Aurora the Columbus Zoo polar bear gives birth to cub on Thanksgiving Day

Bethany Bruner | The Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The staff at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium had more to be thankful for Thursday with the birth of a new polar bear cub.

The cub was born on Thanksgiving Day to 13-year-old Aurora and 20-year-old Lee at about 12:40 a.m., according to the zoo.

Lee came to the Columbus Zoo in November 2018 from the Denver Zoo. This is the first cub he has sired since arriving in central Ohio.

The cub is the fourth for Aurora. Her first cub, Nora, now lives at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. She also gave birth to twins, Neva and Nuniq, who live in Baltimore and Wisconsin, respectively.

Zoo officials said Aurora appears to be caring properly for the cub and she will continue to be monitored around the clock. Staff had been keeping a close eye on Aurora and her twin sister, Anana, in recent weeks because both showed behavior similar to being pregnant.

Aurora and her new cub will remain in a private den and not be on display for the public until spring, the zoo said.

Zoo officials will continue to monitor Anana, as polar bears often give birth between November and January.

The zoo will post updates about Aurora and the cub on its social-media pages.

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