo already has two adult polar bears.
The final destination of the cub will be determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after consideration of all options.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...8033588.-2207520000.1363739024&type=3&theater

http://www.akjohn.com/Zoos/DAILY-NE...-KALI/28508169_BtRmpT#!i=2415976064&k=NtXHw3r
 
I await the backlash, but this cub should go to the Buffalo Zoo. there it can grow up with their female cub. they do it with cats and primates. could possibly benefit both cubs.
 
Gulo gulo said:
I await the backlash, but this cub should go to the Buffalo Zoo. there it can grow up with their female cub. they do it with cats and primates. could possibly benefit both cubs.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the cub would go to the Assiniboine Park Zoo for the opening of there new Polar bear exhibit.
 
jusko88 said:
I was thinking the cub would go to the Assiniboine Park Zoo for the opening of there new Polar bear exhibit.
Click to expand...

The Assiniboine Park Zoo's polar bear exhibit won't be opening until 2014 and they currently have a male bear (Hudson from the Toronto Zoo) who will be going on display.

Also, I don't know if this is true, but a Toronto Zoo staff member once told me that there is a regulation that prevents polar bears from being transferred between Canada and the US.
 
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