Detroit Zoo's Polar Bear Cub Learning To Swim
ROYAL OAK, Mich., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The newest member of the Arctic Ring of Life, the polar bear cub Talini, has started swimming in the exhibit's large ice pack pool. Accompanied by her mother, Barle, the cub is spending time learning how to swim in the pool every Sunday.
At more than 100 pounds, the polar bear cub is big enough to swim in the Arctic Ring of Life's 300,000 gallon saltwater pool in the Ice Pack exhibit. Regular swimming lessons in the large pool will help develop her muscles. Barle and Talini will continue to live separately from the other polar bears until Talini is fully grown, in approximately one year.
"The polar bear cub has been showing great progress in her development. Her mother has been teaching her all the skills she needs to survive on her own, and we are excited to see her take this next step to adulthood," said Scott Carter, Director of Conservation and Animal Welfare for the Detroit Zoological Institute.
Barle, who was wild born and rescued by the Detroit Zoo from a circus in Puerto Rico in 2002, is a first-time mother.
"Talini's birth and development are important to sustaining a healthy captive polar bear population, and we are excited about her progress. It is incredibly exciting to watch her swim from the Polar Passage," stated Ron Kagan, Detroit Zoological Institute Director.
It is estimated that between 22,000 and 25,000 polar bears remain in the wild, though exact numbers are not known in their natural habitat of the circumpolar Arctic-U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Norway. Polar bears are a threatened species. Threats to the bears include climate changes, pollution, and poaching.
The Detroit Zoological Institute, founded in 1928, is committed to celebrating and saving wildlife. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Zoo is open Wednesday through Sunday with several indoor viewing areas. The Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696 in Royal Oak. Admission is $10.50 for adults 13 to 62; $8.50 for senior citizens 62 and older and $6.50 for students ages 2 to 12; and children under two are free. For more information call (248) 398-0900 or visit http://www.detroitzoo.org/ . The Detroit Zoological Society works to promote the general welfare and interests of the Detroit Zoological Institute. Financial support has allowed the Zoo to expand its animal collection, open new exhibits, and implement major beautification projects. To help the Detroit Zoological Society through financial support, partnership opportunities, membership, or volunteering, please call (248) 541-5717.
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