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| Neil, almost 31, gets only slightly into the pool at Como Zoo |
I paid a visit last week to Neil, who is the oldest male polar bear in the US. Neil, who will be 31 years old in November, is one of four polar bears living at Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota, where they get a good deal of snow and cold winter weather, perfect for polar bears. |
| Neil smiles for the camera. Or is it a sneer? |
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| Neil thinks he is too old for toys. |
He is in fairly good health, but does take arthritis medication. He has been trained to give blood samples with a specially designed sleeve for bears, as long as he is distracted with goodies like his favorite lard, so keepers and vets can detect any changes in his health. |
| These days, Neil shares space with young Kulu, at left, and old Nan. |
Neil still occasionally takes a swim, but it is seldom these days, because it is difficult to get out of the water. So he is rather dirty.
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| Neil takes his time. |
When I was there visiting him a week or so ago, he lumbered around the pool, looking for some of the treats the keepers leave, carrots, lettuce, polar bear chow. He didn't interact with young Kulu, who was also out at the time.  |
| Neil barely steps in, then back out of the pool. |
He did put his front paws into the freshwater pool, but just to take a drink. No swimming that day.
Just a little drink...
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Neil and Nan in 2025
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Nan and Neil, 2025
Since the death of his twin brother Buzz, Neil's companion in his old age has been wildborn Nan, who is a year older, and who came from the Toledo Zoo. I did not see her on my recent visit to Como Zoo. She and Buzz come out more seldom than they used to, and I have been told that afternoon nap time is sacred. She may come out in the morning, but both oldsters take a nap after lunchtime.
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Neil emerges through the canvas straps of the door,
designed to keep out the wind.
He reminds me of the Panzerbjorn of the Golden Compass stories. |
Kulu and Neil the Panzerbjorn (Armored Bear) |
Neil, behind him is the polar bear inspired climbing rock.
Photo from last week's visit. |
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| Happier days. Neil and his twin brother Buzz in 2016. |
Neil and Buzz were born December 9, 1995 in Louisville to Skeena and Irsinak. The boys were named for the astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. They moved to the San Diego Zoo for several years, and then to Como Zoo in St. Paul. They made a move to Detroit in 2008 when their Como habitat was being upgraded. While in Detroit, they became popular playmates with cub Talini, then returned to St. Paul in 2010. They have shared their habitat with several guests, including their older niece Berlin when her zoo was flooded, and then twins Suka and Sakari, while they waited for Henry Vilas to finish their new habitat. Buzz died in 2020.
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| Neil, Nan and Kulu in 2022 |
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Neil and Kulu frolic in the water in 2022
When young Kulu arrived in 2022, Neil was re-energized and was happy to play with the youngster in the water. He and Nan played the part of nurturing grandparents to the cub. Kulu is still at Como, and also young Astra as a mate for Kulu. Neil is now getting too old to play.
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These days, Neil on the left, too old to play with Kulu, on the right.
A look at polar bears of extreme age
The oldest male polar bear currently is probably UD, who will be 35 years old in November. He lives at the Seversk Zoo in Russia. UD was born at the Kazan Zoological and Botanical Garden on November 29, 1991, to mother Diksa and father Umka. His name came from his the initials of his parents. UD arrived at the Seversk Zoo in 1994 and has lived there ever since. His favorite treat is carrots, and he gets ice cream once a year on his birthday.
In Japan, old male bear Yukimaru just died a few days ago, on October 1, in Yokohama. He was born in 1992 in the wilderness, so was thought to be almost 34 years old.
Ballyba of Ehime Japan was born in Aalborg Zoo December 17, 1990, so is about to turn 36 years old. She came to Japan when she was about two years old. Ballyba has a younger sister Malik who still lives in Aalborg. Ballyba is most likely the oldest polar bear in the world. She has a daughter, Peace.
In 2018, old Boris, the retired Circus Bear in Point Defiance Zoo.Boris the rescued circus bear, son of Churchill, born in Rostock Germany, died in 2020 at age 35 at Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington. He performed in the East German Circus, and with other polar bears was sold to a Mexican Circus after the Berlin Wall fell. He and the other polar bears, who were living in terrible conditions with the Suarez Bros. Circus, were rescued by the feds when the circus wintered in US territory Puerto Rico and brought to Point Defiance Zoo in 2002.
Katjuscha in Berlin Zoo in 2018. Katjuscha was born in Karlsruhe in 1984 and died in the Berlin Zoo at age 37, in 2021. Her companions were Tosca, Nancy, Lars, and also the famous Knut. She was sister of famous dwarf polar bear Antonia.
Famous Antonia, sassy little dwarf polar bearKatie's sister Antonia, the famous dwarf polar bear, also born in Karlsruhe, died in 2025 at almost 36 years of age, in Gelsenkirchen.
Aika in Tierpark BerlinAika, grandmother and great grandmother to many bears including Flocke, was born in 1980 and died in 2016 in Tierpark Berlin at the age of 36.
Debby was born in the Russian Arctic in 1966, rescued as a cub and taken to Assiniboine Zoo in Winnipeg Canada, where she had six cubs, all of whom lived to an extended age. She died in 2008, at the age of 41 years old, verified by the Guinness Book of World Records (although she may have been 42, having been born in the wild and her actual birthday unsure at the time of rescue.)
Debby's daughter Winnie, who was born in Winnipeg in 1984, moved to Sendai Japan and lived to be 36 years old.
