Denver polar bear mates heading to other zoos

Cranbeary and Lee, the Denver Zoo’s only polar bear couple, will soon be separated so they can be paired with new polar bear mates at Alaska and Ohio zoos in an effort to improve their chances of breeding and help ensure the survival of the species, zoo officials say.

Cranbeary, a 16yearold female, will leave the zoo later this month to go to the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage. Lee, her 18yearold mate, will go later this fall to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, according to a Tuesday news release.

Cranbeary and Lee are the zoo’s only polar bears, but zookeepers promise they will work to bring more of the snowy white animals back to Denver.

The decision to transfer the polar bears was based on a recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. Zoo leaders are committed to bringing polar bears back to Denver, but they first must raise funds to build a new exhibit.

“We have cared for polar bears for more than 80 years, and remain fully committed to supporting the species and enhancing guest experience. As we look to the future, we are excited to return polar bears to a new, stateoftheindustry exhibit, and further our efforts to protect this important species,” said Bert Vescolani, president and CEO of Denver Zoo.

“Denver Zoo is committed to all of our animals, and while our polar bears receive excellent care, it’s important that they are paired with mates who may prove to be better breeding partners. The decision to relocate Cranbeary and Lee will benefit the welfare of both polar bears in the long run,” said Hollie Colahan, vice president for animal care at the Denver Zoo.

In 1995, the Denver Zoo sent polar bear siblings Klondike and Snow to SeaWorld in Florida. They had been raised by staff after their mother abandoned them. Snow moved to an Arizona zoo because of allergies, and Klondike died in 2016 in Orlando.

Currently, there are only 44 polar bears in North American zoos, and the species faces increasing threats in the wild.

As a longstanding member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Denver Zoo is active in a number of programs that improve the survival of different species through collaborative breeding pro grams, the news release states.

“There is a tremendous need to support the species through the SSP due to a decline in the population of polar bears in zoos and growing pressures in the wild caused by climate change and other human activity,” added Brian Aucone, senior vice president for animal sciences at the Denver Zoo. “We strongly feel the need to do our part to help protect polar bears, and believe Cranbeary and Lee will play an important role in that effort by pairing up with new partners at other institutions.”

The Denver Zoo’s two grizzly bears, Kootenai and Tundra, will move from Bear Mountain into the existing polar bear exhibit following renovations.

The Denver Zoo invites the public to come say goodbye to Cranbeary and Lee and learn about polar bears and efforts to protect the species.