North American Polar Bear Population 2023

As I had thought likely all along, the SSP coordinators apparently see value in additional holders. The reasoning could line up with my thinking that more zoos with polar bears means there are more facilities with an advantage in educating the public about them and therefore the perils the arctic ecosystem face.

 

There’s absolutely value in having more holders.

Under this nonsense of not being able to breed from wild caught founders, the genetic diversity of the North American breeding population is only going to decrease over the coming decades.

It’s better to breed as many cubs as we can now, so we have more options for pairings long term. Additional holders will increase our capacity to do this.

 

It's gonna be awesome seeing polar bears back in Tacoma!

 

Yes, you're absolutely right about the breeding population decreasing in the coming decades. Another thing that will likely be decreasing is the number of Polar Bear holders.

 

Koluk passed away today at the age of 26. This is so tragic, especially for the zookeepers who have worked with him, as I gather he and his brother were wonderful bears (based on videos I've been watching for the past hour).

From an article accessed on Facebook:
"Staff at the ABQ BioPark are heartbroken at the loss of Koluk, a 26-year-old polar bear who has been in their care since 1997. Koluk was humanely euthanized on May 26 after his health rapidly declined this week.

The median life expectancy for a polar bear is 20.8 years in human care and only 15-18 years in the wild. Koluk was diagnosed with heart disease during a routine medical exam in 2019, and the condition was managed successfully with daily medication. However, in recent days, the animal care staff observed a lack of appetite, sluggishness and stiffness. BioPark veterinarians performed a full exam on May 19. During the procedure, veterinary staff discovered severe liver and kidney disease.

Over the course of the last week, the animal care staff provided supportive care to Koluk. Additional testing showed a progression of disease, and staff made the decision to humanely euthanize Koluk on May 26.

'Koluk was one of the most playful animals at the BioPark, and he was a favorite among guests and staff,' said Casey Taylor, ABQ BioPark assistant mammal curator. 'We are so fortunate to have cared for Koluk, and we are heartbroken with this loss.'

Koluk’s playful demeanor was constant throughout his life, including his geriatric years. Despite his age, he maintained his fondness for diving into the pool to catch fish and ice treats. He also continued to perfect his skill of throwing large enrichment items up and over the walls of his habitat. Throughout his life, he developed deep levels of trust with the animal care team, which enabled him to voluntarily participate in his own health care. This included eye and ear exams, body condition checks, vaccinations and more. This relationship was a key component of his robust health and long life.

Koluk's twin brother Kiska is in good health and remains active in his habitat. He received extra attention from the animal care team and adjusted well as a solitary bear during Koluk’s illness.

Koluk and Kiska were born in November 1996 in Utah's Hogle Zoo. They have lived at the ABQ BioPark since October 1997.

View a short video released earlier this week of Koluk and Kiska, including when they were cubs, moving to the ABQ BioPark, and some highlights of their lives."

 

Very sad news indeed. Furthermore, just wanted to point out, it's currently May and the number of deaths this year is already equal to the total number of deaths from last year. At least both deaths so far have been elderly individuals unable to breed. Hopefully this number of deaths, regardless of what individual bears, doesn't increase any more in the coming months.

 

https://www.pdza.org/introducing-twin-polar-bears/ They are currently settling in to their new home, and will be on exhibit starting next weekend.

 

The rescue polar bear cub has been named Kova, which means 'strong' in Inuit. She made his public debut on June 4.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=784338346636280

 

She was thought to be male at first, but has since been discovered she is actually female.

 

I was wondering about that because in the most recent post, Kova is referred to as "she" but I just assumed that it was a mistake made by the marketing team, which happens way to often.

 

So we have a total now of 3 younger wild rescue bears, totally unrelated to the breeding population, all off contraception, and generally primed to add genetic diversity to the population. Yet they’re all still stopped up from breeding because of politics.

God I have the SSP or some other group can successfully lobby to get these bears breeding. The SSP DESPERATELY needs new genetics, and Kova, Quannik and Kali would all be able to help tremendously with expanding that.

 

idk write to them. It'd be worth a shot

 

Humphrey was moved from Toronto to Aquarium Du Quebec where he will join brothers Shouka and Kinuk. He's settling in just fine and should be on display later in June or in July.

 

Updated US Polar Bear List:

Alaska Zoo - Anchorage, AK (0.2)
Cranbeary F (Kavek x Voda) b. 2001.11.21
Kova F (WILD x WILD) b. 2021 (est)

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 (0.1)
Qannik F (WILD x WILD) b. 2011.01.10

Detroit Zoo - Royal Oak, MI (1.1)
Suka F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2012.11.21
Nuka M (Kavek x Voda) b. 2004.11.25

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

Kansas City Zoo - Kansas City, MO (1.0)
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 (1.0)
Kiska 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 (1.1)
Aurora F (Marty x Crystal) b. 2006.11.25
Lee M (Yukon x Aurora) b. 1999.11.27

Toledo Zoo - Toledo, OH (2.1)
Crystal F (Orca x Saskia) b. 1998.11.10
Kallu M (Nuka x Crystal) b. 2022.11.11
Kallik B M (Nuka x Crystal) b. 2022.11.11

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

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium – Tacoma, WA (0.2)
Astra F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17
Laerke F (Nuka x Suka) b. 2020.11.17

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

Total US Population (39)
17.22

 

She was actually probably born in early 2022, just based on the estimate that she was ten to eleven months old when caught.


It seems likely that there will be two sets of polar bear cubs this time around! The Detroit Zoo and Columbus Zoo are the most likely sites for cubs this breeding season. I am personally hoping that Hope will have some cubs this winter, as she is relatively young and hasn't had as many chances to breed with her assigned male as, say Talini and Luna, have.

I don't know enough about polar bear reproduction to know whether or not climate has a big impact on breeding, but it seems plausible. This would mean the chances of females in in North Carolina, Utah, and Tennessee delivering are less likely, if it is in fact true.

 

Climate does have an impact to Polar Bear welfare, however it's more often humidity that's the issue. It's why when Roger Williams Park Zoo (in Rhode Island) phased out Polar bears, one of the individuals went to a zoo in Arizona and started doing much better. Low humidity are best for polar bears.

 

That's not why RWP phased out polars. Money and availability were the reasons. They had a successful polar bear program for quite some time as well as several other New England facilities.

 

I didn't say that is *why* they phased out Polar Bears. I said that occurred *when* they phased out Polar Bears. I'd also argue that while RWPZ did have successful Polar Bear births, no zoos at that point in time truly had successful Polar Bear programs because welfare issues were extremely prevalent.

 

Calgary Zoo will be opening their brand new polar bear exhibit December 1st and this fall they will be welcoming males Baffin and Siku from Assiniboine Park Zoo.

Polar bears from Winnipeg moving to Calgary Zoo this fall

 

Is it true part of the reason for the population decline is a form of temporary contraception attempted in the 90s turned out to be permanent?