Two boys

It is a lean year for polar bear cubs, only two born and surviving in zoos worldwide. Welcome to one little boy in Novosibirsk Russia, and to another little boy in Akita Japan. 

Momo's cub - photo from Oga Aquarium, Akita Japan

Momo and Gota became parents on December 4 in Oga Aquarium in Japan, to twins. One passed away in the first days, but the second twin was a strong little boy and survived.  Just announced, his name is Momota, a combination of his parents' names. 

Gerda's boy - photo by Novosibirsk News

Gerda and Kai's cub, born on December 7 in the Novosibirsk Zoo in Siberia,  remained a secret for many months, although many suspected because there was "police tape" around Gerda's enclosure to keep things calm and quiet. The cub is another boy. His name has been announced as "Umka."

Fewer cubs worldwide in zoos this year

No cubs were born in the USA this year, and also none in European zoos.  Last year, eight zoo cubs were born worldwide, including three in Japan, and one in Europe. None in the USA for the past three seasons, not since Crystal had her twins Kallik and Kallu in Toledo in 2022.

The chart below was posted in the Gelsenkirchen Zoo in Germany ten years ago, to show just how many cubs are usually born, and how many survive. The white blocks are those surviving, and the black blocks are those who are born but did not live. In general, in zoos and in the wild, the survival rate of cubs is about 50 percent, for they are born so unfinished, something that seems to be necessary for life in the Arctic. Only the most robust survive.

The zoo population of polar bears is coordinated and regulated carefully, to ensure that cubs born will have a zoo to go to when they grow up.

For the past few years, the European coordinators have moved many bears to just boys or just girls groups, so that we won't have more cubs than we can handle. Only a few breeding couples are approved.

Last year, there were eight cubs born in zoos worldwide.

Only one cub was born and survived in Europe, that of Nuka and Kap in Karlsruhe. It was twins, but only one lived and that would be Mika, a boy. And none in Europe this year.

Last year, in addition to Mika born in Karlsruhe, there was one girl cub (Nur) born in Sao Paulo Brazil, twin boys (Jorek and Ootek) born in Sosto Hungary, a girl cub named Parma born in Perm Russia, and three born in Japan. The Japanese cubs last year are a boy Rai, and Paula's twins Sora and Umi, a boy and a girl.   

While Europe is carefully controlling its population, the USA zoos are in a drought for cubs. For various reasons, the few fertile females we have are not giving birth. Belgium born Crystal in Toledo, who has produced so many of our current younger generation, is now too old to be expected to make any more babies. Two of her daughters, Suka in Detroit and Aurora in Columbus, have had cubs and very likely will again.

 

Gerda's cub - photo by Novosibirsk News

Momo and Gota's cub - Photo by Hasumi Nobuo

Momota in Japan - his family tree

Momo and Gota's club was born in Oga Aquarium in northern Japan on December 4. 

Mother Momo (Peach) was born in Osaka in 2014 to beloved bears Baffin and Gogo, both of whom have just passed away in recent months.  

Some American bears are cousins of Baffin, having descended from Baffin's sister Chinook. Baffin was born in Sweden in 1991 to American born mother CW, and father Imarec. CW, born in Memphis, was daughter of Bruno, who was also father of Chinook of Hogle Zoo. Chinook was mother of Rochester Aurora, Denali of Japan, Berlin's mate Bubba, Buffalo/ Cincinnati/Detroit Anana, and twins Kiska and Koluk of ABQ Biopark. The next generation includes Luna, Lee, NC Anana, Haley and Anoki.

Many European bears are also related to Momota, bears descended from CW, including CW's granddaughter Freedom and all her cubs, CW's daughter Ilka of Skandinavisk Dyrepark and her cubs, and CW's son Manasse of Finland, father of Ranzo of Vienna and Sisu of YWP.

Gogo was a most beloved bear, famed for his silly antics and big personality. It was especially tragic that he died under anesthetic for transport, so he could breed yet again.  Gogo was born in Perm in 2004, to Anderma and Yukon. His brother Permjak was the father of Pim, who is the father of Nur in Sao Paolo last year, and also Milka, the mother of Parma in Perm Zoo last year. 

In addition to Momo, Gogo was also the father of two children in Japan with Shilka: daughter Hochan in 2020 and son Rai last year. 

Momoto's grandparents Gogo died February 8, 2026 and Baffin died on March 20, 2026. 

Baby Momota's father Gota was born in 2003 in Moscow to Murma and Untai. In 2020 he became father of Fubuki with the mother being Yuki. 

Gota is brother of the famous Raspi, who is now in Hamburg. Raspi is the father of the late Hope, and also Flocke's triplets Indie, Yuma and Tala, now in UK wildlife parks. Gota's brother Kap, father of Anouk of Hamburg and Mika of Karlsruhe, recently died. Gota is also brother of Boris (Ivan) of Copenhagen and Skandinavisk Dyrepark, where he is the father of Nuna's twins.  

Gerda and her cub - photo by Sergie Iltyakov

Gerda's cub Umka - family tree

Gerda and Kai's cub Umka, born in Novosibirsk Zoo, is their seventh cub, after Shilka (in Japan), Rostik (somewhere in China), twins Shauna and Nordi,  and twins Belka and Strelka. Shauna has moved to Izhversk Zoo in Russia. Belka, Strelka and Nordi are still in Novosibirsk.

Gerda was born in Moscow in 2007 to Simona and Wrangel. 

She is the granddaughter of the famous Uslada and Menshikov, who produced 16 cubs altogether. Uslada's daughter Simona, who is still alive, produced 13 cubs. With so many polar bears related to Gerda and Kai, their genes are well represented both in Russia and in Europe, and while we are happy about a new cub, his bloodline does not add much to the gene pool. It is a shame that we cannot bring some of these polar bears to US zoos, where we could use such genes.   

Father Kai (Krassin) was born in St. Petersburg in 2007 to Uslada and Menshikov. So Kai is Gerda's uncle.

Gerda and her cub - photo by Arkady  Laptenko

Thank you to the photographers whose photos I have borrowed for this story.  I wish I could be there myself. 

Kap leaves a legacy

Kap, always curious

 

Kap was a handsome bear

Kap was born in the Moscow Zoo on October 16, 2000. He had many relatives, including some half brothers. He leaves behind a daughter, Anouk now in France, and a son, young Mika, still living with his mother Nuka in Karlsruhe.

Kap's son Mika, and his mother Nuka.
Photo with permission by Petra Ballon.

Kap's father was Uold, brother of the famous Uslada, mother of 16 cubs, and also of Maleishka, mother of new father Pim in Sao Paulo.

Kap's mother was Murma, who was also mother of  new father Gota of Japan (father of the late Milk and also 4 year old Fubuki),  Boris/Ivan of Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Denmark (father of Nuna's cubs), and  Rasputin of Aalborg (father of Hope and the triplets Tala, Indie and Yuma). 

Kap in his empire. My photos from 2017.

He lived in Karlsruhe three times, and Neumünster twice. He also live in Hannover for a short time. While in Hamburg, he became a father of daughter Anouk, born in 2022 to Viktoria. Then just last fall, his mate in Karlsruhe, Nuka, gave birth to twins, one of whom survived and is a boy named Mika. Kap spent many years alone in Neumünster, so I was glad when he was given the chance to live with another bear, and to father some cubs.  

In Karlsruhe, Kap had a nice big pool, with an underwater viewing area.

Kap shaking it off.

Kap - King of the Mountain.

Kap and the cave

Kap rather suddenly became ill about two months ago, and the vets examined him under anesthesia to find the cause, and it seems there were a number of illnesses. He would get a little better, then worse again. At the end, he could barely walk and had trouble lifting his head. He was confined to the mother-cub enclosure, which was a lot smaller and safer for him in his condition.

Smiling Kap

It became clear that his condition had deteriorated to the point when the kind thing was to put him to sleep. At age 24, he was the oldest male polar bear in a European zoo. Worldwide, the oldest in Neil in Como Zoo, who is 29 years old. In the wild, a polar bear would be lucky to live to be 15 years of age.

Sharing his lunch with the herons

Kap and feathered friend

Kap was a gentle bear, always curious. He was happy to share his food with the herons who liked to visit the polar bears in Karlsruhe. 

It's a sad time in Karlsruhe. Kap was well loved. 

Kap in his swimming days

The zoo published this on their facebook page, to announce the death of Kap.

At 24 years old, he was the oldest male polar bear in the European Conservation Breeding Program (EEP). However, after his health deteriorated further, Kap was euthanized today at the Karlsruhe Zoo. The two zootists and two external veterinarians had previously placed the polar bear in anesthesia for further examination.

Kap has been strangely worse in the past few days. Among the previous complaints, he had had trouble walking, and also kept his head very low in a kind of good posture. That's why the polar bear was put on pain medication. Zoo doctors Dr. Marco Roller and Dr. Lukas Reese opted for another examination in anesthesia.

During this, it was found that liver levels had deteriorated despite special medication. In addition, the study, conducted in collaboration with AniCura Karlsruhe, showed major changes in the gallbladder and liver in the ultrasound. Since there was no positive prognosis, it was decided to redeem Kap. The body of the animal will now be examined in pathology. "A section is generally made for such zooters, we hope for even more clarity from it. Unfortunately, on living large animals, the possibilities for examination are limited, so pathology always has a special importance for us," says Roller.

About eight weeks ago, it had begun that the general state of  Kap changed from one day to the next and the responsible concern was prepared. The polar bear's health has become increasingly critical. Subsequently, he was already examined under anesthesia. However, the investigation at that time did not bring a clear conclusion to the cause. Meanwhile, Kap was also getting better, which gave the zoo team hope. The situation had to be re-evaluated due to the problems that have now been added.

Farewell, handsome Kap.

Polar bear cubs have names (updated)

The eight polar bear cubs born this past birthing season have passed the half year mark, and all now have their names. The eight cubs include two sets of twins, and four single cubs. There are five boys and three girls. Three of the cubs live in Japan. Alas, no cubs in the US zoos this year. As I have not visited any of the new babies, I have borrowed photos from the zoos' facebook pages, and also I send thanks to several friends who have been lucky enough to visit some of the cubs and allowed me to share their photos here. 

Mika and Nuka in Karlsruhe Germany. Photo by Petra Ballon.

Mika in Karlsruhe. Photo from zoo's facebook page.

MiKa, a little boy pronounced MeeKah, was born in Karlsruhe on November 2 to Nuka and Kap. Nuka gave birth to twins outside the den, but in a sheltered part of the mother-cub enclosure. Polar bear babies are fragile and have a 50 percent survival rate in the wild and in zoos, but these babies were even more at risk because they were not safely in a den. But one of the cubs did survive. Mika is doing well, and is now exploring the large enclosure with his mom Nuka, who was born in Aalborg. Mika's father Kap is unwell, and at the moment is resting inside. MiKa's name includes the Ka for Zoo Karlsruhe.

Mika's mother Nuka is half sister of the late famous Knut, as they share the same father Lars. So Mika is Knut's nephew.

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Milka (Yumki) and her cub in an early photo provided by the zoo.

Milka (Yumki) and Seridu had a girl cub in Perm Zoo in Russia on November 15. There has not been a lot of information about this little family. I do have an update, thanks to a friend in Russia. I have just found out that her name is Parma!

Milka is half sister of Pim, father of Nur, the cub in Brazil, on their mother's side. Milka is also half brother of Gogo, father of new cub Rai in Japan. 

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Shilka and Rai. Photo from the zoo's facebook page.

A boy named Rai was born November 18 to Shilka and Gogo in Yokohama Zoorasia in Japan. Rai is the second cub for the couple. Their first cub was Hochan, who lives in Tennoji Zoo in Osaka.

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Nur and Aurora - Aquario de Sao Paulo facebook page

On November 25, wildborn Aurora and Russian born Pim had a girl who was quickly  named Nur in The Aquarium of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is the only cub born in the Western Hemisphere this year, also also the Southern Hemisphere. Aurora and Pim both came from Russia originally. This is their first cub.

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Jorek and Ootek at play in Sosto Hungary
 Photo from the zoo's facebook page 

A kiss for mama Sznezsana, - photo from the zoo's facebook page - 
Monika Czombané Nádasdi

Sznezsana nursing her boys - photo from the zoo's facebook page
Monika Czombané Nádasdi

On November 27 ,  Moscow born Sznezsana and Vienna born Lloyd had twin boys Jorek and Ootek in Nyíregyházi Állatpark (Sosto Zoo) in Hungary. 

Jorek is named for the armored "panzerbear" in the Golden Compass books and movies. Ootek is an elderly Inuit character in the movie "Never Cry Wolf."

The boys' father Lloyd is also the father of Lale, Lili, and twins Anna and Elsa born in Bremerhaven Germany. Lloyd is the grandson of Aika of Tierpark Berlin and also the grandson of Omaha of the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska.

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Paula and her twins. Photo from zoo's facebook page.

Paula with daughter Sora and son Umi. Photo by Hasumi Nobuo.
You can see Paula has her grandmother Aika's big round ears.

Twins were born in Yagiyama Zoological Park in Sendai Japan on December 20 to Paula and Kai. The boy is named Umi and the girl is name Sora. Paula is the granddaughter of Aika of Tierpark Berlin. 

Umi means "sea" and Sora means "sky" in Japanese.

New polar bear cubs of 20/21

The Russian twins - photo by Gelendzhik Safari Park

Today, February 27, 2021, is International Polar Bear Day. It's a great time to take a look at the cubs born this past winter in zoos, since they most likely have all been announced by now. We are celebrating the arrival of nine little ones, including two sets of twins. Three of the new cubs are being raised by keepers.

Almost all the births are to first time mothers. Sesi has successfully raised one cub before, and Suka had given birth several times, but the cubs died within days. The other new moms,  Shilka, Yuki, Ewa and Kometa, now each have their first cub to raise. Seryozhka in Russia is letting the keepers do the mothering job for her twins. 

In Russia, there are three polar bear cubs, including the twins being raised by keepers. One of the fathers, Aion was born in the wilderness. The mother of the twins, Seryozhka, was also a wild orphan, so these are especially welcome fresh genes.

In Japan, two zoos each welcome a cub. This is the first time in a several years since Japan has had cubs, maybe since Lira was born in 2014. 

In Europe, we have one cub in Sweden and another in France.

The only cubs born in the U.S. this year are in Detroit, twins with one being raised by keepers.

Two of the new mothers are rather senior to be having a first cub. Ewa in Sweden has just turned 15 years old. And Yuki in Japan has just turned 21 years old.  

Detroit - November 17

It's twins for 8 year old Suka and 16 year old Nuka in the Arctic Ring of Life in the Detroit Zoo, born November 17, 2020.

Suka is taking good care of one cub, and the other, a girl, is being raised by keepers. When the cubs were a few days old, the keepers, who were watching by den-cam, noticed that one of the cubs was weaker and having trouble, so they separated the family, and swooped in to rescue the little girl. She is doing well, according to reports and photos. The gender of the other cub, still with Mother Suka, is not known. 

Suka and her twin brother Sakari are offspring of Marty and Belgium-born Crystal of the Toledo Zoo. Suka is from the dominant polar bear family in U.S. zoos.

Nuka and his twin brother Koda were born in the Denver Zoo. Their parents were Voda and Kavek. Nuka's genes are rare. He is one of only three male bears alive who have produced cubs in the U.S. zoos, the other two being Suka's father Marty, and Lee.

Suka had given birth the past two years, but the cubs did not live more than a few days. This time, both cubs are doing great. 

Here's Suka's daughter, who is being raised by keepers. Photo by Detroit Zoological Society

Mulhouse, France - November 22

A daughter was born November 22, 2020, to 10 year old Sesi and  10 year old Vicks in Mulhouse France. It was announced this week that her name is Kara.

Vicks and Sesi are already parents of a 4 year old daughter Nanuq, who now lives in Munich. Sesi's great grandmother CW was born in Memphis Tennessee. Vick's grandfather Omaha was born at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska.

Baby Kara and her mother Sesi in Mulhouse, France,
on Kara's first outing this week. Photo published by Mulhouse Zoo.

Osaka, Japan - November 25

November 25, Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, twins were born, with one surviving. Parents are 16 year old Gogo and 7 year old Shilka (Icchan). This is Shilka's first cub. Gogo is the father of six year old Momo (Peach), now in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Shilka was born in Novosibirsk, Russia, the daughter of Gerda and Krassin. Gerda is the daughter of famous Moscow couple Simona and Vrangel. Their other children include Flocke's mother Vera, as well as Milana, Zefirka, Wolodja, and Nord. 

Gogo was born in Perm, to parents Anderma and Yukon. 

Gelendzhik Russia - late November

In late November, twins were born in Gelendzhik Safari Park in Russia, and are being raised by four keepers, all women. The father is 18 year old Commander Sedov, son of Uslada and Menshikov of St. Petersburg. These are his first cubs. The mother is 7 year old Seryozhka (Seleska), who was an orphaned cub herself.

Seleska gave birth outside the den, then went back inside, abandoning the newborns and showing no interest in taking care of them. The keepers took over, and cared for the twins, a girl and a boy. The twins were introduced to the public this week, as the keepers supervised their play inside a glass enclosure, with the cubs' parents looking in from one direction, and the adoring public from the other side.  

The twins in a holiday pose - photo by Gelendzhik Safari Park

Orsa Sweden - December 13

A long awaited birth in Orsa Bear Park in Sweden came on December 3, when 15 year old Ewa brought forth her first cub, fathered by 13 year old Wilbär.

Ewa is one of Huggies and Victor's triplets, born in 2005 in Ouwehands Zoo in the Netherlands. The other two triplets are Henk, who has fathered three sets of twins in Nuenen, the Netherlands, and Jelle, who is the father of two cubs in St. Felicien in Canada, with two different mothers.   

Wilbär is the only cub from the union of the famous couple from Stuttgart, Germany: Anton and Corinna. 

Akita Japan - December 26

On December 26,  21 year old Yuki and 17 year old Gota produced a cub in Oga Aquarium, Akita Japan. This is a first cub for Yuki. Gota is the father of Milk, born in 2012.

Yuki was born in Palic, Serbia, to father Bjorn-Heinrich and Mother Simba. Bjorn-Heinrich's parents were Aika and Gorki of Tierpark Berlin, which makes Yuki's father the brother of Eric (father of all of Olinka's cubs, and also Felix, father of Flocke, Gregor and Aleut, Charlotte, and Milak). 

Gota is the son of famous Moscow polar bear parents Murma and Untai, which makes him the brother of Rasputin, Kap, Boris/Ivan, Tonja and others. 

Rostov-on-Don Russia - December 27

8 year old Kometa and 11 year old Aion became parents on December 27, 2020 at Rostov-on-Don in Russia. It is a first cub for both of them.

Aion was born in the wilderness on the Chukchi Sea, found as a young cub near the village of Aion and taken to the Moscow Zoo.

Kometa and her twin brother Nanuq were born in Zoo Brno in the Czech Republic to parents Cora and Umka. Nanuq is in  Ukraine and has a daughter. Kometa's mother Cora is daughter of Uslada and Menshikov of St. Petersburg.