One of two male polar bear cubs, who were orphaned in Churchill, are now located at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. (ASSINIBOINE PARK CONSERVANCY)
Two 11-month-old polar bear cubs from Churchill have been relocated to Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo.
The province says the two orphaned male cubs were found near their mother, who had been killed by a civilian attempting to scare the female and her cubs away from the entrance to a building with a cracker shell.
The bear was accidentally hit with the shell, which caused significant blood loss.
Bears of such a young age do not have survival skills on their own and typically stay with their mothers for two winters to learn how to hunt.
The cubs were relocated to the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre and will undergo the standard 30-day quarantine period before being on display to the public.
“Both cubs are in good health and are adjusting well to their new surroundings,” said Dr. Chris Enright.
“Obviously this is a very unfortunate situation and we prefer that all polar bears remain in the wild, however we are happy that a facility such as this exists for polar bears who would otherwise not survive on their own.”
(ASSINIBOINE PARK CONSERVANCY)
