Meet Nora, the polar bear from Ohio

April 16, 2016 6:16 AM

Meet Nora! The Columbus Zoo's newest baby polar bear received her name in February. She's grown up a bit, and now ready for her public debut at about five months. See Nora frolicking in the yard. previously
posted by Roger Dodger (11 comments total)

She is very cute, but the more I learn about animals the more embarrassed I am by the concept of a zoo.
posted by Mooski at 6:23 AM on April 16, 2016 [8 favorites]

I'm pleasantly surprised there are fish in her pool.
posted by postel's law at 6:40 AM on April 16, 2016 [3 favorites]

The fluffiest of all captive future relentless death machines
posted by vanar sena at 6:58 AM on April 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

AWWW! And that picture of her with the teddy bear... AWWWWWWW!!!
posted by SansPoint at 7:26 AM on April 16, 2016 [2 favorites]

And she plays adorably with the traffic cone in her yard -- 1:00 min in this video.
posted by gladly at 7:40 AM on April 16, 2016 [2 favorites]

Cute, but she'll rip your lips off.
posted by tommasz at 9:05 AM on April 16, 2016

My 4 year old niece named Nora is gonna love this.
posted by ilovewinter at 10:07 AM on April 16, 2016

What Mooskie said.
Not that we really need a reminder, but the sad death to tiger mauling of a zookeeper in Florida yesterday underlines the controversy of keeping animals captive. It's all conservation-this and conservation-that now of course. I went to a drive-through zoo in west NSW a couple of months ago and I felt pretty awkward about seeing all these African specimens forced on exhibit. I don't suggest I have an answer necessarily, but I'm not sure continuing to foster the illusion that it's society's right or whatever to imprison and display animals is productive.
But cuuute!
posted by peacay at 2:38 PM on April 16, 2016

I hear you that the whole idea of a menagerie is conflicting. I was raised in the midwest. Zoos are taken for granted around here. I've definitely seen exhibits that have made me sad. But I also have excellent memories of different zoos and aquariums over my lifetime. If nothing else, it's a great way to engage your kid about any of the points you've raised, whether it's conservation or captivity.
posted by Roger Dodger at 2:59 PM on April 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

The Columbus Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country. Animals there are very well taken care of, have a lot of space and enrichment. The Columbus Zoo also dedicates a very significant portion of their resources to Conservation efforts. I completely understand the kneejerk responses to zoos, but Columbus really does do a very good job.
posted by ChuraChura at 5:55 PM on April 16, 2016 [4 favorites]

As a Nora, I thoroughly approve.
posted by applemeat at 11:12 AM on April 18, 2016