Water fun with Amelia Gray and her mom

Amelia Gray underwater

I stopped in for a quick visit with Anana and her 10 month old daughter Amelia Gray at the Columbus Zoo on September 20. Anana's sister Aurora has twins, Nuniq and Neva, and the two families rotate days in the public enclosure. These are the only cubs born in a US zoo this year. The family which behind the scenes still has a roomy, private outside enclosure with a pool.

Kisses for Mother Anana

Anana and Amelia

 On the day I was passing through, it happened to be Amelia Gray's day to be in the public eye.

Amelia is a happy little cub

 I was told that She weighed 250 pounds. Her cousin/brother Nuniq weighed 308 pounds, and Nuniq's sister Neva is a little one, only 200 pounds at nearly 10 months.

Amelia Gray paddles by

The underwater viewing area at the Columbus Zoo is amazing, and Amelia seems to know she is showing off for her fans.

She is aware of the children watching her

Sassy Amelia Gray

Up, up, up for Amelia

Amelia was busy chasing fish, and I was told that she actually caught one that morning.

Amelia playing with mom's favorite barrel

 

Resting for a moment

Amelia with her mom

Amelia often plays on her own, with her mother watching at a distance.
She is very independent.

Amelia Gray is named for the gray patch on her shoulder,
 which I have not noticed

Mom Anana loves the big blue barrel and she has discovered that rubbing her mouth on it makes loud noises, and she loves that. It is also fun to jump on the barrel. Amelia just watches her mother play sometimes.

Click on link for video of the Big Blue Barrel

Anana playing music on the big blue barrel. See video above

Amelia is quite aware of her visitors, and often swims over to say hello.

Saying hi!

 

Looking for a playmate!

Aurora and Anana get playful

Aurora and Anana love to wrestle, swim and play all day.

Those beautiful polar bear sisters of the Columbus Zoo never seem to get tired of playing.

Anana smiles for the camera

During my visit in May, Aurora and Anana charmed and thrilled their fans with energetic antics, and hammed it up for the Paparazzi at their home in the award winning Polar Frontier.

The sisters spend their day frolicking in the 167,000 gallon salt water pool, where the water is chilled to a comfortable 64 degrees (comfortable for polar bears, that is). Here you can meet the bears face to face in the covered surface viewing area, or go below to see them swim and play underwater. They just love to show off for the crowds, and interact with the children.

Tasty fingers?

Anana poses for the camera

Smile!

The Columbus Zoo has a wonderful underwater viewing area, and the girls like to show off. They know they have an audience of polar bear fans.

The underwater viewing area is spectacular!

Aurora

Aurora relaxes in the wildflowers

Anana likes her salad of seaweed

Having a nice healthy snack.

Anana enjoys the seaweed that grows in t saltwater pool.

Aurora prefers the land, and Anana prefers the water, but they both love playing games together 

The twin girls were born November 25, 2006, in the Toledo Zoo, the daughters of Marty and Crystal. They are sisters of polar bear cub Siku and granddaughters of Arki, both now happily living in the Louisville Zoo.


These ladies they will be 6 years old this fall. I wonder if they will find a boyfriend soon? 

But they are happy with each other's company. It's nice to have a playmate.

A Golden Afternoon at the Columbus Zoo

 Just a week before their fifth birthday, Aurora and Anana welcomed me for another visit to their beautiful home at the Columbus Zoo, as the zoo made preparations for their first night of Wild Lights, their Christmas lights celebration. It was a crisp autumn day, and the sunlight, low in the sky, gave a magical luminescence to their fur. The bears, seeming to know that a big crowd was coming to see them that evening, spent most of their time lazing in the golden sunlight, resting up.


The fact that polar bears' fur is made up of clear hollow hairs may enhance the glowing effect of the setting sun.

Aurora and her sister share their enclosure with rustic fishing boats.

Too sleepy to try to catch a fish.

 Aurora and Anana were born on November 25, 2006, in the Toledo Zoo. Their parents are Crystal and Marty, and they have a two year old brother, Siku, who just moved to the Louisville Zoo, where Marty's mother Arki now lives. Also at the Louisville Zoo is the little girl cub Qannik, who was rescued from the Alaskan oil fields.

Jack Hanna and friends promoting the zoo's Wild Lights.

Aurora