Zoo caring for orphaned polar bear cub
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The Assiniboine Park Zoo is caring for an orphaned polar bear cub that arrived from Churchill Thursday after conservation officers determined it was incapable of surviving on its own.
The officers found the bear’s dead mother.
Orphaned cubs have a high mortality rate, and a medical team was quickly sent to Churchill to support the cub’s initial needs, the zoo said in a media release.
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An orphaned polar bear cub arrived at the Assiniboine Park Zoo Thursday night. It was found in Churchill by conservation officers and is currently undergoing medical care at the zoo.
The team arrived in Winnipeg late Thursday night.
“We’re fortunate to have a world-class polar bear facility at Assiniboine Park Zoo, and grateful to be able to give this cub a safe home and new opportunity to thrive,” said Dr. Chris Enright, senior director of zoological operations in the release.
“Our veterinary and animal-care teams will be focused on providing a safe, supportive environment as the cub gets comfortable with its new surroundings.”
The cub is now going through a quarantine period and will not be visible to the public while it settles into its new home.
“It is always a sad day when there’s an orphaned cub, particularly as polar bears face increasing pressures related to climate change,” Dr. Stephen Peterson, director of conservation and research, said in the release.
“Our centre was created to care for polar bears that cannot survive in the wild, and this cub will serve as an ambassador to its species, Churchill, and the arctic helping connect people to the challenges polar bears face in the wild and inspiring conservation action.”
The zoo has six other polar bears in its care: Storm, Nanuq, York, Kaska, Willow and Star.
The last cubs transferred to the zoo came in 2017.
Assiniboine Park Conservancy will continue to provide updates.
tiago.resko@freepress.mb.ca