Polar bear cub relocated to Assiniboine Park Zoo

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This article was published 28/11/2016 (3469 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A female, orphaned polar bear cub has arrived at Assiniboine Park Zoo from Churchill.

The approximately one-year-old, 100-pound bear is at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre after wandering alone near the town of Churchill.  

According to officials, the bear had been observed without its mother for “some time.” Young bears must stay with their mothers for at least one winter or until the freeze of the Western Hudson Bay in order to learn how to hunt and have protection from other bears. The bear was identified as in need of intervention and transfer to the centre by Manitoba Sustainable Development.

Members of the Assiniboine Park’s Polar Bear Rescue Team travelled to Churchill to supervise the bear’s trip to Winnipeg.

“This is a very unfortunate situation as it appeared we would make it through the 2016 polar bear season without a bear needing our help,” Dr. Chris Enright, head of veterinary services said. “Luckily we have an excellent facility and a team of professionals in Churchill and at Assiniboine Park Zoo that are equipped to deal with situations like this. We are happy to report that the cub is in good health and is doing well in her new surroundings.”

The cub will undergo the standard 30-day quarantine period and will not be visible to the general public during that time. A date when the bear will be introduced to the public will be announced at a later date.

The zoo’s Journey to Churchill 10-acre exhibit is currently home to seven polar bears: Storm, Aurora, Kaska, Blizzard, Star, York and Eli, as well as other Arctic species.

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