Featured Image Credit: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Last month, two of Columbus Zoo’s furriest family members had their first birthday. Twin polar bears Nuniq (NEW-nick) and Neva (NEE-vah) turned one in grand style in their habitat at the zoo. The twins celebrated alongside their mother, Aurora, with fish meal cakes and a song from the crowd. The celebration was one of many polar bear birthdays at the zoo in November.
Along with the special krill-decorated cakes, the cubs received colorful ice bucket pops with fish inside and got some new toys to play with as well.
Only three polar bears were born in captivity in North America last year. Nuniq and Neva are two of them and their cousin Amelia Gray makes three. Since their birth last November the three have gone from little cuddly cubs to look a lot more grown up, although they have a lot more growing to do. They have learned how to swim and have adapted well to the outdoor habitat at the Columbus Zoo.
The twins’ names were chosen by zoo staff while their cousins was chosen by the public. Neva means “white snow” and Nuniq is in honor of the cubs’ father Nanuq, who sadly passed away in April.