Second polar bear coming to Buffalo Zoo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Buffalo Zoo will soon be getting a second baby polar bear. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday that Buffalo is the planned destination for an orphaned polar bear cub found near Point Lay, Alaska, on March 12.

The 3- to 4-month-old male cub, named Kali (pronounced cully, the Inupiat name for Point Lay), is currently receiving care at the Alaska Zoo. Kali will be arriving in Buffalo sometime this spring, pending final approvals and the health of the cub.

The orphaned cub’s planned journey from Point Lay to Buffalo is the product of collaboration among the Alaska Zoo, the Buffalo Zoo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the AZA’s Polar Bear Species Survival Plan management group.

Kali will be introduced to Luna, a female polar bear cub who was born last November and recently made her first public appearance at the zoo.