Louisville Zoo welcomes new polar bear, Bo, in hopes he and Qannik can welcome cubs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Zoo has a new polar bear, a new breeding mate for Qannik.

The new bear's name is Bo, and zoo staff said ever since he arrived, the two have shown signs they're very into each other.

Qannik made headlines in 2011 when she was found underweight and alone on Alaska's North Slope, separated from her mother and sibling. She was rescued and has called the zoo's Glacier Run exhibit home for the last 13 years.

Now, Qannik is finally joining the Association of Zoos and Aquariums breeding program, which means they had to bring Bo in too. The two will need to stay separate for now until Bo completes his standard quarantine period.

It's a pairing you don't generally see. Qannik is a wild-born, rescued polar bear, and Bo was born at the Toledo Zoo but came to Louisville from the zoo in Madison, Wisconsin.

And Zoo leaders said this is the best place for him.

"This was a premier exhibit, it is a great habitat for polar bears," Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney said. "But we've only had one or two polar bears here at any given time. The prospect of having polar bear cubs ... (is) super exciting."

Polar bears are listed as vulnerable on the list of threatened species list. There is no guarantee we'll be able to see any polar bear cubs anytime soon, but this is polar bear breeding season, and zoo staff are anxious to see what its like when they can bring the two together.

Until then, you're welcome to head to the Louisville Zoo and see how Bo and Qannik flirt with each other.

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