Zoo's polar bear Crystal caring for her new cub

1/6/2010

Toledo Zoo officials Tuesday announced a polar bear cub has been born at the zoo and is under the care of its 11-year-old mother, Crystal, in an off-exhibit den area.

The cub was one of two born Dec. 3 and the only one to survive; its litter mate died of a problem with its umbilical cord. Zoo officials don't know the sex of the baby because they can't yet approach the mother and surviving cub.

The cub's father, Marty, 13, is on display in the Arctic Encounter exhibit. The zoo hopes to have the cub make its public debut in the spring. About half the polar bears born in zoo environments die within weeks, the zoo said.