If all goes well, the public will be able to see the cub in early April at its outdoor exhibit and pool. Meanwhile, as a hidden camera captures rare footage from inside the cubbing den, the antics of this baby bear and its interaction with its 500-pound mother, Trixie, have flagged the interest of national polar bear experts. Of immediate environmental note, Weinhardt and Providence zoo officials say, the new video footage may help answer questions about the impact of proposed Arctic oil exploration on the declining population of polar bears in the wild. The camera in Roger Williams Park first caught images of the newborn cub on Dec. 12. Although zookeepers had heard tell-tale squeaks, the videotape confirmed the cub's birth.
All indications point to successful bonding.
Amos Morris, the Providence zoo's general curator, says that he has already learned much about behavior of female polar bears in their dens. She really watches where she places her feet. The video also shows mother and cub at play, and captures Trixie's dexterity as she picks up her tiny cub and places it on her chest. For those reasons, Trixie and her cub will remain secluded for at least another 10 to 12 weeks in their den, off-limits to the public and keepers alike.