Baby polar bear twins have first outing

Baby twin polar bears born last year at the Ouwehand Dierenpark in Rhenen, Utrecht had their first public outing on Thursday.

The male cubs followed their mother into the outdoor area of their enclosure from the nursery for the first time. The trio was observed through cameras set up in the nursery before zookeepers agreed the cubs were ready to venture outside. The twins live with their mother Freedom and grandmother Huggies in Ouwehand Zoo in Rhenen since they were born on November 22 last year as part of the zoo's extensive polar bear breading program. They were actually two of a set of triplets born, but their sibling died weeks after its birth. Death of a polar bear cub in its first week is common, and the surviving twins appear to be developing well.