Polar bear offspring in Karlsruhe: hope and danger for the little ones!

Polar bear offspring in Karlsruhe: hope and danger for the little ones!

Karlsruhe –A historic moment in Karlsruhe Zoo!After 33 years there are finally polar bear offspring again! The two little polar bears, a male and a female, were born after parents Nuka (7) and Kap (24) were successfully mated in the spring. Zoo director Matthias Reinschmidt proudly announced this first breeding success since 1991.

But the joy is clouded: the little polar bears' chances of survival are extremely low. Mama Nuka gave birth to the cubs in the outdoor enclosure, which is unusual and dangerous for polar bears. Normally, female polar bears retreat to a protected den to protect their offspring from the harsh conditions. "Young polar bears have a very high mortality rate even under normal conditions - in nature and in the zoo. However, if they are born outdoors, the probability of survival is extremely low," explains Reinschmidt.

Privacy protection for the little ones

In order to give the mother the peace and quiet she needs, the area around the polar bear enclosure was cordoned off to visitors and the viewing windows were whitewashed. The young animals are tiny, just the size of guinea pigs, and urgently need protection and care. The mating of Nuka and Cape was observed as early as mid-April, but implantation of the fertilized eggs did not occur until late summer, followed by a short gestation period of just over two months.

The situation is alarming because polar bears are considered endangered. It is estimated that only around 25,000 polar bears remain in the wild, spread across the Arctic region. Karlsruhe Zoo participates in the European Endangered Species Program (EEP) to secure a reserve population in zoos and protect the species. However, the hope for the survival of the small polar bears remains fragile.