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Lincoln Park Zoo's Polar Bears Go On Blind Date (With Species On The Line)

By Ted Cox | April 20, 2017 2:13pm | Updated on April 21, 2017 10:46am
 Siku and Kobe introduce themselves in polar bear fashion at Lincoln Park Zoo.
Siku and Kobe introduce themselves in polar bear fashion at Lincoln Park Zoo.
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Lincoln Park Zoo

LINCOLN PARK — Lincoln Park Zoo says its breeding polar bears, Kobe and Siku, have been introduced and are "beginning to spend some time together."

Zoo spokeswoman Jillian Braun said Thursday the bears were introduced Wednesday with some "free-range time" in the new 11,000-square-foot Arctic Tundra exhibit. "They're beginning to spend some time together," she added.

It can be a delicate process introducing apex predators, and it had been more than a month since Kobe, a 17-year-old female from the Pittsburgh Zoo, had been brought in and quarantined in preparation to meet Siku, the 7-year-old male who became the first resident of the newly renovated Arctic Tundra exhibit when he arrived from the Louisville Zoo last fall.

According to Braun, however, it was so far, so good with their introduction.

Kobe emerges from her den to confront Siku in the Arctic Tundra exhibit. (Lincoln Park Zoo)

The two are expected to breed as part of a Polar Bear Species Survival Plan.