Welcome Nuniq, the Polar Bear to the Kansas City Zoo!
This week, Nuniq (pronounced new-nick), a 1,100-lb 4-year-old male polar bear, is officially at home in the Polar Bear Passage at the Kansas City Zoo!
We headed to the zoo today to meet the zoo's newest resident and we immediately fell in love. Nuniq is youthful and full of exuberant energy! We watched him swim, rolling the grass and mud, play with his toys, and dazzle visitors with his charm.
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The timing for Nuniq's KC public debut was perfect as he will be celebrating his fourth birthday on Saturday, Nov. 14. As we watched him play and explore, he reminded me of a toddler exploring a brand new park or playground... albeit a rather large one. The Kansas City Zoo's Polar Bear passage is 18,000 square feet, with a 140,000-gallon chilled pool.
Formerly a resident of Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, Nuniq is one of twin polar bear cubs born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in November 2016 and has resided at Henry Vilas Zoo since 2018.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Polar Bear Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommended that Nuniq be transferred to the Kansas City Zoo where he will join Berlin (at a date TBD), our 31-year-old female, who has lived here since December 2012.
The zoo expects and hopes that Nuniq and Berlin will become pals. Berlin is an older bear and beyond breeding age, but she will be a great neighbor for Nuniq. Currently, Berlin is at home in her den (climate-controlled behind-the-scenes bedroom) in the back portion of the Polar Bear Passage exhibit. Once Nuniq has adapted to the exhibit, the two will be together.
Visitors will be able to tell the two bears apart easily for a variety of reasons. Nuniq, as a four-year-old male, is much more energetic and playful than thirty-one-year-old female Berlin, but he is also a lot bigger! Nuniq weighs 1,100-lbs compared to Berlin’s 650 pounds. According to his zookeepers, Nuniq’s favorite toys are jolly eggs and a giant plastic pickle toy. We loved watching him play with the giant pickle when we met him today.
As Kim Romary of the Kansas City Zoo shared, "There are currently only 57 polar bears in zoos in the United States due in part to the strict animal care standards that must be met. This makes Nuniq and Berlin both important ambassadors for their species."
We're excited to welcome Nuniq to Kansas City where he can enjoy a fantastic new home and a ton of love from KC families! He is a playful, fun-spirited delightful bear who has already won our hearts and we're sure your kids will love him too!
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, Missouri 64132
Weekdays: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm. Weekends: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm.