You don’t want to miss these twin polar bears, Astra and Laerke (pronounced LAIR-Keh), at the Point Defiance Zoo. They are curious and ready to see the zoo’s patrons as they continue to explore their new habitat, learn from each other, and get to know their keepers.
Astra and Laerke’s inspiring story:
Both bears were born on November 17, 2020, at the Detroit Zoo. Two days after their birth, Laerke had a medical emergency that left her weak and in need of constant lifesaving care from her animal care staff. Astra continued to live with her mother, while Laerke was raised in human care. While Laerke was recovering, she spent several months sharing a habitat with Jebbie, an orphaned grizzly bear. In early spring, Laerke and Astra were reunited at the Detroit Zoo and have grown to love and care for each other. The Point Defiance Zoo is proud to add them to its family of animals and is eager to learn from them as they continue to grow.
At over 2-years-old, the move to Point Defiance Zoo was a natural and important transition for the twins. In the wild, they would be out of their mother’s care and learning to become independent. So heading to their new home in Tacoma was important for their development. What happened to the mom, you might be wondering? Well, the Detroit Zoo is hopeful that she will be able to have more cubs in the future.
Astra’s long body weighs in at 580 lbs and is still growing. Her sister, Laerke is 380 lbs and growing.
Astra and Laerke: What are they like?
On our visit to see the twin polar bears at Point Defiance Zoo, Laerke was a little shy and didn’t come out to play. However, Astra was a star!
She sauntered out into her habitat where she had a space to play on dry land, rocks to climb, hay to play with, and a pool to swim. Splash! She dove into the deep end of the pool and gracefully glided through the water. Standing so close to the window we were able to see her amazingly huge paws, and the strength of her legs as she pulled herself forward. Swimming over to the shallow end, she crawled out (apparently a first for Astra and for her team of caretakers), and checked out the many enrichment toys around her habitat. She decided to pounce on a gray plastic trash can, crushing it under her 580-lb body.
The keepers are getting to know these two cubs and learning more and more about their behaviors as the days go by. Their first impression as described by Point Defiance Zoo’s Assistant Curator, Sheridan Ploof, is that they are “easy-going bears, easy to train, and curious about their surroundings and people.” Ploof tells me that Astra is the more active twin, while Laerke is more independent. She likes to check things out in her own time (perhaps the reason why she didn’t want to come out to meet her visitors). Behind the scenes, the polar bears have a network of dens and play areas that are equally interesting and fun.
They both gravitate to their favorite food, lard and fish oil, each added to their diet or used as a treat to help with training.
Astra swimming with a trash can that she had crushed on land.
Visiting the twin polar bears at Point Defiance Zoo: What you should know
The zoo is an interesting and exciting place, but it’s also a place where, some days, you might not see your favorite animal or you might have just missed them before they went into the gated backstage area of their exhibit. Don’t fret! Here are a few tips that the curators shared with us to help see these bears:
- When the bears are out and in view, don’t tap on the glass. It scares the animals and they are less likely to interact.
- Choose a spot inside the exhibit and wait a while. Sometimes it will take time for the bears to come over to where you are.
- Don’t see them in the habitat? Move on to the other exhibits and then come back. You might have to do this a few times, while the bears figure out their new home and all the new faces.
- Sometimes, you may not see them at all and that just means you should come back another day.
- Don’t forget to speak with the volunteers at the exhibit. They have studied their facts and are informed of the polar bear’s behaviors.
- When available, there’s also a tactile table of artifacts that will allow you to feel a polar bear’s fur, teeth and skull. Gently touch the pelt and you may be surprised to feel how rough their fur actually is!
- The table will also have a life-size replica of a polar bear’s skull, its teeth, and the tracking devices that they have tested on resident polar bears in partnership with Polar Bears International.
A display table of artifacts will be available for visitors to explore. Feel the pelt, touch the skull and learn about polar bear tracking devices.
Point Defiance Zoo’s polar bear conservation connection
While you’re at the exhibit take a look at all the facts about polar bears written on placards. You’ll find out that these bears are marked “threatened” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, due to climate change.
Sea ice is something that polar bears need to survive for hunting fish and seals. With seasonal sea ice shrinking each year, due to climate change, it is getting increasingly difficult for polar bears to stay alive. Reducing our carbon footprint is key to helping these and other animals live.
Point Defiance Zoo has been home to polar bears for over 80 years, with their most recent bear, Blizzard, passing away in 2022 due to liver cancer. The zoo is certified as an Artic Ambassador Center through Polar Bears International and supports the “Burr on Fur” study to help test tracking devices on wild bears. The devices gather information about their movement patterns, especially of lesser documented male bears. Point Defiance has also partnered with University of Washington scientists to study the rate of hair growth in zoo bears, evaluating stress levels, nutritional needs, and contaminant exposure in wild polar bears.
What you can do to help limit climate change
According to the United Nations, there are several actions that you can commit to doing to help with climate change. Not only will it help with protecting polar bears, but everything in nature.
Here are some of those ideas:
- Conserve energy: Use less energy by lowering your heating and cooling. Switch to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances. Wash your laundry with cold water or hang things to dry instead of using a dryer.
- Walk, bike or take public transport: Walk or ride a bike instead of driving. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help your health and fitness too. For longer distances, consider taking a train or bus. Carpool whenever possible.
- Eat more veggies: Producing plant-based foods results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and requires less energy, land and water.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle and repair: Electronics, clothes and other items we buy cause carbon emissions at each point in production. Buy fewer things, shop second-hand, repair what you can, and recycle.
The polar bear twins are ready to see you and I bet you are too! Head over to the zoo for some playful bear interactions and observations.
