Two orphaned polar bear cubs rescued along Hudson Bay to be brought to Winnipeg zoo

The province said two orphaned polar bear cubs found along the Hudson Bay coastline near York Factory on Sept. 24 will be relocated to Winnipeg.

The cubs will be moved to the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre at the Assiniboine Park Zoo.

The orphaned siblings are about 10 months old and had been spotted by a helicopter along the shore.

“Despite an extensive search, efforts to find the mother were unsuccessful,” said the province in a release. “Without the protection of their mother, the cubs would almost certainly not survive. Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship determined the most appropriate course of action was to relocate the bears to the IPBCC.”

Staff from the zoo will examine the cubs and supervise their transfer to Winnipeg.

“The cubs will undergo a standard 30-day quarantine period and will be kept isolated from the public and media during that time,” said the province.

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  The male polar bear cub is shown being examined by Dr. Chris Enright, head veterinarian at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. (Photo courtesy Province of Manitoba)