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.

Qannik, Bo, and International Polar Bear Day

 

Borealis of the Louisville Zoo

I traveled down to the Louisville Zoo on February 27 for International Polar Bear Day, and to see how Bo and Qannik were getting along. They have been together for two years.  

The chalk writings for the special day.

Scrawled in chalk on the floor and walls of the Alley room was  some wording for International Polar Bear Day and young Bo was in the Alley, just waiting for something to happen.  Most polar bears look white or grey, but Bo looked positively silver.

Qannik with her new toy.

Qannik floating.

Qannik inside the underwater culvert.

Qannik loves to manipulate the culvert to suit her underwater ballet.

Meanwhile, water girl Qannik was across the way in the big pool, playing with a giant black culvert tube. The keepers had placed several of these tubes around the enclosure, and Qannik got the bright idea that it would make a fun water toy. She was right, it was great fun to watch her maneuver the tube around, swim through it, roll it, toss it, and entertaining all her fans.

Bo and one of his keepers during keeper talk training.

Bo gets a syringe of yummy salmon oil during training.

We were treated to a couple of training sessions with Bo in the Alley, and Qannik at the big enclosure gate. Keepers explained how the bears are taught to present various parts of their bodies for inspection with the help of a bribe, that would be lettuce, fish, and in this case some vials of salmon oil. 

Qannik gets some lettuce during training.

In this way, the bears are taught to participate in their own health check ups, so keepers can see if there is some small injury or a problem somewhere. 

Bo keeps an eye on Qannik,
to be ready in case she wants to play with him. 

We were hoping for some interaction between the two bears, but it was a little disappointing. When Bo was brought over to share the big enclosure with Qannik, the two bears did seem aware of each other, and kept an eye on their companion, but Qannik was being coy. It seemed that Bo was interested in getting closer to his girl, but he has learned to take his cues from her.

Bo spent several years in Henry Vilas Zoo with older lady Berit, and she taught him good manners when it comes to affairs of the heart. While one of the Louisville Zoo docents reported that earlier in the season there had been some breeding between the two, nothing much was happening on the day we visited. Bo watched Qannik carefully, while pretending to keep busy with his own little projects.

Qannik finds a bag of treats, but abandons it.

Bo finds the bag of treats. 

The bears were given treats thrown down by keepers from atop the wall. Surprises included paper bags with some goodies inside.

Qannik rolling in the straw

Covered in straw, Qannik is golden.

Qannik was more interested in rolling in the straw and making a cozy nest. Many years ago, when Qannik was quite young, she got a spore infection which was caused by mulch, and she was very sick for a long time, possibly from an allergy, since other zoos use mulch without a problem for their bears. Now there is no mulch in the enclosure, just straw, mud, and grass. And lots of toys.

Qannik and a few of her toys.

Qannik and one of the giant culvert tubes,
like the one she hauled over to the pool to used as a pool toy.

I had several opportunities to get them in the same photo, but Qannik did not want to cooperate when it came to any actual interaction. 

Qannik in the simulated glacier-wrecked road below,
 watching her boyfriend Bo up top.

Qannik strolling by Bo, trying to ignore him. 

Qannik knows right where Bo is, even though she is ignoring him, and Bo knows right where Qannik is. 

Qannik eventually went inside, and Bo contented himself with swimming laps in the big pool, nothing creative like Qannik does, but it still thrills the visitors to see this large bear swimming vertical circles, pushing off with his giant paws, and blowing bubbles. 

Bo swimming his laps in the deep pool. 

Bo was born in 2018 in the Toledo Zoo, a single cub, with Crystal and Marty as his parents.  He moved to Henry Vilas when he was two years old, and moved again to Louisville in early 2024.  He was said to weigh a thousand pounds during the keeper talk.

Bo, looking all silvery. The keeper is above him, throwing down treats.

Qannik was wildborn on the North Slopes of the Alaskan oil fields. She and her mother and sister were tagged. A few months later, she was separated from her mother and sister, and found alone, starving. Little Qannik was brought to the Alaska Zoo, where she recovered for a few months, and then was flown to the Louisville Zoo. She has been near other polar bears: Arki, Siku, Lee, so she was familiar with their sight and scent, but never shared space since as a wildborn bear, she was property of Fish and Wildlife, and was not allowed to be part of the breeding program. She is reported to be about 500 pounds. Qannik recently celebrated her 15th birthday, although the actual date is not known. 

Qannik during her 14th birthday party.

That ban was lifted a few years ago, and Qannik was introduced to Bo. So far no cubs, but they are still getting acquainted. There may be results this fall/winter.

Bo in the sunlight, keeping an eye on Qannik.

Bo on the prowl.

Bo investigating the culvert.

Qannik so self assured.

Old Neil in his golden years

 

Nan, age 30, and Neil, age 29.

Neil drools a bit in his old age.

Neil

Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota is home to three polar bears, two of whom are age related record holders. While Nan is the oldest female polar bear in the US, Neil is the oldest male polar bear in human care.

Nan on rock, Neil and Kulu

Neil, named for astronaut Neil Armstrong, and his twin brother Buzz (the namesake of Buzz Aldrin), were born in the Louisville Zoo on December 9, 1995.  Their father was Irsinaki. Their mother Skeena was half sister of Arki (mother of Marty). Neil and Buzz had an older brother, Icee, who lived at the Cincinnati Zoo where he fathered twins Berlin (who later lived with Neil and Buzz) and Yukon (father of Lee and others). Neil and Buzz's older sister Ulu became the mother of Berit of the Cincinnati Zoo, now living in Henry Vilas. Irsinaki and Skeena were also the parents of triplets born in the Louisville Zoo in 1992, one of these triplets was Aquila. 

 

Neil and Buzz's mother Skeena with her triplets.

Neil and Buzz moved to San Diego in 1997, and lived there for five years, before moving to Como Zoo in 2001. 

Neil on top of the viewer tunnel, Detroit 2009

Because of planned renovations at Como, the twins lived in Detroit for two years from 2008 to 2010, where they played with young Talini, Barle's cub. They then returned to Como, where they lived happily together at their Polar Bear Odyssey until Buzz died in 2020.

During that time, they played host to three grizzly bears in 2011 whose zoo home in Minot, North Dakota Zoo was flooded out, until their enclosure could be rebuilt.

Berlin, right, in Como Zoo in 2012.
 One of the brothers watches in the doorway.
(Photo by daughter Corinna)

Then they welcomed their older niece Berlin, whose enclosure at the Duluth Zoo was consumed by a river flood in 2012. She stayed for six months, and enjoyed bossing around her younger uncles before moving to the Kansas City Zoo, where she lived well into old age. 

Neil and Buzz in the center area, while the kids play in the deep pool - 

                                             - 2014 (Photo by daughter Corinna)

Suka and Sakari play in the big pool while Neil and Buzz watch,
 top photo. - 2014 - (photo by daughter Corinna)

Neil, playing on the shallow pool side,
 while the youngsters had the deep pool in 2014

In 2014, those crazy two year old twins Suka and Sakari moved in from Toledo, waiting for their new home at Henry Vilas to be completed. The young twins stayed for seven months! Their father Marty was nephew of Neil and Buzz's mom Skeena.

Neil and Buzz - 2016

After that, Neil and Buzz closed their Bear B&B and it was just the brothers together until Buzz passed away in 2020. Neil struggled being alone, so older lady Nan came to Como Zoo in 2021. A few months later, two year old Kulu arrived from the Columbus Zoo. Kulu is the son of Crystal and Marty's daughter Aurora, and Yukon's son Lee.

Nan, Kulu and Neil at keeper talk time - treat time.

Neil's food is ground up and put in a paper cup.

Neil is related to Kulu through both his mother and his father. Neil's brother Icee was father of Yukon, grandfather of Lee, and great grandfather of Kulu. Neil's mother Skeena was sister of Arki, who was mother of Marty, grandmother of Aurora, and great grandmother of Kulu.

Neil and Kulu playing in 2022, back when Neil felt better.

Nan, being wildborn, is not related to Kulu or Neil, but she did live for many years in Toledo with Crystal, who is Kulu's grandmother.

Neil and Kulu in 2022

Polar Bear Odyssey has a great set up for polar bears. Since 2010, the bears have enjoyed two lovely enclosures of 13,140 square feet outdoor space with saltwater pools and grass and shrubbery, and a central training area. Their favorite side is the right, with the 16 foot deep diving pool, sometimes stocked with live fish. But the left side, with the shallower pool that Neil favors, is where the snacks are placed for the daily keeper talk, and this year, this enclosure has turned into a wildflower meadow, towered over by a polar bear shaped jutting rock. There is also a digging pit, so that's fun too.

Nan and Neil in the wildflowers, July 2025

Neil, at age 29, has lost most of his teeth, which is why his mouth seems to be foaming when he eats, and often drools. His keepers mash up his food to help him out. Neil weighs 1000 pounds, now, which is a little less than when he was in his prime, but the lighter weight is easier on his bones, so the keepers try to keep it about there. 

Neil in the wildflowers - July 2025

Nan weighs 650 pounds. Kulu weighs 1300 pounds.

Neil has arthritis, which makes it hard to get in and out of even the shallow pool, which is why he looks so dirty. Still, he does manage a bath every few weeks. I did see him wander out into the wildflowers, and he even attempted to climb the polar bear rock.

Neil by the shallow pool - July 2025

When Kulu first arrived in 2021, Neil would often play with the youngster. But Neil is slowing down. Kulu still wants him to play, but most of the time Neil just can't. So Kulu plays with grandma Nan, who is happy to spend time with the young bear. 

During the keeper talk, Keeper Allison pointed out that in the wild, a bear like Neil would be lucky to live to be 15. 

Neil in 2013. 

Neil and the other bears are trained to take part in their own medical check ups, and a specially designed "sleeve" even allows blood to be drawn, a technique that Neil helped to test out and pioneer in its usage some years ago.

Kulu asks Neil to come play in the water. Neil is too tired.

Handsome Neil. Hang in there, big boy.