He's beary welcome: Polar bear Kallik arrives at zoo

Kallik (Kah-LEEK), a 3-year-old polar bear from the Saint Louis Zoo, is making a splash at the Oregon Zoo's Polar Passage habitat. He explored his new habitat for the first time Friday morning, and care staff report he's already taken a polar plunge or two.

"Kallik is making himself right at home," said Kelly Gomez, who oversees the zoo's polar bear area. "He ventured out to explore, dove into both of his chilled saltwater pools and enjoyed some treats."

Kallik was born Nov. 11, 2022, at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium and moved to St. Louis in 2025 with his twin brother, Kallu. He weighs over 700 pounds and caregivers say he is playful and curious. They also say he's likely to get much larger as he matures.

"From around 2.5 to 5 years old, polar bears are considered 'subadults,' so Kallik is still growing and developing," Gomez said. "We're looking forward to introducing such a young, energetic bear to zoo visitors."

Gomez added that it's also around this time in life that young polar bears typically set out on their own. Polar bears tend to lead solitary lives except when they're breeding or raising cubs, according to wildlife biologists.

The previous residents of Polar Passage, female bears Nora and Amelia Gray, recently moved to new homes as part of a comprehensive plan rolled out by members of the Polar Bear Population Alliance - a consortium of Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited organizations focused on maintaining a sustainable, genetically diverse polar bear population in the United States. Polar bears, classified as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, face a high risk of global extinction due to changes in their Arctic habitat.

Accredited zoos and aquariums are working to prevent extinction on two fronts: supporting efforts to protect wild bears in the Arctic while also striving to sustain a healthy population in professional care. Conservationists say both efforts are critical.

"Modern zoos and aquariums play a key part in saving this species," said Amy Cutting, vice president of conservation at Polar Bears International. "Polar bears live in one of the harshest environments on the planet, making them notoriously difficult to study so we have gaps in our understanding of how climate change is affecting them. The bears in professional care can help."

Bears at accredited zoos and aquariums also act as "Arctic ambassadors," Cutting said, forming deep connections with guests and delivering messages about climate action and wildlife conservation to millions of people who might not otherwise hear them.