Orphaned polar bear cub arrives at Assiniboine Park Zoo

A nine-month-old orphaned polar bear cub has arrived at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg for quarantine. The cub was discovered in Churchill, Manitoba, following the death of its mother.

Chris Enright, senior director of zoological operations at the Assiniboine Park Conservancy, stated that while the cub is generally healthy, veterinarians are treating minor issues and monitoring him closely. Because the cause of the mother's death is currently unknown, the cub will remain in quarantine for weeks or months to rule out potential diseases.

Following quarantine, the cub is expected to reside at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre. Officials noted that the cub will serve as an ‘ambassador for its species, Churchill, and the Arctic’ after it acclimates to human care. The decision to move the cub to the zoo was made by conservation officers and the province of Manitoba in accordance with the Polar Bear Protection Act, as the cub would not have survived in the wild without maternal care.