WATCH Nora the polar bear make her first public appearance!
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Nora the polar bear cub made her first public appearance this morning, and it might as well have redefined the word “cute.”
According to a press release sent out yesterday, Nora will only be available for viewing for an hour a day in order to best care for her health. The release said viewing times will be expanded as she grows bigger and stronger.
In the time since she was born on November 6, 2015, Nora has grown from one pound to fifty pounds, and she has a dedicated staff of zoo workers “teaching her how to be a bear” around-the-clock.
“Since Nora’s birth a small group of staff members have worked incredibly long shifts, missed holidays, and skipped days off but we would do it all over again in a heartbeat,” said Shannon Morarity, assistant curator at the Columbus Zoo. “Whatever it takes, Nora is our priority. She has grown to be a confident, well-adjusted bear and we think she’s perfect.”
Nora first garnered attention when an online poll was launched to decide her name. People from over 115 countries participated, and in this editor’s opinion, the name Nora suits her quite well!
The Columbus Zoo is at the spearpoint of polar bear conservation, with only 20,000-25,000 estimated to be left in the wild. Shrinking polar ice, attributed to global warming, is a key factor in their declining numbers.
Watch some highlights from her first public appearance below!
Sometimes you just need to play around with a cone on your head. #Nora @ColumbusZoo https://t.co/GkKtcqfOSB pic.twitter.com/VYN8sYLkyG
— 10TV.com (@10TV) April 15, 2016
Nora takes a dive in her debut at the @ColumbusZoo https://t.co/GkKtcpYe13 pic.twitter.com/aOHYPW5tEg
— 10TV.com (@10TV) April 15, 2016
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