She made a big splash at the Oregon Zoo, but even bigger things may be in store for polar bear Amelia Gray. The playful marine mammal will be moving to Brookfield Zoo Chicago in the coming weeks, as part of a new effort to help her imperiled species. Visitors can see her in Portland through early September.

“We’ve been so honored to care for Amelia these past four years,” said Rachel Ritchason, the Oregon Zoo’s deputy director of animal care. “We’re really going to miss her. But we’re also excited that she’ll get to spend time with a male bear — and hopefully be able to raise some cubs. Our goal is to ensure a long-term future for one of the world’s most vulnerable species.”

Polar bears, classified as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, face a high risk of global extinction due to changes in their Arctic habitat. Amelia’s move is part of a new cooperative program aimed at maintaining a sustainable, genetically diverse polar bear population at U.S. zoos and aquariums.

“We’re fighting extinction on two fronts,” said Ritchason. “We’re supporting efforts to save wild bears in the Arctic while also striving to maintain a healthy population in professional care.”

Both efforts are key, according to polar bear conservationists.

“Modern zoos and aquariums play a critical role, both as research and education centers,” said Amy Cutting, vice president of conservation at Polar Bears International. “Polar bears live in one of the harshest environments on the planet, making them notoriously difficult to study so we have gaps in our understanding of how climate change is affecting them. The bears in professional care can help.”

Both Amelia and her half-sister Nora have lent a helping paw to conservation science — assisting with the calibration of a bear laser that measures body mass; using a swim flume to determine the caloric requirements of wild bears; and beta testing the “Burr on Fur,” a tech innovation to help track bears in the Arctic.

They also act as “Arctic ambassadors,” Cutting said, creating meaningful connections with guests and reaching millions of people who might not otherwise hear the messages about climate change and polar bear conservation.

Amelia was born at the Columbus Zoo on Nov. 8, 2016, and moved to Portland in 2021. In Chicago, she will get acquainted with another female polar bear, Hope, and a male bear, Hudson.

Nora will stay behind in Portland. At some point, she may also have an opportunity to raise cubs, though plans for that have yet to be determined. In the meantime, folks needn’t worry about her being on her own: Polar bears generally lead solitary lives except when they’re breeding or raising cubs, according to wildlife biologists.

“Polar bears may gather around food sources, or to travel, but it’s in their nature to live independently,” Ritchason said. “Nora has an expert care team who will make sure she has everything she needs during this transition.”

Source: Oregon Zoo

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