POLAR BEARS

Updated 10/19/26

Meet Kova and Cranbeary! 

Kova is the younger of the pair. At just 4 years old, she’s curious, energetic, and especially loves to swim! Kova was found as an orphaned cub in northern Alaska and brought here for our specialized care.  

Cranbeary, on the other hand, is a much more experienced polar bear. 24 years ago, she was born on Thanksgiving, at the Denver Zoo in Colorado. She has had plenty of time to perfect the art of being a polar bear - and apparently, that includes rolling around until her fur takes on a slightly more yellowish color.  

In the wild, polar bears live to be about 15-18 years old, but under human-managed care, up to 40 years old!  

Both bears have three large spaces to explore, but only one of these spaces is visible to zoo visitors. So if you don't see a polar bear right now, don't worry—they may simply be enjoying some quiet time in one of their other areas. 

You can always check in on them on our live polar bear webcam at AlaskaZoo.org. 

They are two very different polar bears who share a love of one very important thing: food! Their favorite food is halibut, but they also enjoy a variety of meats, vegetables, fruits, and occasional treats like honey and whipped cream! 

Polar bears have some pretty incredible adaptations for life in the Arctic. Their fur may look white, but each individual hair is actually translucent, allowing light to pass through. Underneath their fur is black skin, which helps absorb and retain heat from the sun. 

And take a look at their feet! A polar bear’s paws can be roughly the size of dinner plates, helping them spread their weight across snow and ice - and giving them some serious swimming power, too. 

Our zookeepers closely monitor these incredible bears. One way is by using target training with food rewards. The bears are trained to show their keepers their paws, open mouths, other body parts, and to stand on a scale. This allows keepers to assess their health - all without ever having to enter the habitat with the bears. That’s pretty impressive teamwork! 

The Alaska Zoo is uniquely positioned as the only zoo in the United States caring for polar bears in a state where these incredible animals also roam in the wild.  

An estimated 26,000 polar bears remain in the wild worldwide. Although they are not currently classified as endangered, polar bears are considered Vulnerable globally and Threatened in the United States, largely due to the loss of Arctic sea ice caused by climate change. 

The Alaska Zoo has staff that are trained in wild polar bear rescue and cleaning in the event of an oil spill. Our team stands ready to help protect wild polar bears and support response efforts when needed. 

And YOU can help us make a difference! Support our mission to protect and care for wildlife by making a donation or becoming an Alaska Zoo member today.