On March 12, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received word that a female polar bear had been taken near Point Lay, Alaska. An Inuit hunter shot and killed the polar bear, and when he realised it was a female, he searched for the den and found the cub. The hunter recovered the cub after it was transferred first to the community of Point Lay, and then to the North Slope Borough’s Department of Wildlife Management (DWM). Subsequent to a health evaluation by the DWM it was determined that the orphaned cub is a young male weighing nearly 8.5 kg and 3 – 4 months of age. The Alaska Zoo was requested to arrange the transportation from Barrow and to provide for preliminary care and management of the cub. The cub is currently being held for observation at the Alaska Zoo, and appears to be responding well.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognises and appreciates the many partners, including the people of Point Lay (who would like the cub to be named “Kali,” pronounced cully, which is the Inupiat name for Point Lay), the North Slope Borough, Alaska Airlines, the North Slope Borough Police Department, and the Alaska Zoo for their efforts in recovering, transporting, and caring for this young animal.
“Kali” the polar bear cub will be available for public viewing in his outdoor pen from 11am to noon and 3pm-4pm daily, starting Saturday March 23. He will still have access to his indoor den during these times.
Kali will not be a permanent resident at the Alaska Zoo, since the Zoo already has two adult polar bears. The final destination of the cub will be determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after consideration of all options, Buffalo Zoo in New York is candidate.
Footage of another orphaned polar bear cub that has been taken care of at Alaska Zoo:
(Video courtesy of John Gomes/Alaska Zoo and USFWS )
Polar Bears International (PBI) Arctic Ambassador Center
The Alaska Zoo is proud to be a PBI Arctic Ambassador Center, a charter institution dating back to 2004. They are dedicated to making a difference in all aspects of polar bears lives, from a captive setting to inspiring action and change for wild polar bears as they face sea ice thawing due to climate change.
As a PBI Arctic Ambassador Center, the Alaska Zoo:
- Strives for bear friendly exhibits with enrichment activities to stimulate the bears to be active and content
- Provides leadership for carbon emission reduction in their communities
- Supports PBI research projects to help conserve wild polar bears
- Plays a key role in the PBI Sustainability Alliance, a front-line team helping to save polar bears in a rapidly warming Arctic
A partner with PBI since 2005, the Alaska Zoo has sent mentorship students, keepers and educators to PBI Leadership Camp in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada each year. Click here to learn about their current polar bear action projects!
(Source: the Alaska Zoo press release, 18.03.2013 updated 23.03.2013; Zooborns, 02.04.2013)