Is She or Isn’t She? Zoo Hopes Polar Bear Is Preggers
There’s no bear pregnancy test to tell for sure
Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 | Updated 4:56 PM EST
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Is she or isn't she? That's the question officials at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester are asking themselves after seeing signs of pregnancy in their 18-year-old polar bear, Aurora.
She's gaining weight and appears to be preparing to birth cubs. But zookeepers say there's no bear pregnancy test to tell for sure. Zoo Director Larry Sorel says nobody's willing to say she's pregnant just yet because she showed similar signs around this time last year, but nothing happened.
Keepers say Aurora has been denning, or preparing her habitat for cubs, and coming out into the open much less than she normally does. She last gave birth in November 2002, when she had twins.
Zoo officials are expecting her new litter, if it comes at all, within a month.
