WINNIPEG — Two young polar bear orphans made their public debut at the Assiniboine Park Zoo on Friday.
After 2,500 votes were cast in a contest to name the cubs on the zoo’s Facebook page, the pair were named Blizzard and Star.
Dozens of people gathered at the zoo Friday to meet the bears, who haven’t reached their first birthday. Blizzard is male and Star is female .
“Their mother was searched for for two days; they couldn’t find their mother,” said Dr. Brian Joseph, director of zoological operations at Assiniboine Park Zoo. “It’s assumed their mother had died — otherwise they never would’ve left her.”
The cubs arrived at the zoo in September and spent the last month adjusting to life in their new home.
“Our hope is that the polar bears survive in the wild and have great lives,” said Joseph, but keeping the cubs at the zoo not only saves their lives, but allows the public to observe the animals.
With the new addition of Blizzard and Star, the zoo now has six polar bears. Hudson, Storm, Kaska and Aurora can be visited at the Journey to Churchill exhibit.
READ MORE: 2 more Manitoba polar bear cubs headed for Assiniboine Park Zoo
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