The two new polar bear cubs at Assiniboine Park Zoo were revealed to the public on CTV Morning Live Monday morning.
The two male cubs had been in isolation from the public and the media for the past month. The cubs, who are approximately 12 months old, arrived at the zoo's Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre from Churchill late last month.
The cubs were orphaned after their mother was accidentally shot in an attempt to scare her and the cubs away from a building in Churchill.
A team including the head of veterinary services, a general curator, and members of the zoo’s rescue team, travelled to Churchill to supervise the cubs’ trip to Winnipeg.
The zoo is hosting a naming initiative contest, where members of the public can donate to the Polar Bear Rescue Team to vote on their favourite names for the two cubs.
The naming options are York, Tatnam, Eli, and Aiken. Each of the names were selected in consultation with First Nations people and were chosen for their significance to the York Factory First Nation whose traditional lands include important polar bear denning habitats in Manitoba.
The 'donate to vote' contest will be open until December 31 at noon.
You can see the cubs at the Assiniboine Park Zoo, which is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
