Featured Image Credit: The Canadian Press
By Sarah Sharkey
The youngest polar bears at Assiniboine Park Zoo, in Winnipeg, Canada have been named. The names were chosen winners from a public vote that closed on January 25. There were 5,000 votes cast, but there could only be two winners: Willow and Baffin.
The names were submitted by the polar bear zookeeping team. The team suggested those names because of its relation to Arctic geography.
The two cubs are not related but are around the same age. They arrived at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre in December of last year and made their debut to the public in late January.
It is hoped that these two polar bears will enjoy growing up together in their new home.
Polar bears in the wild are facing an array of challenges that has conservationists and scientists concerned about the future of the species. Between global climate change, loss of habitat and lack of food, the wild population of polar bears is really suffering. The importance of polar bears in captivity cannot be understated. With the diminishing wild populations, polar bears in zoos will be important in maintaining a genetically diverse population. Without this genetic diversity, polar bears would be in even more trouble than they are now.
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