Detroit Zoo welcomes a new polar bear — just in time for mating season

It's almost polar bear mating season at the Detroit Zoo and there's a new bear in town.

The zoo recently brought 19-year-old polar bear Anana to Royal Oak from the Cincinnati Zoo. The female bear came to the zoo at the end of January on a breeding recommendation from Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Program (SSP).

Anana joins Detroit Zoo's two other resident polar bears — 15-year-old male Nuka and 7-year-old female Suka.

“Anana is exploring the tundra in the Arctic Ring of Life and very quickly acclimating to her new home here at the Detroit Zoo,” said Scott Carter, chief life sciences officer for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) in a news release. “We’re very happy she’s here to join Nuka and Suka, and invite everyone to come welcome her on International Polar Bear Day.”

Polar bear mating season typically takes place in the early spring and one to two cubs are welcomed after an eight-month gestation period, according to the release.

“Nuka and Anana appear curious and interested, which is a good sign,” Carter said. “We’re optimistic for future breeding and carefully watching how their relationship develops.”

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Although Anana is on the older spectrum for polar bears, she is still in good health to give birth to cubs, according to the Zoo. Polar bears typically live to age 15 to 18 years, and start breeding between 8 and 9 years of age.

Suka arrived in February 2018 and Nuka arrived in November 2011.

Suka is the most recent addition to the zoo's Arctic Ring of Life. She came to Detroit from Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, to mate with Nuka. The last cub to be born at the zoo died just two days after being born in November 2018.

Anana's arrival will be celebrated at the Zoo's International Polar Bear Day on Feb. 27.

Meredith Spelbring is a news intern with the Detroit Free Press. Reach her at mspelbring@freepress.com or on Twitter @mere0415.