KC Zoo to Receive Male Polar Bear

Kansas City Zoo: It has been five years since the Kansas City Zoo had to say farewell to its male polar bear, Nikita, but we are BEARY excited to be preparing for the arrival of a new male polar bear that will call Kansas City home! Nuniq (pronounced new-nick), who will celebrate his fourth birthday on November 14, is coming to us from Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin.

Nuniq was 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) has recommended that Nuniq be transferred to the Kansas City Zoo. He will join Berlin, our 31-year-old female, who has lived here since December 2012. Berlin is an older bear and beyond breeding age.

As a male, Nuniq is much larger than Berlin, currently weighing 1045 pounds (compared to Berlin’s 650 pounds). According to his zookeepers, Nuniq’s favorite toys are jolly eggs and a giant plastic pickle toy. We will be sure to have some of his favorites awaiting him in his new home.

And what a great new home it is! Polar Bear Passage is over 18,000 square feet, with a 140,000-gallon chilled pool and includes climate-controlled behind-the-scenes bedrooms. It was built in 2010 to exceed Manitoba’s Polar Bear Protection Act standards and can accommodate up to three adult bears as well as cubs. 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.

Nuniq is expected to arrive in Kansas City later in October, but it will be at least mid-November before he can greet Zoo guests. He will stay behind-the-scenes to acclimate to his new home, and quarantine to protect Berlin’s health. The two bears will be slowly and carefully introduced in hopes that they will eventually be able to share the public space in their habitat.