Toledo twins Kallik and Kallu

25.6.2023 by Molly Merrow

In all the Western Hemisphere, if you want to see young polar bear cubs in a zoo, there is only one place to go: The Toledo Zoo in Toledo Ohio. And that is where I went last Sunday (18th of June).

Crystal’s twin sons Kallik and Kallu, born November 11, 2022, are rare indeed. In fact this year, there are only three polar bear mothers in zoos. Victoria in Hamburg Germany has a daughter, and Gerda in Novosibirsk Russia has twin daughters.

At birth, their size difference was startling. Kallu is the bigger cub. Kallik, very small at birth, has not caught up yet in size, but certainly has in energy. At their most recent weighing, Kallu weighed 173 pounds (78.5 Kg), and little Kallik weighed 146 pounds (66 Kg).

Kallik

As for temperament, little Kallik is the first to check out new toys and experiences. He’s the brave one. He is also a water baby, while big brother Kallu was reluctant to get into the pool for a long time, and still seems to prefer to stay on shore.

Kallik in the water

Little Kallik is bold and independent, runs and plays by himself, while Kallu tends to stay near Mama Crystal, or at least go check in with her often.

Crystal and Kallu

Crystal is an experienced mother, having raised two other sets of twins, and three single cubs. At age 24, this is probably her last litter. She does seem weary, and tends to let the boys play by themselves, while she watches lazily from the den cave. It may be a good thing that she had twins, because they can entertain each other while she naps. But she does have to produce twice as much milk, which is probably taking a lot out of her.

The father of the twins is Nuka, who has returned to the Detroit Zoo. He is the father of twin girls with Crystal’s daughter Suka. These twin girls have just moved from Detroit to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington.

Kallu and Kallik

While I was there, Kallik was entranced by the blue cube, which he had managed to jam under a big branch and he could not figure out how to free it. But he kept trying.

Kallu preferred to play with the giant grey ball, often floating it the stream.

Then the boys would come together a chase each other. What fun!

Mother Crystal decided it was time to nurse, so the boys followed her in. She finally settled in the den cave, which has a number of windows, so I was able to see the little family up close. Crystal didn’t seem to mind having an audience. At this age of seven months, she nurses them about five times a day, for about five minutes each, and then they often take a nap.

This is what naptime looks like in the polar bear home of the Toledo Zoo.