The Oregon Zoo is celebrating Polar Bear Week from October 29 through Monday. Visitors can enjoy daily themes focused on polar bears, with the week ending in birthday celebrations for two bears, Amelia Gray and Nora. The events aim to entertain guests while emphasizing the important role polar bears play in climate change research, as reported by KOIN, as reported by KOIN.
According to Z100 Portland, In one initiative, polar bears like Nora and Amelia Gray are assisting in calibrating a laser that measures their body mass, helping researchers understand the health of wild polar bears. Amy Cutting, vice president of conservation at Polar Bears International, stated, "We still have gaps in understanding how climate change is affecting wild polar bears, and it’s essential that the bears in human care help scientists learn more about their species."
In addition to hands-on science activities, visitors can chat with team members from Polar Bears International on Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to learn about their conservation work. The main event, celebrating Amelia Gray and Nora's birthdays, will take place at 11 a.m. The Oregon Zoo's event page provides a schedule for guests to plan their visit and enjoy all the activities, as stated by Oregon Zoo's.
The zoo has a rich history of scientific research, with polar bears Conrad and Tasul becoming the first to voluntarily give blood in 2012, paving the way for future collaborations. This moment laid the groundwork for ongoing partnerships with researchers like Karyn Rode from the U.S. Geological Survey. Amy Cutting noted, “Zoo bears are perfect candidates to help because they already participate in many health-care behaviors voluntarily and seem to find those experiences enriching,” as mentioned by Z100 Portland.
