Buffalo Zoo's polar bears in jeopardy

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - "They've been here for 62 years, why take them away now."

That's what Faith Isreal had to say when she found out what could happen to the polar bears at the Buffalo Zoo. The two existing bears, Nanuk and Anana, will be leaving this fall while renovations continue at the zoo, including the polar bear habitat, but it could become permanent.

According to Dr. Donna Fernandes, President and CEO of the Buffalo Zoo, "Our current exhibit is from the 1890s, so it is well below the standards for captive husbandry for polar bears."

>> PHOTOS: See pictures of the bears and their current exhibit here

After raising $12.2 million of the $18 million necessary for the project, some from private sources, the zoo is looking to the county.

"We have been promised $3 million already, but originally we had asked for $6 million," added Fernandes.

The Buffalo Zoo President recently met with Legislator Lynn Marinelli and the Community Enrichment Committee of Erie County to make a pitch.

She went on to say, "I followed up with a letter to County Executive Mark Poloncarz. I'd love to have a sit down meeting with him to see if there's any possibility of getting more funding for the bear exhibit."

People that News 4 spoke with at the zoo are not happy with the prospects of a zoo without the polar bears.

Becky Biddle, a zoo visitor said, "That would be heartbreaking. Yeah, they're one of the best attractions here and we have the climate for it, too."

And according to Mary Astyk, "My son really likes seeing the polar bears and they deserve a good habitat, so it would bother me if they left."

And then there's the tourist angle. There's no doubt that the zoo is part of a package of regional attractions that could draw people back to the area.

"We just came back up for the week from Richmond, Virginia and we love it here, we're from here originally. It would be a shame to see it go away," added Dean Whitcomb.

If the necessary funding is generated, the polar bear exhibit at the Buffalo Zoo could actually be in a position to accommodate additional bears.

The goal is to have the 20-month construction project begin during July of 2013 and have it completed for spring of 2015.