An orphaned polar bear cub found in the Churchill, Manitoba area has been brought to Winnipeg by the Assiniboine Park Zoo. Following the discovery of its deceased mother, conservation officers determined that the young bear was a suitable candidate for relocation to the zoo’s Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre under the Polar Bear Protection Act, as stated in a recent press release.
Studies have demonstrated that polar bear cubs left without a mother in their first year struggle to survive in the wild. The conservation center was established with backing from the province to offer sanctuary to specific polar bears in need.
In collaboration with provincial authorities, the Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s polar bear rescue and care team dispatched supplies and support to tend to the cub’s initial requirements in Churchill. Subsequently, veterinary professionals traveled to the location to evaluate the cub and supervise its journey to Winnipeg, where it safely arrived late on Thursday, according to the release.
The young bear will now receive specialized attention from veterinary experts, animal care specialists, and conservation researchers. It will undergo a period of quarantine and remain out of sight while its health and care necessities are assessed by the veterinary and animal care teams.
During this period, the cub will not be on display for zoo visitors. The zoo currently houses six other rescued polar bears named Storm, Nanuq, York, Kaska, Willow, and Star. Each rescued cub adjusts to the zoo environment at its own pace, with the transition process meticulously managed to ensure the animals’ comfort and well-being, the release added.
The most recent polar bear cubs introduced to the zoo arrived in 2017. Updates on the progress of the latest cub as it settles into its new surroundings will be shared by the zoo in the future.