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Polar Bears Take Sabbatical
One of the Zoo’s most popular animals is on sabbatical
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“Wilhelm” the polar bear has moved to the Milwaukee Zoo for about two years while the zoo’s Polar Bear exhibit undergoes a $7.8 million renovation and expansion.
History of N.C. Zoo's Polar Bear
Concept Plan Polar Bear Exhibit Expansion
Polar bears have always been a favorite with zoo visitors, but habitat loss and other environmental changes have placed wild polar bears on the endangered list. The N.C. Zoo is looking at the future of the entire species as the exhibit expansion will enable the park to add additional animals and help educate visitors about the polar bears’ plight in the wild.
Aquila, one of the zoo’s two male polar bears, was moved to the Detroit Zoo in May. Now Wilhelm will be packing his bags for an extended stay in Milwaukee.
The renovations may also enable the zoo to create a breeding group of polar bears. Construction is expected to start this fall and requires that the bears be relocated. According to Jeff Owen, animal management supervisor in charge of the Rocky Coast complex where the polar bears are exhibited, the expansion project will triple the space available for bears and could accommodate up to six when completed.
The project will also provide additional viewing opportunities for visitors. A new exhibit area that simulates an alpine meadow will be added to the existing 10-foot-deep pool and rocky landscape. A maternity den is also included in the renovations.
“We hope in years down the line we will have baby polar bears,” Owen said. “So we’re setting up our new facilities and holding areas for that.”
The exhibit renovations are expected to be complete in two years and will provide the N.C. Zoo with some of the best polar bear facilities in American zoos.