A polar bear cub born just five weeks ago at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is in good health, and a new video showing it cuddling a toy stuffed animal and snoozing away the afternoon has been viewed more than a million times.
"At 5 weeks old, the polar bear cub is doing very well; she weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 16 inches long!" the zoo
wrote in a Friday Facebook post.
"Both eyes have started to open as of yesterday, but they are not fully open yet. The care staff says the sound that she makes in the video is of contentment. Her motor skills are improving each day and she has started trying to stand up on all fours, especially when she’s ready for her next meal! She is on six feedings a day, every four hours. The team has been evaluating her daily needs and provides care 24/7."
The zoo noted that the sounds the cub is making in the video are sounds of contentment, akin to purring or snoring.
According to The Huffington Post, the cub was born Nov. 6, and has yet to be given a name.
A previous video posted shortly after her birth said that her mother, Aurora, "began taking breaks from caring for her cub late Thursday morning."
"When these breaks continued throughout the day and became longer the Zoo’s Animal Care staff made the decision to remove the cub from the den and began to hand-rear the newborn," the zoo explained.
The bear cub was born alongside a sibling, however it passed away shortly after birth.
POLAR BEAR CUB UPDATE: At 5 weeks old, the polar bear cub is doing very well; she weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 16 inches long! Both eyes have started to open as of yesterday, but they are not fully open yet. The care staff says the sound that she makes in the video is of contentment. Her motor skills are improving each day and she has started trying to stand up on all fours, especially when she’s ready for her next meal! She is on six feedings a day, every four hours. The team has been evaluating her daily needs and provides care 24/7.
Posted by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Friday, December 11, 2015
POLAR BEAR CUB UPDATE: The polar bear cub, a female, born on Friday, Nov. 6 was pulled from the den by the Zoo’s Animal Care staff Thursday afternoon after the mother, Aurora, stopped caring for the cub.Aurora began taking breaks from caring for her cub late Thursday morning. When these breaks continued throughout the day and became longer the Zoo’s Animal Care staff made the decision to remove the cub from the den and began to hand-rear the newborn.At this time the female cub is healthy and feeding regularly. She weighs 1.5 pounds and gained 10 grams overnight. Staff will continue to monitor and care for her around-the-clock.
Posted by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Friday, November 13, 2015
POLAR BEAR CUB: Two polar bear cubs were born Friday night, Nov. 6 to mother Aurora! Sadly, despite Aurora's care, one cub passed away. The survival rate for a polar bear cub in the first few weeks is about 50 percent. Currently, the surviving cub is doing well and Aurora is being an attentive mother! Mother and cub are in a private denning area away from public view where they will emerge from in the spring. Zoo staff are cautiously optimistic and will continue to monitor the two around-the-clock. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates!
Posted by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Thursday, November 12, 2015
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