North American Polar Bear Population 2022

These people are likely the key reasons why Amelia and Kulu are where they are. It’s not necessarily the best scenario, but it’s not inherently detrimental to the overall population right now.

 

Maryland Zoo doesn't have polar bears right now and they don't have plans to have them anytime soon - focusing on giving the entire exhibit to the grizzlies

 

I don’t know for sure but I believe that was said only to not leave people waiting for more p bears. There’s no guarantee they can get any soon. I’ve been told by many people that the zoo certainly does not want to give them up. They’ve put in requests for bears but it’s just difficult to find any. So many are elderly and we see an average of like one cub a year so it’s just not guaranteed that the facilities with more connections are going to be denied bears so that Maryland can have them. That being said, if we see any of our newer couples becoming more prolific then it’s very possible Maryland could welcome a bear or two. It’s just that IF breeding were to take off with even one pair we’d be waiting a minimum of two and half years or so for a new bear in Maryland, probably longer.

 

Is it possible that either Astra, Laerke or Kulu could find themselves in Maryland when they come of age/are properly socialized? And if so, what is a good timeframe to keep in mind other than the two and a half year timeline you mentioned for polar bear cubs in general?

 

Obviously this is not confirmed by any means but there are possibilities. This year between September and December would be a possible time frame for the arrival of Astra and Laerke. That being said Detroit certainly has room and may very well keep them until the hit maturity at 4-5 years old. For Kulu in 2 years or so would be when he would move to Maryland if Nan is still alive in Como to act as either a companion for Neil or a younger cub born this year. That would be similar to the Henry Vilas model. A big factor I think will be whether or not Detroit can acquire another breeding female for Nuka (Amelia maybe?) in the next season or two. I’d say Kulu is almost definitely staying in Como park if Nan or Neil die before his 4th birthday. Astra and Laerke were the only cubs born in 2020 so they will likely be exact other’s best choices for companions as they continue to grow; similar to Hope and Nora, Neva and Amelia, Kali and Luna, etc. Maryland could certainly act as a housing facility for the pair but it would depend on further population deaths and Detroit’s willingness to relinquish the cubs.

 

Alaska Zoo - Anchorage, AK (0.1)
Cranbeary F (Kavek x Voda) b. 2001.11.21

San Diego Zoo - San Diego, CA (1.2)
Kalluk M (WILD x WILD) b. 2000
Chinook F (WILD x WILD) b. 1995
Tatqiq F (WILD x WILD) b. 2000

Brookfield Zoo - Brookfield, IL (1.1)
Hudson M (Aussie x Arki) b. 2006.12.14
Hope F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2015.12.03

Lincoln Park Zoo - Chicago, IL (1.1)
Siku M (Marty x Crystal) b. 2009.12.03
Talini F (Triton x Barle) b. 2004.11.22

Louisville Zoo - Louisville, KY (1.1)
Qannik F (WILD x WILD) b. 2011.01.10
Lee M (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1999.11.27

Detroit Zoo - Royal Oak, MI (0.3)
Suka F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2012.11.21
Astra F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17
Laerke F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17

Como Park Zoo - Saint Paul, MN (2.1)
Neil M (Irsinak x Skeena) 1995.12.09 [sterile]
Nanuyaak (WILD x WILD) b. 1994
Kulu M (Lee x Aurora) b. 2019.11.28

Kansas City Zoo - Kansas City, MO (1.1)
Berlin F (Icee x Connie) b. 1989.12.11
Nuniq M (Nanuq x Aurora) b. 2016.11.14

Saint Louis Zoo - St. Louis, MO (1.0)
Kali M (WILD x WILD) b. 2013

Albuquerque BioPark Zoo - Albuquerque, NM (2.0)
Kiska M (Andy x Chinook) b. 1996.11.19 [sterile]
Koluk M (Andy x Chinook) b. 1996.11.19 [sterile]

Buffalo Zoo - Buffalo, NY (1.1)
Sakari M (Marty x Crystal) b. 2012.11.21
Luna F (Nanuq x Anana) b. 2012.11.27

Seneca Park Zoo - Rochester, NY (0.1)
Anoki F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1996.11.20

North Carolina Zoo - Asheboro, NC (1.1)
Anana F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1999.11.27
Payton M (Aussie x Arki) b. 2003.11.08

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium - Powell, OH (0.2)
Anana F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2006.11.25
Aurora F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2006.11.25

Toledo Zoo - Toledo, OH (1.1)
Crystal F (Orca x Saskia) b. 1998.11.10
Nuka M (Kavek x Voda) b. 2004.11.25

Oregon Zoo - Portland, OR (0.2)
Nora F (Nanuq x Aurora) b. 2015.11.06
Amelia Gray F (Nanuq x Anana) b. 2016.11.08

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium - Pittsburgh, PA (0.1)
Snowflake F (Herman II x Becky) b. 1995.11.28

Memphis Zoo - Memphis, TN (1.1)
Haley F (Yukon x Aurora) b. 2002.11.15
Koda M (Kavek x Voda) b. 2004.11.25

Hogle Zoo - Salt Lake City, UT (1.1)
Nikita M (Marty x Nanuyaak) b. 2006.11.21
Neva F (Nanuq x Aurora) b. 2016.11.14

Henry Vilas Zoo - Madison, WI (1.1)
Berit F (Olaf x Ulu) b. 1998.12.28
Borealis M (Maty x Crystal) b. 2018.12.09

Total US Population (29) 16.23

 

0.1 Agee was transferred from Beyond Bear Inc. to the Assiniboine Park Zoo on May 27, 2022.

Assiniboine Park & Zoo | Facebook

 

As of June 6, 2022, there are 63 (29.34.0) polar bears in North America. Of the 63 polar bears in North America, 23 (13.10.0) reside at 5 institutions in Canada, 1 (0.1.0) resides at an institution in Mexico, and 39 (16.23.0) reside at 20 institutions in the United States.

Spoiler: Population

Canada

Assiniboine Park Zoo - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
1.0 Storm (WILD × WILD) 2010.00.00
1.0 York (WILD × WILD) 2014.00.00
1.0 Nanuq (WILD × WILD) 2015.00.00
1.0 Siku (WILD × WILD) 2015.00.00
1.0 Baffin (WILD × WILD) 2016.00.00
0.1 Agee (Imarec × Mirsha) 1995.01.03
0.1 Aurora (WILD × WILD) 2012.00.00
0.1 Kaska (WILD × WILD) 2012.00.00
0.1 Star (WILD × WILD) 2013.00.00
0.1 Willow (WILD × WILD) 2016.00.00
Total: 5.5.0 (10)

Canadian Polar Bear Habitat - Cochrane, Ontario, Canada
1.0 Inukshuk (WILD × WILD) 2002.00.00
1.0 Ganuk (Inukshuk × Aisaqvak) 2009.11.30
1.0 Henry (Nelson × Liya) 2013.05.09
Total: 3.0.0 (3)

Toronto Zoo - Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
1.0 Hudson (Inukshuk × Aurora) 2011.10.11
1.0 Humphrey (Inukshuk × Aurora) 2013.11.09
0.1 Aurora (WILD × WILD) 2000.00.00
0.1 Nikita (WILD × WILD) 2000.00.00
0.1 Juno (Inukshuk × Aurora) 2015.11.11
Total: 2.3.0 (5)

Aquarium du Québec - Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
1.0 Kinuk (Yelle × Aisaqvak) 2018.11.27
1.0 Shouka (Yelle × Milak) 2018.12.11
Total: 2.0.0 (2)

Saint Felicien Zoo - Saint Felicien, Quebec, Canada
1.0 Yelle (Victor × Huggies) 2005.11.26
0.1 Aisaqvak (WILD × WILD) 2002.00.00
0.1 Milak (Felix × Victoria) 2008.12.07
Total: 1.2.0 (3)

Mexico

Guadalajara Zoo - Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
0.1 Agata (Agaguk × Tatuk) 1997.11.23
Total: 0.1.0 (1)

United States

Alaska Zoo - Anchorage, Alaska, United States
0.1 Cranbeary (Kavek × Voda) 2001.11.21
Total: 0.1.0 (1)

San Diego Zoo - San Diego, California, United States
1.0 Kalluk (WILD × WILD) 2000.00.00
0.1 Chinook (WILD × WILD) 1995.00.00
0.1 Tatqiq (WILD × WILD) 2000.00.00
Total: 1.2.0 (3)

Brookfield Zoo - Brookfield, Illinois, United States
1.0 Hudson (Aussie × Arki) 2006.12.14
0.1 Hope (Marty × Crystal) 2015.12.03
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

Lincoln Park Zoo - Chicago, Illinois, United States
1.0 Siku (Marty × Crystal) 2009.12.03
0.1 Talini (Triton × Bärle) 2004.11.22
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

Louisville Zoo - Louisville, Kentucky, United States
1.0 Lee (Yukon × Aurora) 1999.11.27
0.1 Qannik (WILD × WILD) 2011.01.10
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

Detroit Zoo - Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
0.1 Suka (Marty × Crystal) 2012.11.21
0.1 Astra (Nuka × Suka) 2020.11.17
0.1 Laerke (Nuka × Suka) 2020.11.17
Total: 0.3.0 (3)

Como Park Zoo - Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
1.0 Neil (Irsinak × Skeena) 1995.12.09
1.0 Kulu (Lee × Aurora) 2019.11.28
0.1 Nanuyaak (WILD × WILD) 1994.00.00
Total: 2.1.0 (3)

Kansas City Zoo - Kansas City, Missouri, United States
1.0 Nuniq (Nanuq × Aurora) 2016.11.14
0.1 Berlin (Icee × Connie) 1989.12.11
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

Saint Louis Zoo - St. Louis, Missouri, United States
1.0 Kali (WILD × WILD) 2013.00.00
Total: 1.0.0 (1)

Albuquerque Zoo - Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
1.0 Kiska (Andy × Chinook) 1996.11.19
1.0 Koluk (Andy × Chinook) 1996.11.19
Total: 2.0.0 (2)

Buffalo Zoo - Buffalo, New York, United States
1.0 Sakari (Marty × Crystal) 2012.11.21
0.1 Luna (Nanuq × Anana) 2012.11.27
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

Seneca Park Zoo - Rochester, New York, United States
0.1 Anoki (Yukon × Aurora) 1996.11.20
Total: 0.1.0 (1)

North Carolina Zoo - Asheboro, North Carolina, United States
1.0 Payton (Aussie × Arki) 2003.11.08
0.1 Anana (Yukon × Aurora) 1999.11.27
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

Columbus Zoo - Powell, Ohio, United States
0.1 Anana (Marty × Crystal) 2006.11.25
0.1 Aurora (Marty × Crystal) 2006.11.25
Total: 0.2.0 (2)

Toledo Zoo - Toledo, Ohio, United States
1.0 Nuka (Kavek × Voda) 2004.11.25
0.1 Crystal (Orca × Saskia) 1998.11.10
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

Oregon Zoo - Portland, Oregon, United States
0.1 Nora (Nanuq × Aurora) 2015.11.06
0.1 Amelia Gray (Nanuq × Anana) 2016.11.08
Total: 0.2.0 (2)

Pittsburgh Zoo - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
0.1 Snowflake (Herman II × Becky) 1995.11.28
Total: 0.1.0 (1)

Memphis Zoo - Memphis, Tennessee, United States
1.0 Koda (Kavek × Voda) 2004.11.25
0.1 Haley (Yukon × Aurora) 2002.11.15
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

Hogle Zoo - Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
1.0 Nikita (Marty × Nanuyaak) 2006.11.21
0.1 Neva (Nanuq × Aurora) 2016.11.14
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

Henry Vilas Zoo - Madison, Wisconsin, United States
1.0 Borealis (Marty × Crystal) 2018.12.09
0.1 Berit (Olaf × Ulu) 1998.12.28
Total: 1.1.0 (2)

 

It will be very interesting to see what polar bears transfer to Calgary Zoo in 2023. The $31 million revamp of that zoo's Canadian Wilds zone will prominently feature all 3 North American bear species. The grizzlies and black bears will remain in their current enclosures, but a brand-new habitat for polar bears will be ready to go in late 2023.

 

Aurora the Polar bear has died:

It’s very sad to hear of the loss of this young female:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/polar-bear-assiniboine-park-zoo-dies-1.6498849

Aurora, who has been at the zoo since 2013, died Tuesday during a routine dental examination, zoo officials announced Thursday.

Furniss said the bear was put under anesthesia for the procedure and it was successfully completed, but then she went into cardiac arrest and never woke up.

Aurora was found as a cub, wandering near the Churchill Airport in fall 2013. Her mother was never found.

 

Good news out of Columbus this evening, twin sisters Aurora and Anana were artificially inseminated on March 17 while they were in estrous!
This means we have two more bears to watch out for this fall. Sperm was used from nearby Louisville. The male bear at Louisville, Lee, is a proven breeder having sired Kulu with the aforementioned Aurora. While AI has yet to prove successful to date these three individuals give us the best chance yet. Most of the previous AIs performed were with older bears, bears who were on birth control, or with unproven individuals. All three of these individuals are within close proximity (hopefully indicating higher quality sperm), proven, never had contraceptives used on them, and are all fairly young. While certainly no guarantee I look forward to see what this experience teaches us about artificial insemination in polar bears. Fingers crossed !

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Polar Bears Contributing to Science and Innovation to Help Save Species Through Artificial Insemination

 

Wonderful news. Colombus never leave their females long without attempting to breed them. I for one, was surprised when a male wasn't sent there earlier this year, but obviously they have faith AI will work.

Fingers crossed both are pregnant, but at least one will be better than nothing as she will produce the first polar bear cubs via AI!

 

Absolutely devastating news, Anana at Columbus was euthanized on October 12th.

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Yikes. I can't possibly think of worse news for the status of Polar bears in US Zoos than the loss of one of the four proven Female breeders. I certainly hope we don't see a second straight year with zeros cubs born. The future of Polar bears in US Zoos has become even more uncertain every year.

 

I wonder what Columbus's future with Polar Bears will be like, now that they are down to a single individual. I can't see Columbus phasing-out Polar Bears anytime soon, but I can see them moving Aurora to a different facility for breeding.

 

No thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act's lack of amendments allowing zoos to exchange across continents or breed from rescued bears...

 

There’s a very low chance that Aurora will be transferred out anytime soon. She’s one of so few proven breeding females and it would not be a good move to send her elsewhere since Columbus clearly wants to keep breeding. She was artificially inseminated this spring so let’s hope she has some cubs this denning season, but if not, I’m sure a male will be brought to breed with her eventually.

 

Not even across continents, across countries. I'd be thrilled to see the ability to swap zoos with Canadian zoos.

In the end, this would be the SSP's decision to make. I don't know what the plan is, and the death of one breeding age individual could potentially disrupt large parts of the plan (especially in small populations). While I agree Columbus is unlikely to phase out Polar bears, I wouldn't put it past the SSP to move some Polar bears around. Especially, if breeding successes don't occur elsewhere, it may be time to consider mixing up a lot of pairings, in order to possibly lead to better results.

 

Amen! Many Canadian Zoos are at max capacity! The two boys in Toronto are now castrated... which is a waste of genetics that come from a proven line. Anyone of them could've been a great fit for the Columbus Gals. Or even Assiniboine has some young males as well that could've been doing some good in the US. IMO the MMPA (Marine Mammal Protection Act) does more harm for the polar bear genetics than good. I would dare say to remove the polar bears off the marine mammal list (as much as it hurst too) to benefit the species as a whole.

Nonetheless still sucks that a proven female polar bear has now passed that's one less proven female in the population which is a huge shame.

 

Actually the MMPA does allow for importations - it's the implementation of it that is difficult due to red tape (text from the MMPA is below)

Title I—Conservation and Protection of Marine Mammals
Moratorium on taking and importing marine mammals and marine mammal products 1

6 U.S.C. 1371 Sec. 101. (a) [IMPOSITION; EXCEPTIONS.]

— There shall be a moratorium on the taking and importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products, commencing on the effective date of this Act, during which time no permit may be issued for the taking of any marine mammal and no marine mammal or marine mammal product may be imported into the United States except in the following cases: (1) Consistent with the provisions of section 104, permits may be issued by the Secretary for taking, and importation for purposes of scientific research, public display, photography for educational or commercial purposes, or enhancing the survival or recovery of a species or stock, or for importation of polar bear parts (other than internal organs) taken in sport hunts in Canada.

Such permits, except permits issued under section 104 (c)(5), may be issued if the taking or importation proposed to be made is first reviewed by the Marine Mammal Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals established under title II of this Act. The Commission and Committee shall recommend any proposed taking or importation, other than importation under section 104 (c)(5), which is consistent with the purposes and policies of section 2. If the Secretary issues such a permit for importation, the Secretary shall issue to the importer concerned a certificate to that effect in such form as the Secretary of the Treasury prescribes, and such importation may be made upon presentation of the certificate to the customs officer concerned.