POLAR BEAR CUB UPDATE: At 5 weeks old, the polar bear cub is doing very well; she weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 16 inches long! Both eyes have started to open as of yesterday, but they are not fully open yet. The care staff says the sound that she makes in the video is of contentment. Her motor skills are improving each day and she has started trying to stand up on all fours, especially when she’s ready for her next meal! She is on six feedings a day, every four hours. The team has been evaluating her daily needs and provides care 24/7.
Two polar bear cubs were born Friday night, Nov. 6 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Animal Care staff observed Aurora, mother of the cubs, caring for the newborns though, despite her efforts, only one cub has survived. Polar bears have one of the lowest reproductive rates of any mammal.
The survival rate for a polar bear cub during the first few weeks of life is only about 50 percent. At this time the surviving cub is doing well and Aurora is being an attentive mother. The two are in a private denning area off public view where they will remain until spring.
The Columbus Zoo animal team, in conjunction with recommendations from other polar bear breeding facilities, made the decision not to intervene. Polar bear cubs are difficult to hand rear and disrupting Aurora’s maternal care was not advised.
“We are excited about this birth but we remain cautiously optimistic,” said Carrie Pratt, Curator of the Zoo’s North America region. “Aurora and her cub appear to be doing well but since polar bear cub survival rate is very low we will continue to monitor the two around-the-clock.”
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