Assiniboine Park Zoo Polar Bears Returning Soon to Winnipeg

does anyone know what time frame in 2014 Journey to Churchill will open to the public? Early 2014 or late 2014? I like to start booking and planning a trip to winnipeg to see this exhibit!!! thks matt
 
I feel bad for Arturo. Poor bear doesnt belong in such a hot climate to begin with and a small exhibit isnt fair for such a big animal. But at 28 years old can he really hope to survive the move and if so how long would he really be able to enjoy Canada? I mean for the expense of it all is it worth it for Assiniboine. And if he does come how would he really do with our cold winters when hes never really been exposed? So many questions Im sure the zoo is considering. Poor guy.
 
Does anyone think the two to three male bears will share the exhibit together? It will be interesting to see the dynamics between two zoo born polar bear (one who's only used to a warm climate), and a wild polar bear.
 
I'm fairly sure they will keep them seperate. I think one of the articles I read said the boys will be kept seperate. But even so introducing adult males would likely lead to fighting for dominance. Polar bears are fairly solitary creatures. Now in zoos they do cohabitate but its usually a mating pair or sibling set with perhaps an additional mate. The chance of mixing an older bear like Arturo with two young bears is probably not wise even though hes been socialized. The new bear is an adult who could have been raised with siblings but hes still young so he might be more inclined to take to others. Hudson has never been with other bears since his mother killed his siblings. He might not know how handle being with bears who are bigger and older (hes just about to turn 2 and would just now be cast out by mom). If any were to be pair Hudson and new bear might be a pair because they are both fairly young. My bet though stays on them remaining seperate until females arrive. Arturo if he comes and is a former Canadian bear and the new bear will be priority breeders so they might not stay long because they have no connections to any bears in Canadian zoos. Hudson on the other hand despite being born from wild bears is related to his parents, aunt, and half brother and half sister, which will only increase as his relatives breed.
 
Dang, Assiniboine is setting up to become Canadas next big polar bear breeder if they keep on getting wild bears at the rate they are !
 
Perhaps they are. Its one thing to get the bears though. Its another thing to get them breeding. Toronto has been the most successful at getting bears pregnant thus far... not so good on cub survival though. But given the limited space for bears my guess is any successful litter in the next while will put an end to their breeding program. Inkushuk is already the father of 3 of the 10 other polar bears in Canada. He is already over represented and other cubs would really swing that scale further in that direction. And a successful litter for Nikita or Aurora would make them over represented as well since they are sisters. The new male and female are much needed fresh bloodlines but where will their offspring go? All of the 11 bears currently in captivity are under 13. Five of them are under 4 years old! With a possible lifespan of 30 or more where would we put many more youngsters? Transfers to Asia and Europe seem the only options for any future youngsters until Calgary gets around to building its polar bear habitat but thats a good 20 years off according to the master plans.
 
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