Featured Image Credit: Philadelphia Zoo
Last month, a well-known resident of the Philadelphia Zoo had a birthday. Coldilocks, the zoo’s beloved polar bear turned 37. She’s the oldest polar bear in the United States!
Coldilocks’ birthday was celebrated on the 14th of December with a cake made of peanut butter, honey, raisins, and fish. The party guests had to withstand cold temperatures and icy conditions to sing “Happy Birthday” to the guest of honor.
According to zoo officials, polar bears in captivity usually live to around 23 years old, making Coldilocks a bit of an outlier. The care of zoo staff and veterinarians are credited for her long life.
Coldilocks also had a partner that also exceeded the expected lifespan. Klondike was her faithful companion until 2015 when he passed away at age 34. The two were partnered for more than three decades.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service lists polar bears as a vulnerable species with about 26,000 left in the wild.