Aurora, the mother of the recently born polar bear cub at the Columbus Zoo, started displaying breaks from caring for her cub on a late Thursday morning. As these breaks extended and persisted throughout the day, the dedicated Animal Care staff at the zoo took the decision to intervene. The cub, a female, has been successfully removed from the den and is now under the careful hand-rearing of the zoo’s professionals.
Currently, the cub is in good health, feeding regularly, and has shown positive weight gain, with an overnight increase of 10 grams, bringing her weight to 1.5 pounds. The dedicated team at the zoo is providing continuous monitoring and care to ensure her well-being.
Polar bear reproduction is a complex process that contributes to their low reproductive rates compared to other mammals. The phenomenon of delayed implantation during gestation allows the fertilized egg to develop in the uterus for approximately four months, leading to a cub’s birth during the most favorable time of year for survival. Despite these adaptations, the survival rate for polar bear cubs during their initial weeks of life remains a challenge due to various factors, some of which can be mitigated within a zoo environment. However, the early stages of a cub’s life remain a delicate period, demanding attentive care.
Similar to giant pandas, polar bears give birth to relatively small and vulnerable offspring, making their first year of life a critical period. The survival rate for polar bear cubs under human care is around 50%, paralleling the rate observed in the wild. Presently, the Columbus Zoo is home to four polar bears: female twins Aurora and Anana, born at the Toledo Zoo and transferred to Columbus in 2010; male bear Nanuq, owned by the Henry Vilas Zoo and brought to Columbus from the Buffalo Zoo in 2012; and the newborn cub, who is now receiving special care and attention from the dedicated zoo staff.