Brother and Sister polar bear match up?

There are changes afoot towards consolidating the zoo polar bear population. Some people will not be happy to lose their local polar bears. 

Wildborn Qannik and a pumpkin at the Louisville Zoo

The Species Survival Plan, which had governed the moving around of polar bears for decades, gave way about a year ago to the  Polar Bear Population Alliance, a federally coordinated effort between the AZA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 

Their focus has changed the way the polar bear population of 37 bears is managed, to focus on multiple bear groups, probably of one male and several females. In the past many zoos had a pair or a single bear. Now the effort aims to consolidate the population into fewer zoos, in order to facilitate breeding. Some of the zoos currently with polar bears will find themselves with empty habitats. 

Crystal nursing twin boys
 Kallik and Kallu in the Toledo Zoo.

Ten years ago, we had over 60 polar bears in the US. Now we have 37, with many of them elderly. The way things have been going, the population trend is downward fast. In addition, the gene pool has been shrinking and now we have a majority of the younger bears descended from Crystal (and except for the last set of twins, father Marty).

Certain laws don't allow Canada to send their rescued cubs to any other country. And the US has a law that doesn't allow any polar bears to come into our country. Crystal came from Belgium, but that was before the prohibition law was passed in 2008. In fact we used to trade bears back and forth with Europe. The two older ladies in San Diego were Canadian rescue cubs.

Wildborn Kali at the Detroit Zoo

There has been one victory, that the Department of Fish and Wildlife now allows rescued Alaskan cubs to be part of the breeding program. This affects females Qannik in Louisville, Kava in the Alaska Zoo, and the male Kali now in Detroit. Fresh genes, if all goes well.

We have two male proven breeders, Lee and Nuka. Lee is in Columbus with Aurora, and there may very well be cubs from that pairing this year. They are already the parents of Kulu, who is now in the Como Zoo. 

Lee at the window, Aurora on shore in Columbus.

Meanwhile, proven breeder Nuka is in Toledo with elderly Crystal, who is likely too old and deserves a quiet retirement. Even if Crystal were to have cubs, it would be yet more Crystal offspring. Maybe Nuka would be better paired with a daughter or granddaughter of Crystal. Nuka also has a twin brother Koda who languishes alone in Memphis. I don't understand this. 

Nuka, when he was in Detroit. Suka and daughter Astra in foreground.

There is a lot of discussion about the most recent match being made between half brother/sister uncle/niece in the US. That is the bringing together of Laerke, currently in Tacoma, and Kallu, who is in St. Louis. Laerke and Kallu have the same father, Nuka, and Kallu's mother is grandmother to Laerke, so very closely related on both sides.

Baby Kallu, with his mother Crystal, in Toledo

Laerke is also a rather special bear, with some health concerns, and is very tiny at only 400 pounds. She was raised by keepers, as she was quite frail at birth and needed a lot of extra care just to keep her alive. She had a grizzly cub companion Jebbie as a childhood companion.

Laerke as a cub in Detroit

Jebbie and Laerke as playful cubs.

Twin sisters Astra (back) and Laerke in Detroit.

 We already have several situations with related bears: Hope is with her Uncle Hudson in Brookfield. Neva is with Nikita, who is half brother to Neva's mother in Hogle Zoo. Astra and Kulu are first cousins in Como Zoo, their mothers Suka and Aurora are sisters. It is getting more and more tricky to find suitable mates with the limited gene pool.  

Family ties

I thought I would look into several of the interesting inbreeding situations that have happened in Europe. These match-ups were not intentional, but they did produce offspring.

Hertha as a cub in Tierpark Berlin

Little girl Hertha was born December 1, 2018, in Tierpark Berlin to Russian born pair Tonja and Wolodja. 

Hertha and mother Tonja

It was discovered after the birth of Hertha, when both parents were genetically tested, that Tonja and Wolodja were both offspring of Simona and Wrangel in the Moscow Zoo. In the year Tonja was born, Murma also gave birth in the Moscow Zoo, and due to "clerical errors" (sloppy recordkeeping) on the part of the Russians, Tonja's records were swapped with another cub. So Tonja and Wolodja were brother and sister. There were suspicions of this when Wolodja first was sent to Berlin, but some corrections were made in the studbook and everyone was assured that they were not related.

Wolodja

After DNA tests showed that Wolodja and Tonja were siblings, Wolodja was sent to another zoo, while mother Tonja raised her daughter Hertha at Tierpark Berlin, and there they both are to this day. Both Tonja and Hertha were put on the "do not breed" list.  Hertha seems to be perfectly healthy and happy. She was even the subject of a story in People Magazine, with adorable phots.

However, there were some dark days at Tierpark Berlin in the years before Hertha was born.

November 3, 2016, Tonja gave birth to twins, with the girl dying in days. Hopes were high for the surviving cub. Fritz, yes he lived long enough to gain a name and many cute photos in the news. But in a matter of just a few days, mid March 2017 at age 4 1/2 months, Fritz sickened and died of multiple organ failure and hepatitis. 

 In December of 2017, Tonja again gave birth again, with the girl living for 26 days before passing away. 

Tonja and Hertha play 

Berlin rejoiced again with the birth of Hertha, but questions, which had arisen when Wolodja first arrived from Moscow, surfaced again. The DNA tests were done, and it was shown that Wolodja and Tonja were brother and sister. The European zoo association said that they would not allow a situation in which adult brother and sister would be together, so Wolodja was moved to the Netherlands. He is currently in Rotterdam, with another male bear.

Polar bear cubs, in zoos and in the wild, have a 50 percent mortality rate, and this may explain the fate of the earlier cubs, but we will never know. 

Yoghi in Munich

Yoghi and son Blizzard

Yoghi was born in 1999 to Bimba and Romeo in Pistoia Italy. His father Romeo was also the father of Bimba. 

Blizzard in Hamburg

And then there was a second incident of inbreeding in this same family in that Italian zoo. In 2006, Bimba gave birth to Blizzard, with Bimba's son Yoghi as the father. So Blizzard was the product  of two generations of parental inbreeding. Blizzard spent many years in Hamburg, never fathering a cub with Victoria, so he was tested and found infertile. Was this a result of inbreeding? We don't know.

Yoghi went on to father three more cubs with a female bear who was NOT his mother. Giovanna and Yoghi became parents of beloved Nobby and Nela in in 2013, and Quintana in 2016.   

Ballyba

Ballyba, who was born in 1990 in Aalborg Zoo in Denmark, and at almost 36 is now considered the oldest polar bear in the world, living in Japan, She was the offspring of father Miki, and Miki's own daughter Nuka II. Ballyba has one daughter, Peace, but Ballyba declined to raise her, so the keepers took over. Obviously, having some inbreeding in her background did not affect Ballyba's longevity. She is reported to be in good health for her age. 

Ballyba's sister Malik nursing Nuka and Qilak
(father was Lars) in 2017.

 Ballyba is sister of Malik still in Aalborg, born ten years later. The inbreeding mistake was avoided this time. Ballyba and Malik share the same mother Nuka II but Malik's father was unrelated Nanok.

In the earlier days of polar bear keeping, breeding was haphazard and not kept track of very well. And zoos housed many more polar bears, often with males and females all kept together, with no one keeping track of parentage. 

Currently, much more care is taken. All the bears are recorded in a studbook, and matches are supposedly thoughtfully arranged. Young cubs can be identified with sub-dermal chips. And there are a lot fewer polar bears to keep track of.

Astra and Kulu of Como Zoo

 

Astra with some watermelon
 and a coconut hidden inside the watermelon

At Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota, there lives a young polar bear couple who may be in the family way. Although they are very young (Kulu will be 7 this fall, and Astra will be 6 years old), there was some breeding last spring, so many are hopeful.

No cubs were born in the US last year, or the year before. In fact the most recent cubs, twin boys Kallik and Kallu, were born to Crystal and Nuka in Toledo on November 11, 2022.

Kulu and Astra in November, 2025,
getting along just fine.
Photo by my daughter Corinna Troth

Astra and her twin sister Laerke were born in Detroit to Suka and Nuka on November 17 2020. Laerke was raised by keepers, due to health issues, but the girls were reunited and went to Point Defiance Zoo together, for a time, then a year ago, Astra came to Como Zoo to meet Kulu, and they got along very well. 

Kulu a few weeks ago, separated from Astra.  

Kulu was born to Aurora and Lee in the Columbus Zoo on November 28. 2019. He was a single cub, so played with his mom a lot, and also with his Aunt Anana. He came to Como Zoo in 2021.

Kulu's mother Aurora and Astra's mother Suka are sisters, both are daughters of Crystal and the late Marty. Kulu's father Lee and his twin sister Anana were born in the Seneca Park Zoo to Rochester Aurora and Yukon (who was born in the Cincinnati Zoo). Suka's father Nuka and his twin brother Koda were born in Denver to Voda and Kavik. 

Astra and her beautiful reflection

There was quite a bit of amorous activity in the spring, and the two played together all summer. Now Kulu misses his girl. She has been separated from him, confined to the deep pool side, in preparation for denning up, which I am told will happen October 12. Reportedly, she has gain quite a bit of weight, which is a good sign, but not a sure sign.

Some lettuce for Astra

Getting some exercise before denning up,
Astra strolls around the right hand enclosure

In the center demonstration area,
 Kulu peers out the window at Astra,
and bangs on the door.
He misses his playmate.

Old Neil on the left, Kulu on the right, in the lefthand enclosure

Kulu walks by Polar Bear Rock

Astra has a secret smile about something, 

Kulu chasing around Astra last November.
 (Photo by Corinna Troth)

 There are no pregnancy tests for polar bears, and we will know the result when she has cubs or not, which is usually in November or December.

Old man Neil of Como Zoo

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?

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. 

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...

Neil and Nan in 2025

                                                          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.

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.

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. 

Neil, Nan and Kulu in 2022

                            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. 

     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 bear

Katie'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 Berlin

Aika, 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.

Famous Gorilla Gladys is mom to one year old Mboka Jo

 

One year old Mboka Jo and a birthday treat

Miracle baby Gladys was raised by keepers and then a surrogate gorilla mom after her mother rejected her. Some had questioned whether Gladys would know how to be a good mother, but those fears faded away as 13 year old Gladys seemed to know exactly how to be the best mother to her son Mboka Jo, right from the beginning, when she had her first baby in September of 2025.

                                              Mboka Jo in June

 Mboka Jo just celebrated his first birthday at the Cincinnati Zoo with an elaborate party, well attended by his fans and friends.

Mboka Jo has a cupcake at his party, Gladys looks on.

Gladys was born in the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas on January 29, 2013, to first time mother Kiazi, who showed no interest in taking care of her baby. 

In February of 2013 Gladys was brought to the Cincinnati Zoo, where there were four potential surrogate gorilla mothers who could help raise the infant. A ground-breaking method of "gorillafication" for the baby included the human keepers wearing specially designed fake fur vests so Gladys could hang onto her caretaker just as she would a gorilla mother. The mothering job was divided among a number of keepers, but they all wore the gorilla fur vests and spoke to Gladys in what you might call gorilla language. Her caretakers crawled around, ate bananas, and did what they could to teach Gladys how to be a gorilla. 

Baby Gladys in 2013, hangs onto one of her human caretakers,
 before she bonded with surrogate mom Mlinzi

 This eased the transition when Mlinzi, one of the potential surrogate mothers, stepped in to raise Gladys, although the baby still had to be brought to the bars to drink her special gorilla milk formula from a bottle. It worked so well with Gladys that, ever since, the gorilla fake fur vests are commonly used when a baby gorilla needs keeper care.

Head Primate Keeper Ron Evans at the time,
with Baby Gladys

Mara, the late Samantha and Chewie eventually joined the mothering group as Mlinzi cared for baby Gladys.

As Gladys grew, Silverback Jomo was in the picture, and other babies were born. Gladys could observe as baby Mondika "Mona," born in 2014 to Asha,  and Elle, born in 2015 to Anju,  were cared for by their mothers and other females in the troop, as well as father Jomo. This provided a good foundation for Gladys when she eventually became a mother. She had some good role models to follow.

Daddy Jomo with the kids.

  

Gladys and Mboka Jo when he was about a month old. 

Gladys and her baby.

Mboka Jo in June, 2026

The First Birthday party for Mboka Jo was held on September 20, with much fanfare, for it was also celebrating World Gorilla Day which was later that week. 

Riding on his mom's back, Mboka Jo sees his birthday cake

At the party, the family,
Father Mbeli, Mother Gladys and Baby Mboka Jo.

There were banners galore, special frozen treats, coconuts, some special gorilla cupcakes, and a very fancy and fruity layer cake made of frozen juices.

Elle had some blue "world" treats

Gladys and Mboka Jo looked for treats in the blue raffia

Chewie and Elle celebrate

The Birthday Cake. Elle wants some. MBeli thinks it is his cake

                                 Mboka Jo schemes how to get some of his cake

                                             while his dad Mbeli is guarding it

                                                             The prize

                                                      My Birthday Cake!

                                                                  Mboka Jo gets a taste

                                             

                       Elle finally gets some cake, and what does she do? 

                       

                       She picks it up and tosses it straight into the moat!

                                        Chewie munches on a frozen flower treat.

                                   Chewie is expecting her first baby this winter.

                                              Mboka Jo will have a playmate.

        Baby gorillas like Mboka Jo have a white spot on their tails,

                     so troop members can easily identify a baby.

                                     It fades as they get older.

                            Even with the cake tossed into the moat, 

                             there are plenty more party goodies for all.

                  All the humans who came to the party were given a gift 

                     of a souvenir pin with a photo of the birthday boy. 

                             Happy First Birthday to Mboka Jo

                                    and Happy World Gorilla Day