On Friday, the Buffalo Zoo introduced its baby polar bear to the public. The female cub, who has not been named yet, is only one of a few new polar bears born to North American zoos this year.
According to the Zoo, "The cub was born on Nov. 27 to mother Anana, sired by Nanuq, and has been hand raised by the zoo's veterinary technician and keeper staff. Though the cub is currently too small to go on exhibit for the public, she will be visible on a closed-circuit television in the zoo's M&T Bank Rainforest Falls Monday through Friday from noon until 3 p.m. The zoo will also post regular updates to its website and Facebook page."
The bear is now 23 pounds, after coming into the world at 1.5 pounds. When asked how fast the cub would grow, veterinary technician Alice Rochauer said, "I really don’t know because I don’t have anything to compare her to. [She’s] my first bear." Also, the Buffalo Zoo notes, "Anana now resides at the Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago, while the cub’s father, Nanuq, is at the Columbus Zoo."
The Buffalo Zoo is also encouraging people to donate so it can build a new polar bear exhibit so it can "meet the current husbandry standards adopted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums." So far, the zoo has raised $14 million of $18 million needed, and it hopes the public will pitch in to keep the bears in Buffalo (you can donate here).
