Duluth Polar Bear Now On Display At Como Zoo
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- The polar bear who was displaced from her zoo in Duluth during flash flooding earlier this year is now on public display in St. Paul.
Berlin is now interacting with other polar bears Buzz and Neil after spending weeks behind the scenes at Como's Polar Bear Odyssey Exhibit.
Berlin spent 30 days in quarantine, which is standard for all incoming zoo animals. After that, zookeepers spent some time getting Berlin introduced to Buzz and Neil.
"It has been amazing to watch Berlin have the opportunity to experience things that weren't available in her exhibit at our Zoo," said Lake Superior Zoo lead zookeeper Maicie Sykes.
Fourteen farm animals drowned when floodwaters swamped the Lake Superior Zoo in June, including goats, sheep and a donkey named Ashley. The only barn animal from the zoo that survived was a mini-horse named Darla.
There are also three polar bears from Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, N.D. currently at Como's Polar Bear Odyssey "guest room."
In addition to Berlin, the Como Zoo also received two harbor seals from the Duluth zoo.
The zoo also sustained major structural damage and cleanup expenses.
A fundraiser was held earlier this month in Duluth to benefit the flood-damaged zoo, which reopened in July.
Cleaning up the city of Duluth was expected to cost around $80 million, but the tourism board in July said most of the city was already ready for visitors.
