Astra is Detroit’s newest star

16.8.2021 – Story and photos by Molly Merrow

The only place in the U.S. where you can see a polar bear cub this year is the Detroit Zoo in Michigan, and 8 month old Astra is the star of the show.

The zoo actually has two cubs. Astra’s twin sister Laerke is being raised by keepers, and currently is not let out into the public area except during hours when the zoo is closed. There are plans to get a playmate for Laerke, a rescued grizzly bear cub, if it can be arranged. But for now, Laerke secretly plays in the wildflowers early in the morning, or in the evening hours, with no audience, just a watchful keeper to make sure she stays safe. The only photos of Laerke have been taken by her caretakers.

This photo of Laerke was taken by Dr. Kylen N. Gartland.

The twins were born November 17, 2020. A few days after the birth, the keepers, who were watching Mother Suka and the cubs on the dencam, noticed that the smaller cub was failing, so they made the decision to intervene. They took the cub away from Suka and have been raising her by hand.

Astra, who daily runs around the meadow as adoring fans watch, weighs 200 pounds now. According to a knowledgeable docent at the Arctic Ring of Life, Laerke weighs half that, just 100 pounds, but she is robust and healthy, the docent said.

Mother Suka weighs about 500 pounds, and Father Nuka is over 1000 pounds. The Arctic Ring of Life, which opened in 2001, consists of two areas, and so far Astra and her mother (and Laerke, when it is her time outside) play only in the grassy meadow of the Tundra, with a 40,000 gallon freshwater pool.

Father Nuka spends his time on the ice pack section, where he has his own 300,000 gallon salt water pool, but can keep a close eye on Suka and Astra across a separating ditch. The spectacular 70 foot underwater viewing tunnel is left to the sea otters, while Nuka is keeping watch over the meadow.

Astra and her mother run up and down the hill all day long, stopping for a dip in the pool to cool off, and then it is time to run again. Sometimes they stop so Astra can nurse, and then it is playtime.

Astra’s fur is now spotted with burrs she has picked up from rolling around in the weedy meadow. It gives her a polka dot look when she is wet, right after coming out of the pool.

Astra and Laerke are the first surviving cubs for Suka. She had given birth to twins for the past two years, but didn’t live more than a day or two. This time, the cubs survived and are thriving, although it is a unique situation, to have the mother raising one twin, and keepers raising the other.

It was a hot day, but Astra didn’t mind. She just jumped into the chilled pool, swam around a bit, then climbed out, refreshed and ready to run again.