The Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien Announces the Rare Birth of a Polar Bear Cub… for the Second Time in Less Than 15 Days [GPT]

Press Release
For immediate release

Saint-Félicien, Quebec, Canada, December 14, 2018

The Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien, in Canada, proudly confirms the birth, on December 11, of a second polar bear cub within the institution. This event—the birth of cubs from two different females in the same year at the same zoo—represents excellent news for the genetic diversity of the species, which is classified as vulnerable on a global scale by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in addition to being a rare occurrence. This is the female’s first litter.

This birth came as a major surprise to the Zoo sauvage team. Indeed, it is difficult to detect signs of pregnancy in polar bears. It was during a routine check on December 11 that the person responsible for training and enrichment observed a white spot near the female Milak on the cameras. Not believing her eyes, she quickly realized that Milak had become a mother. Milak, a 10-year-old female, arrived at the Zoo sauvage on December 10, 2014, from Aalborg Zoo in Denmark.

After years spent with a male during the breeding period, it was in the same year that Aisaqvak and Milak each had a litter. It is worth recalling that Aisaqvak gave birth to a cub on November 27, two weeks before Milak. It should also be noted that Milak was a star in Denmark and was followed on social media like a celebrity. This news will delight the European community.

The sex of the cub, which weighs approximately 0.2% of its mother’s weight—she weighs 330 kg—will only be determined in a few weeks. The cub and its mother will discover the brand-new habitat dedicated to polar bears at the Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien in spring 2019, an event that promises to be full of emotion for visitors witnessing this unique experience—made even more exceptional by the double birth from Aisaqvak and Milak.

An Exceptional Contribution to the Species

The importance of this second birth is significant, both for the Zoo and for the global population of polar bears. In the wild, polar bear populations are declining, as are those in captivity. In 2006, there were 364 individuals in institutions worldwide, and only 298 in 2015, as the species remains difficult to breed in captivity, hence the rarity of such events. This is the second cub of Yellé, a 13-year-old male.

It is possible to follow the development of the cubs by visiting the Zoo’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/zoosauvage/.

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Information
Christine Gagnon
Director of Education and Conservation
418-679-0543 (5278)
christine.gagnon@zoosauvage.org