An orphaned polar bear cub from Churchill, Manitoba is now at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg. (ASSINIBOINE PARK CONSERVANCY / HANDOUT)
An orphaned polar bear cub from the Churchill area has arrived at the Assiniboine Park Zoo after its mother was found deceased.
Working in consultation with the province, zoo veterinary staff travelled north to assess the bear and oversee its transfer to Winnipeg, where it arrived safely late Thursday evening.
Research has shown polar bear cubs orphaned in their first year of life cannot survive in the wild, the zoo said. The cub will now receive specialized care from veterinary professionals, animal care experts and conservation scientists at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre.
“We’re fortunate to have a world-class polar bear care facility at Assiniboine Park Zoo and grateful to be able to give this cub a safe home and new opportunity to thrive,” said Dr. Chris Enright, senior director of zoological operations.
“Our veterinary and animal care teams will be focused on providing a safe, supportive environment as the cub gets comfortable in its new surroundings.”
The cub will undergo a quarantine period and remain behind the scenes while teams assess its health and care needs, meaning it will not be visible to zoo visitors at this time.
Assiniboine Park Zoo is currently home to six rescued polar bears: Storm, Nanuq, York, Kaska, Willow and Star. The last polar bear cubs transferred to the zoo arrived in 2017.
