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| Crystal of the Toledo Zoo, with Sakari and Suka, 2013. |
Since my last update on the polar bears in US zoos in 2023, we have lost three iconic males. There have been no cubs added to the population.
Many of the bears, especially the younger ones, have been moved to other zoos, some to pair up with potential breeding partners. I suspect all the moves have been made by now, in time for the 2026 breeding season, with some love matches already apparent.
The Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota is the only zoo in the US where you can see four polar bears: Neil, Nan, Kulu and Astra.
Neil and his late twin brother Buzz were named after the first two humans to walk on the moon. They were born December 9, 1995 in the Louisville Zoo, then lived at the San Diego Zoo from 1997 to 2001. They have lived at Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota since then, except for a two year span in 2008-10 when they enjoyed living in Detroit while the Como Zoo polar bear habitat was being expanded and renovated. While they lived in Detroit, the boys loved playing with young cub Talini, daughter of rescued circus bear Bärle.
For International Polar Bear Day, February 27, here's an update of the polar bears in zoos in the USA.
There are now 37 polar bears in 21 zoos. 22 females and 15 males.
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| Neil, Nan and Kulu in Como Zoo, three of the four there now. |
4 bears
Four bears at Como Zoo (Neil, Nan, Kulu, Astra).
3 bears
Three bears each at Henry Vilas Zoo (Berit, Siku, Nora), Detroit Zoo (Suka, Haley, Kali) and Brookfield Zoo (Hudson, Hope, Amelia Gray).
2 bears
Two bears each at San Diego Zoo (Chinook, Tatqiq), Alaska Zoo Cranbeary, Kava), Hogle Zoo (Nikita, Neva), Toledo Zoo (Crystal, Nuka), Columbus Zoo, (Aurora, Lee) Louisville Zoo (Qannik, Bo) and the Buffalo Zoo (Luna, Sakari).
1 bear
One bear each at Oregon Zoo (Kallik), Point Defiance Zoo (Laerke), ABQ Biopark (Kiska), Kansas City Zoo (Nuniq), St. Louis Zoo (Kallu), Lincoln Park Zoo (Talini), Memphis Zoo Koda), Pittsburgh Zoo (Snowflake), Seneca Park Zoo (Anoki),and North Carolina Zoo (Anana).
Wildborn Bears
Six of our US zoo bears were born in the wilds of Canada or Alaska: Nan of Como, the two bears in San Diego (Chinook, Tatqiq), Qannik of Louisville, Kali of Detroit, and Kava of the Alaska Zoo.
In the past three years, there were no new rescued wild cubs added to our population, but there has been an encouraging change of rules concerning wildborn polar bears that are the property of Fish and Wildlife. Now these wildborn polar bears can be part of the breeding program, although so far, no cubs have been born from that change, which affects Qannik, Kali and Kava. Qannik is now with a young male, Bo. Kali is with two females, Haley and Suka. Kava is still a little young.
Keeper help
Eight polar bears have been raised by keepers to some degree: Luna of the Buffalo Zoo (rejected by her mother Anana), Kali of the St. Louis Zoo (orphaned cub rescued in Alaska), Qannik of the Louisville Zoo (rescued cub in Alaska), Nora of the Portland Zoo (mother Aurora neglected her), and Laerke of the Detroit Zoo (mother Suka raised one cub, but smaller cub was failing, needed medical help). Rescued bears Tatqiq and Chinook in San Diego were helped along when they were cubs, and Kava in Alaska, a year old when rescued, also benefited from human help.
Fertility
We now have 21 zoos holding 37 polar bears - 22 females and 15 males, two of which have been neutered (Neil and Kiska).
Two of our females, Suka and Aurora, are both young and are proven breeders. Crystal and Nan, both mothers, are past their fertile years. Crystal is the mother or grandmother of most of the younger generation.
Of our living males, only Lee and Nuka have fathered cubs.
But with the "musical chairs" played with the polar bears this season, mixing things up, maybe we will have some new cubs this coming year, especially with the addition of the wild genes of Qannik and Kali.
Deaths
In May of 2023, 27 year old male Koluk of ABQ biopark passed away, leaving behind his twin brother Kiska. He had been born in Salt Lake City in 1996.
In October of 2023, 20 year old male Payton died during transport from the North Carolina Zoo to Louisville. He had been born in the Brookfield Zoo in 2003.
We just lost 25 year old wildborn male Kalluk of the San Diego Zoo in August of 2025.
My survey of US zoos, more or less from west to east...
San Diego Zoo
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| Chinook and Tatqiq playing in the pool. |
The San Diego Zoo is now home to two senior ladies, Chinook and Tatqiq.
The zoo just lost 25 year old male Kalluk, and is now left with two ladies, 30 year old Chinook and 25 year old Tatqiq, twin sister of Kalluk.
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| Chinook watching Tatqiq. |
Chinook was born in the wild in Manitoba Canada in 1995.
Twins Tatqiq and her brother Kalluk were born in the wilds of Canada in the winter of 2000 and came to San Diego as young cubs.
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| Tatqiq and Chinook |
Chinook came to the San Diego Zoo when she was about a year old. Two years later, cubs Neil and Buzz from Louisville joined her in San Diego. In 2001, wildborn brother and sister twins Kalluk and Tatqiq joined the group, and at the end of 2001, Neil and Buzz left for Como Zoo. Since then, Chinook, Kalluk and Tatqiq had formed a stable trio at the San Diego Zoo, and that is now down to just the two ladies, who get along well.
You can watch Tatqiq and Chinook on the zoo's polar bear cam.
Oregon Zoo
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| Young Kallik in Toledo |
Kallik, one of Crystal's young boys, is the new resident of the Oregon Zoo in Portland.
Before that, following several years of construction to improve the habitat, Nora and Hope moved in. The girls have left, and now Crystal and Nuka's 3 year old son Kallik is the only bear, having just arrived in January from the St. Louis Zoo, where he left behind his twin brother Kallu.
Kallik (and Kallu of course) born November 11, 2022 in Toledo to Crystal and Nuka.
There was a remarkable difference ins size between the boys when they were small cubs, Kallik being about half as big as his brother. By the time they moved to St. Louis, Kallik had caught up to his brother in size.
On their mother's side, they are half siblings of Aurora, Siku, Suka, Sakari, Hope and Bo. On their father's side, they are half siblings of Astra and Laerke, who are just a year older.
Alaska Zoo
24 year old Cranbeary lives with a four year old girl named Kava in the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska.
Cranbeary is the older sister of twins Nuka and Koda. She was born November 21, 2001 in Denver. She has lived in Memphis, then Denver again, and in 2018, moved to Anchorage, Alaska.
In November of 2022, a one year old orphaned cub was found alone in Prudhoe Bay, and brought to the Alaska Zoo, and named Kava. She's still there, with Cranbeary.
Cranbeary is older sister of Koda and Nuka.
Point Defiance Zoo
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| Young Laerke in Detroit |
Little Laerke is the only resident of Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington.
After the death of elderly Blizzard in 2022, the Point Defiance Zoo closed its polar bear habitat. After improving the enclosure in preparation for new residents, young twins Astra and Laerke arrived from the Detroit Zoo in mid 2023.
Recently, Astra moved to the Henry Vilas Zoo, where there are two other bears. Laerke, who is a special needs girl due to her special circumstances as a newborn, is much smaller than a typical female bear, and having been raised by humans, is quite attached to her keepers. She really did love her time in Detroit playing with Jebbie the grizzly cub brought in to be her companion and later her twin sister. But she does fine on her own.
Laerke does have a different look about her face, in addition to her petite size.
The keepers at Point Defiance adore Laerke, and know how to deal with the needs of this sweetheart of a bear, and give her specially tailored enrichment and training.
Hogle Zoo
The Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City Utah now hosts 19 year old Nikita and 9 year old Neva.
Nikita is the son of the late Marty and wildborn Nan. He was born November 21, 2006, in Toledo. He has lived in the Kansas City Zoo and the North Carolina Zoo, before coming to Salt Lake City in 2021.
Neva is twin sister of Nuniq, born in Columbus Ohio on November 14, 2016. Neva and Nuniq were the offspring of Aurora and the late Nanuq.
Nikita is the son of the late Marty, who was Neva's grandfather, which shows how limited the breeding pairings are in the U.S.
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| Neva in Columbus |
ABQ Biopark
In the ABQ Biopark (formely the Rio Grande Zoo) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we find 29 year old Kiska alone, since his twin brother Koluk died in early 2023.
Kiska and Koluk were born November 19, 1996 in Salt Lake City. Since 1997 they lived in the zoo in Albuquerque. Kiska is brother of the late Anana (of Buffalo, Cincinnati and Detroit), and half brothers of the late Aurora (mother of four) of Rochester, and of the late Denali (father of 8) of Sapporo Japan. ABQ Biopark has extended Kiska's realm by annexing the neighboring big cat habitat, which was empty, so Kiska has two large enclosures to choose from.
Kansas City Zoo
The Kansas City Zoo is home Nuniq, nine year old son of Aurora and the late Nanuq.
Along with his twin sister Neva, Nuniq was born in the Columbus Zoo on November 14, 2016, to Crystal and Marty's daughter Aurora and the wildborn Nanuq, who was also father of Luna in Buffalo, as well as father of Aurora's first cub Nora, and Aurora's twin sister Anana's daughter Amelia Gray. His name is a combo of his mother's and father's names.
Nuniq moved to Henry Vilas Zoo in 2018, where he lived with older lady bear Berit. In 2020 he moved to the KC Zoo. I am not sure why a young male like Nuniq does not have a female companion.
St. Louis Zoo
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| Kallu in Toledo |
It's just 3 year old Kallu in the St. Louis Zoo in St. Louis Missouri.
Crystal's twin boys Kallik and Kallu moved to the St. Louis Zoo in March of 2025. In January of 2026, Kallik moved to Oregon, so now there is just Kallu in St. Louis.
Kallik and Kallu were born November 11, 2022 in Toledo, to Crystal and Nuka. Now the twins have gone their separate ways.
On their mother's side, they are half siblings of Aurora, Siku, Suka, Sakari, Hope and Bo. On their father's side, they are half siblings of Astra and Laerke, who are just a year older.
Como Zoo
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| Kulu and Astra in Como Zoo. Photo by Corinna Troth |
The Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota is the only zoo in the US where you can see four polar bears: Neil, Nan, Kulu and Astra.
Como still has 30 year old Neil and his companion 31 year old Nan. Young Kulu arrived there three years ago, and now Astra has joined the group.
Como Zoo is home to the oldest female and the oldest male polar bears in the US.
Nan, short for Nanuyaak, was born in the Alaskan wilderness in late 1994. The cub was taken to the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, where she stayed for five months. She lived in the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma until she was six years old. Nan moved to the Toledo Zoo in 2001, where she gave birth to Nikita in 2006, with Marty as father, the same year Crystal gave birth to twins Aurora and Anana with Marty also as the father. Nan moved to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in 2017, where she lived with Marty's younger brother Hudson. Now she is in the Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota as companion to Neil.
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| Neil and Nan |
Neil and his late twin brother Buzz were named after the first two humans to walk on the moon. They were born December 9, 1995 in the Louisville Zoo, then lived at the San Diego Zoo from 1997 to 2001. They have lived at Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota since then, except for a two year span in 2008-10 when they enjoyed living in Detroit while the Como Zoo polar bear habitat was being expanded and renovated. While they lived in Detroit, the boys loved playing with young cub Talini, daughter of rescued circus bear Bärle.
At Como Zoo, Neil and Buzz have played host to three grizzly bears from a flooded out Minot ND zoo. Later, they welcomed their niece Berlin, who also had escaped from a flooded zoo in Duluth. They shared their habitat with young twins Suka and Sakari while the cubs waited for their new exhibit at Henry Vilas to open.
Neil and Buzz came from the Louisville family of bears. Their older brother Icee was the father of twins Berlin and Yukon at the Cincinnati Zoo. Their older sister Ulu was the mother of Berit, longtime resident of the Cincinnati Zoo and current resident of Henry Vilas. Their parents also famously had rare triplets in Louisville in 1992, which included the late and much loved Aquila. Neil and Buzz were neutered so they could stay together and not fight. At the time, it was thought their genes were well represented and there were plenty of polar bears of their line.
Six year old Kulu was born November 28, 2019 in the Columbus Zoo, a fourth cub for Aurora and a first (and still only) for father Lee. Kulu's older half siblings are Nora, Neva and Nuniq, and Amelia Gray is his cousin. Kulu is grandson of Crystal and Marty.
Five year old Astra, along with her twin sister Laerke, was born in 2020 in the Detroit Zoo. Her father is Nuka, and she was raised as a single club by her mother, since her sister Laerke suffered medical problems soon after birth was raised by keepers nearby. When the sisters were two years old, they were reunited, and happily played together. They moved together to the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington in June of 2023. In October of 2025, the twins were again split up, and Astra moved to Como Zoo as a mate for Kulu.
The Como Zoo has a central training area, and habitats with pools on either side, plenty of room for their large polar bear population.
Brookfield Zoo
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| Hudson in 2013, Brookfield |
Hudson and Hope are still living together in the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, but they were joined in August of 2025 by Amelia Gray, 9 year old daughter of Crystal's daughter the late Anana and wildborn Nanuq. Amelia Gray is Hope's niece.
Because of the limited gene pool, Hope, daughter of Marty and Crystal in Toledo, is paired with Marty's brother Hudson. That's right, Hudson is Hope's uncle, and also Amelia Gray's great uncle.
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| Hope up, Nora down, at Hogle Zoo in 2018. |
10 year old Hope was born in Toledo on December 3, 2015, to Marty and Crystal. She lived in the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City with her niece Nora of the same age for a few years and now is in Brookfield. She is sister to Aurora and Anana, Siku, Suka and Sakari, Bo, and is half sister to Kallik and Kallu, and also to Nikita.
19 year old Hudson was born December 14, 2006, in Brookfield Zoo in Chicago to parents Aussie and Arki, and is their last surviving offspring.
Amelia Gray was born to the late Anana in 2016 in the Columbus Zoo, at the same time Anana's twin sister Aurora gave birth to Nuniq and Neva, all three fathered by wildborn Nanuq. Amelia Gray and Neva went to live at the Maryland Zoo for several years, and when that zoo planned to close their polar bear exhibit in 2021, Amelia Gray moved to the Oregon Zoo, and Neva moved to Salt Lake City. Now Amelia Gray is in Brookfield, and Neva is in the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City.
Lincoln Park Zoo
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| Talini in Detroit |
The other zoo in Chicago, Lincoln Park, was until recently home to Talini and her companion, Siku, son of Crystal and the late Marty. Talini was born in Detroit to the late Bärle, a rescued circus bear, and the late Triton. Just a few months ago, Siku moved to Henry Vilas Zoo, so now Talini is on her own in LP.
21 year old Talini was something of a miracle child. She was born on November 22, 2004, in the Detroit Zoo to rescued circus bear Bärle, her first cub and at an advanced age of 20. Bärle raised Talini, teaching her to "hunt" seals in the habitat's pools. Talini lived with Nuka for many years, but there were no cubs, so she was moved to Lincoln Park in Chicago several years ago to be with Siku. Tests have shown that Talini will probably never become pregnant, and that is why Siku was moved to another zoo.
It is believed that Talini's mother Bärle was born wild in late 1984 in Manitoba Canada, where she was captured and taken into the East German circus. She performed with other polar bears in the East German Circus, until some of the bears were sold to a Mexican circus with terrible conditions. Bärle and five other bears, including Boris, were rescued in late 2002 in Puerto Rico by the U.S Government and she was taken in by the Detroit Zoo, where Bärle recovered from malnutrition and neglect. Two years later, Talini was born.
Henry Vilas Zoo
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| Berit, top, with Suka at Henry Vilas |
The Henry Vilas Zoo has three bears now, older lady Berit, and the breeding pair Siku and Nora.
The grassy meadows of the polar bear home in Madison Wisconsin have for many years been home to Berit and a string of younger bears, most recently Bo, son of Crystal and the late Marty, while they matured and learned from their teacher and companion, Berit.
Now Bo has moved to the Louisville Zoo, and his older brother Siku has arrived from the Brookfield Zoo.
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| Siku in Louisville |
16 year old Siku was born at the Toledo Zoo on December 3, 2009 to Marty and Crystal. He moved to the Louisville Zoo, where he lived, separately but next to wildborn Qannik, then to the Lincoln Park Zoo with Talini. Now he is a new resident of Henry Vilas in Madison Wisconsin. Siku is brother to Aurora and the late Anana of Columbus, Suka of Detroit, Sakari of Buffalo, Bo of Louisville, and Hope of Brookfield. He is half brother of Nikita of Salt Lake City and also Crystal's twins Kallik and Kallu.
And just arrived in Henry Vilas is a girlfriend for Siku, young Nora. Born in 2015, 10 year old Nora, first cub of Aurora, was neglected by her mother, and thus raised by keepers in the Columbus Zoo. As a cub, Nora suffered from a bone disease and this may be why her mother did not take care of her.
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| Baby Nora in Columbus |
When she was a year old, she moved to the Oregon Zoo in Portland to be company for an older lady bear Tasul and to learn how to be a polar bear from her. The older bear died shortly after Nora arrived, so she was alone, but Nora had been raised by humans so she was used to that. She moved to Salt Lake City, where she was companion to her Aunt Hope, who is the same age. While in Salt Lake City, Nora broke her leg, and required specialized surgery with lots of screws and other hardware. She recovered fully.
Nora returned to Portland, and was joined by her six year old sister/cousin Amelia Gray, also born in Columbus, and who has lived in the Maryland Zoo for the past few years. Amelia Gray is the daughter of Aurora's twin sister the late Anana. The late Nanuq is the father of both Amelia Gray and Nora.
And now Nora has arrived in Henry Vilas to be with Siku, and they have really hit it off, wanting to be together constantly. And yes, Siku is her uncle. Another pairing of relatives brought about because there is little other choice.
Berit is mostly past breeding age, and is one of the female bears probably made barren by birth control in the early 2000's.
27 year old Berit and her twin brother Ulaq were born in Denver on December 28, 1998. The twins came to the Cincinnati Zoo as young cubs. Ulaq died rather mysteriously when he was four years old, and it was attributed to liver failure. Berit lived happily in the Cincinnati Zoo with Rizzo and Little One for many years, but never got pregnant. She used to curl up with Rizzo to take naps, and missed her friend when she moved away.
Berit moved to the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison Wisconsin in 2016, first living with young girl cub Suka, and later with young Nuniq and then young Bo. She is a playful babysitter for the young bears who come to live with her.
Memphis Zoo
Koda is the lone bear in Memphis, now that Haley, daughter of the late Aurora and Yukon, has moved to the Detroit Zoo. Koda and his twin brother Nuka were born November 25, 2004 in Denver. Cranbeary is older sister of Koda and Nuka. Snowflake is sister of their late father Kavek.
Their father Kavek was brother of Andy, who was father of the late Buffalo Anana, as well ask Kiska and the late Kalluk of ABQ.
Koda lived most of his life in the Pittsburgh Zoo, but moved to Memphis in 2021 where he was mate to Haley until recently.
21 year old Koda and his twin brother Nuka were born to parents Voda and Kavek. The twins moved to Pittsburgh when they were two years old. In 2011, Nuka moved to Detroit. In early 2021, Koda left Pittsburgh and came to Memphis.
Toledo Zoo
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| Twins Kallik and Kallu and mother Crystal at their birthday party. |
Crystal, age 27, who is mother or grandmother of nearly all the younger bears in U.S. zoos, had her last cubs three years ago with the birth of twin boys, Kallik and Kallu, fathered by Nuka who was visiting from the Detroit Zoo.
A pairing with wildborn Kali recently did not work out, and so Nuka returned to Toledo from Detroit and Kali went to Detroit.
Crystal and the late Marty became parents of Aurora and the late Anana of Columbus, Siku of Henry Vilas, Suka of Detroit and her twin brother Sakari of Buffalo, Hope of Brookfield, and Bo of Louisville.
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| Crystal nursing Suka and Sakari |
Marty and Crystal are grandparents of Nora of Henry Vilas, Amelia Gray of Brookfield, Neva of Salt Lake City, Nuniq of Kansas City, Kulu and Astra of Como Zoo, and Laerke of Tacoma.
Crystal was born in November 10, 1998, in Monde Sauvage in Belgium. Her older sister Blanche was born in 1993. Blanche was mother to son Nanok, now in Denmark, and daughter Qannik, who still lives in Monde Sauvage, so these two are first cousins of all Crystal's cubs. Nanok is father to Danish Siku and Nuno in Denmark and Nanu in France, so Crystal has a niece and two nephews in Europe.
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| Nuka in Detroit |
Nuka, father of her latest cubs, has returned from Detroit.
21 year old Nuka and his twin brother Koda were born November 25, 2004 in Denver, to parents Voda and Kavek. The twins moved to Pittsburgh when they were two years old. In 2011, Nuka moved to Detroit, where he fathered Astra and Laerke in 2020 with Crystal's daughter Suka. Nuka moved to Toledo where he fathered Kallik and Kallu, then moved back to Detroit. Now he is back with Crystal again in Toledo, because they get along so well.
Nuka's father Kavek was brother of Andy, who was father of the late Buffalo Anana, as well ask Kiska and the late Kalluk of ABQ. Cranbeary is older sister of Koda and Nuka. Snowflake is sister of their late father Kavek.
Detroit Zoo
The Detroit Zoo is home to 13 year old Suka and until recently, 21 year old Nuka, who has just switched places with Kali in Toledo. Kali is now in Detroit and Nuka is again in Toledo with Crystal.
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| Suka in Detroit |
A little history. Once upon a time, Talini was born in Detroit and in 2011, Nuka was brought in as a mate for her, but there were no cubs, so Talini moved to Lincoln Park, and Suka came from Henry Vilas in 2018 to be mate of Nuka.
In 2020, Suka and Nuka had welcomed twin daughters Astra and Laerke, that year's only cubs in the USA, and none were born in 2021. Astra was raised by her mother, and twin sister Laerke was raised by keepers. For a time, a Grizzly cub named Jebbie came to Detroit as a playmate for Laerke, but he grew too large and strong, and was relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado. Astra now lives at Henry Vilas with Siku and Berit. Laerke lives in Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma.
Suka (and her twin brother Sakari) were born November 21, 2012 in the Toledo Zoo to Marty and Crystal. The twins moved to Como Zoo in St. Paul, then to the new habitat at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison Wisconsin. Suka has lived in the Detroit Zoo since 2018. Before Astra and Laerke were born, Suka had given birth to cubs for the previous two seasons, but they did not survive.
Haley moved to Detroit from Memphis a year ago.
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| Haley in Memphis |
Detroit newcomer 23 year old Haley was born November 15, 2002 to Aurora and Yukon in the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester New York. In 2005 she moved to the Brookfield Zoo where she was matched up with young Payton. The two of them moved to the Memphis Zoo in 2006. At the time, Cranbeary was living in Memphis, and stayed for four more years, but then Cranbeary moved to Denver, and is now in Alaska. Payton left and Koda arrived from the Pittsburgh Zoo. But even with such male companionship, Haley never had any cubs. It is hoped that her change to Detroit will bring cubs for Haley.
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| Kali in St. Louis |
An even more recent newcomer, 13 year old Kali was born in the Alaskan wilderness in late 2012. His mother was shot by a hunter, who realized there was a cub and tracked him down in his den. He was taken to the Alaska Zoo, kept there for a few months, and then flown to the Buffalo Zoo to be a companion for young Luna, who was being raised by hand. When he was about two years old, he went to the St. Louis Zoo, where he stayed, all alone, until a year ago. Now that the ban on breeding wildborn zoo polar bears is gone, Kali can be with a female. He came to Toledo as a mate for Crystal, just as Crystal's young sons Kallik and Kallu went to St. Louis.
It wasn't working out to have Kali and Crystal together, and Crystal had really liked Nuka, so Kali went to Detroit, and Nuka came back to Toledo. The Detroit Zoo is in the process of introducing wildborn Kali to the two ladies, Suka and Haley.
Columbus Zoo
Columbus Zoo is home to 19 year old Aurora and 26 year old Lee.
The zoo's most recent male polar bear Lee had spent several years in Louisville while Aurora raised their cub Kulu, who is now six years old, then Lee returned to Columbus, but so far, no new cubs.
Twin sisters Aurora and Anana had lived together all their lives, from the time they were born in Toledo, for several years in Pittsburgh and then their many years together at the Columbus Zoo. Tragically, Anana died in 2022.
Aurora and Anana were born in the Toledo Zoo November 25, 2006, four days after Nan gave birth to Nikita in the den next door. The father was the same, Marty. The twins' mother was Crystal, who was born in Belgium.
The Toledo Zoo was a busy place during those years, with Nan raising Nikita, and Crystal raising the twin girls.
Twins Aurora and Anana moved to Pittsburgh in 2008, and to the new polar bear habitat at the Columbus Zoo in 2010.
Aurora gave birth to Nora in 2015, who was raised by keepers.
In 2016, both sisters gave birth. Aurora had twins, Nuniq and Neva. Anana had Amelia Grey. The father of all four cubs was the late Nanuq, who had previously fathered Luna in the Buffalo Zoo with the late Anana.
Six years ago, Aurora gave birth again to a boy named Kulu with Lee as the father. Kulu moved to Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota in late 2021.
26 year old Lee and his twin sister (North Carolina) Anana were born November 27, 1999, in Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester NY to Aurora and Yukon.
Lee has lived in Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago several times, in Milwaukee, in Detroit, and then in Denver with Cranbearry. He moved to the Columbus Zoo in late 2018, then a few years in Louisville after Kulu's birth, and then back to Columbus.
Louisville Zoo
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| Qannik of the Louisville Zoo, looking for a love match. |
15 year old wildborn Qannik lives at Glacier Run with young male bear Bo, son of Crystal and Marty, along with a male grizzly bear Otis who is rotated through the same habitats.
Rescued cub Qannik is the Ice Princess at the Louisville Zoo. As the Property of Fish and Wildlife, for most of her life she could not be part of the breeding program, but that rule was changed a few years ago, and now she shares space with a handsome young male. Having lived alone all her life, it took her awhile to warm up to Bo, but they seem to get along well now. Everyone is hoping for cubs. Since she was born in the wild, Qannik is unrelated to any other zoo bear, so her genes are valuable.
Qannik was born wild on the North Slope of the Alaska oilfields. When only a few months old, she became separated from her mother and sister in a storm and was rescued and taken to the Alaska Zoo. A few months later, after she had gained some weight, she was flown to the Louisville Zoo where she still resides.
Her birthday was assigned to her by Fish and Wildlife - as January 2010. The Louisville Zoo always throws Qannik a big birthday party every January.
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| Bo in Henry Vilas Zoo |
7 year old Bo, short for Borealis, was born December 9, 2018 at the Toledo Zoo. He is the son of Crystal and the late Marty. Crystal was born in Belgium. Marty and Crystal had seven cubs in Toledo, and Crystal has had two more, Kallik and Kallu, fathered by Nuka. Bo is youngest full brother to Aurora and the late Anana, as well as Siku, Suka and Sakari and Hope. He is half brother of Nikita.
Pittsburgh Zoo
30 year old Snowflake is on her own in the Pittsburgh Zoo, since Koda moved to Memphis a few years ago. She lived for quite a time in San Diego SeaWorld.
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| Snowflake in SeaWorld San Diego |
Snowflake was born November 28, 1995 in the Buffalo Zoo. She spent most of her life in San Diego with her late German friend Szenja, with several periods for breeding (unsuccessful) in the Pittsburgh Zoo. Since just before Szenja's death, Snowflake had lived in Pittsburgh with her nephew Koda, who later moved to Memphis. Since then, Snowflake has been alone in Pittsburgh.
Her parents were Herman II and Becky. Her brothers were Andy (father of the late Anana); Arturo, who had been sent to Argentina and was the object of many petitions to improve his conditions but lived to a ripe old age; and Kavek, father of Cranbeary of the Alaska Zoo and twins Koda and Nuka. Snowflake was also sister of the late Rizzo, who lived in Cincinnati and Salt Lake City.
Buffalo Zoo
Buffalo Zoo is home to Luna, who was born there, and her mate Sakari. Both are 13 years old.
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| Sakari and Luna |
Luna was born November 27, 2012 at the Buffalo Zoo, and never left. Her father the late Nanuq had already moved to Columbus, and her mother Anana promptly moved to Brookfield Zoo, while Luna's birth was kept secret. Luna was raised by keepers. She was soon joined by a rescued Alaskan boy cub, Kali, as a playmate. During this time, the old bear pits were torn down, and a beautiful new polar bear habitat with two huge enclosures was built. Young Luna and young Kali played together in a fenced in area, then moved to an old tiger habitat, where Luna fell and broke her leg.
Luna's leg healed, but she was kept from Kali for many months. Kali moved to St. Louis, and Luna's mother Anana returned, only to leave again for Cincinnati, then later Detroit, where she died of heart failure.
Sakari (and his twin sister Suka) were born November 21, 2012 in the Toledo Zoo to Marty and Crystal. The twins moved to Como Zoo in St. Paul, then to the new habitat at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison Wisconsin. Sakari moved to Buffalo in 2016. So far, no cubs.
Seneca Park Zoo
29 year old Anoki is the sole resident of Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester New York.
Born in the Seneca Park Zoo on November 20, 1996, Anoki was the first of four cubs from Aurora and Yukon (born in the Cincinnati Zoo). Anoki has never had cubs.
She lived for ten years in Rio Grand Zoo (now ABQ Biopark) in Albuquerque 1998-2008 with her mother's brothers, twins Kiska and Koluk.
From 2008 to 2018 she lived in Baltimore with Magnet until he died in 2015. When her mother Aurora, still in Rochester, died a few years ago, Anoki moved back to Seneca Park Zoo so they would have a polar bear there.
Her siblings are Haley of Detroit, and twins Lee, now in Columbus, and Anana now in North Carolina.
Anoki's mother Aurora was sister of the late Denali, who passed away recently. He fathered eight cubs in Japan.
North Carolina Zoo
26 year old Anana, daughter of Aurora and Yukon and twin sister of Lee, lives alone in the North Carolina Zoo.
Anana and her twin brother Lee were born November 27, 1999, in Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester NY to Aurora and Yukon.
Anana had spent most of her life alone in Lincoln Park Zoo, until she moved to Asheboro North Carolina to be with Nikita in 2014. Hopes were high that these bears would have cubs, but no results. Nikita had moved to Salt Lake City, and another companion Payton died as he was being moved to Louisville.
Looking to the future
The population has ticked down from 40 to 37. The great concern is that most of the younger bears are part of the same family. We really need to change whatever federal laws are preventing the importing of zoo polar bears from Europe and Canada, or we will have no polar bears at all in our zoos in the next generation. The good news is that Alaskan born rescue cubs are now allowed to be part of the breeding program, a move that affects Qannik, Kali, and Kava. So far no cubs from this change, but maybe next season. Hopefully, there will be a baby boom this coming year, and we will have cubs in a number of zoos.
In a side note, this year only one polar bear cub was born worldwide in zoos, that being Momo's cub in Oga Aquarium in Japan. The father is Gota.
