On your next visit to the Zoo, be sure to pause by the Polar Bear exhibit to welcome Aquilla back to his old exhibit. Aquilla first came to the Zoo as a young cub. Later, when the N.C. Zoo helped rescue 14 Polar Bears from an abusive situation with a circus performing in Puerto Rico, Aquilla was shipped to another Zoo to give the N.C. Zoo room to take in two of the bears confiscated from the circus.
Those two bears---Wilhelm and Masha—grew old with us. Recently, Masha died and Wilhelm developed some health problems that required us to take him off exhibit for a while. Wilhelm is improving—we are happy about that. And, meanwhile, Aquilla has come back to us so that we can continue to exhibit a Polar Bear for all the visitors who love watching these grand beasts.
The Zoo and the Zoo Society are working hard to raise funds that will allow the Zoo to expand the Polar Bear exhibit. When we do, we will add enough space and build a birthing den so that, eventually, visitors can hear the patter of little paws in that exhibit.
The impressive photo on our home page was taken by Valerie Abbott, a long-time friend, devoted volunteer and talented photographer.
Last modified
08/10/2009 07:41am.
