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Polar bear cubs (Photo: Paula20018 /Wikimedia Commons)
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Polar bear cubs (Photo: Paula20018 /Wikimedia Commons)
Thursday, 26 November 2015 - 09:31
Video: Polar bear twins born in Nuenen zoo
The Dierenrijk zoo in Nuenen welcomed two new arrivals. Polar bear Frimas gave birth to two healthy cubs over the weekend. According to the zoo, mother and cubs are doing well and are still in the birth cage, while father Henk is waiting impatiently outside.
The delivery happened somewhere during Saturday night. "Our caretakers were with the polar bears just before closing and nothing was going on." Stephan Rijen, head of animal care at the zoo, said. "When they returned on Sunday morning they saw on the camera footage that two polar bears were born. They are doing great, they're drinking well and Frimas shows on the camera footage that she is an exemplary mother." The sex of the cubs can only be determined in a few months' time, and thus their names will have to wait.
Polar bears usually have twins or triplets, only very rarely giving birth to one cub. These two are Frimas' second batch of babies. In 2012 she gave birth to two healthy boys, Noordje and Pixel, who since moved to another zoo so that Dierenrijk can continue with its breeding program.
The two cubs will be spending the coming time in the indoor enclosure, with even caretakers keeping their distance. They will likely be introduced to the public in February or March.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGNclq_X-gg