Zoo’s new polar bear cubs meet the public

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This article was published 30/10/2014 (3465 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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There’s a new Star – and her brother, Blizzard — at the Assiniboine Park Zoo.

Two orphaned polar bear cubs were introduced to the public this morning at the zoo. They are about 11 months old.

And the cubs’ debut was a big hit.

“It’s fun to see them and to get to know their names,” said Winnipeg dad Joel Sawatzky. He and his wife took their kids, Vincent, 3, and Nevica, nine months, to see the newcomers to Winnipeg.

“(Vincent) came (to the zoo) when Hudson (an older bear) first came out, and they’re both the same age now. It’s just kind of been our adventure at the zoo.”

The zoo now has six polar bears, including Hudson, Storm, Kaska and Aurora within the Journey to Churchill exhibit.

The two cubs’ names were chosen after more than 2,500 votes were cast in a poll of several names supplied by students from three northern Manitoba schools (Gillam School, George Saunders Memorial Schooll in York Landing and Fox Lake School).

“There is certainly a lot of excitement in the community about these young cubs, so we are pleased to introduce them for the first time today,” said Dr. Brian Joseph, director of zoological operations at Assiniboine Park Zoo. “Like our visitors, we are looking forward to getting to know the cubs’ unique personalities and watching them grow and mature.”

The orphaned siblings arrived in September after they were spotted along the Hudson Bay shoreline. Following an unsuccessful search for their mother, officials at Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship made the decision to transport the animals to the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre (IPBCC).

Zoo visitors will be able to watch them explore their habitat daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.