Brookfield Zoo Chicago to welcome new polar bear

Zoo's more than ​40 years of leadership in polar bear care and conservation supports efforts for a sustainable population for this vulnerable species

Brookfield, IL—A female polar bear (Ursus maritimus) named Amelia Gray will soon arrive at Brookfield Zoo Chicago from Oregon Zoo. The 8-year-old female will join polar bears Hope and Hudson in the Great Bear Wilderness and will be viewable to zoo guests later this fall. Her arrival will support zoos in their efforts to deepen their understanding of challenges facing polar bears in the wild and find critical solutions to the species’ increasing threat of extinction.

Amelia Gray is known by Oregon Zoo’s community as playful and curious. Her name is a reminder of the role she plays as an ambassador for her wild counterparts, as Amelia means “defender.” Gray is a reference to one of her identifying features when young—a gray patch of fur along the left side of her neck.

“We look forward to welcoming Amelia Gray to Brookfield Zoo Chicago, as her arrival is a powerful opportunity to educate the community of the critical need to protect this vulnerable species,” said Mark Wanner, associate vice president of animal care and conservation at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. “With declining populations in the wild, zoos play an invaluable role in understanding polar bears and ways we can help protect their populations in the wild.”

Polar bears are marine mammals yet they’re known as the largest living land carnivore in the world. They were the first species to be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act primarily due to climate change. Rising global temperatures are causing more rapid and significant changes to the Arctic habitat of polar bears than to many temperate parts of the globe. As sea ice melts, polar bears are forced to swim longer distances across open water in search of prey, often entering periods of fasting and living off fat stores. These fasting periods have long-term impacts, as they are especially detrimental to young bears and breeding adults that require plentiful prey to reproduce.

The wild population faces a high risk of global extinction, as research projects that up to two-thirds of the polar bear population could disappear by the end of the century. As the top predator in the Arctic ecosystem, their decline is an indicator of the silent loss of a complex world of organisms that have evolved to thrive in this harsh and inhospitable icy world.

Finding solutions for the conservation of wild polar bears is no easy task, as researchers work in remote regions where winter darkness lasts for months and temperatures can drop to -50°F. Political, language and cultural barriers add to the challenges. Polar bears in zoos and aquariums play an important role by helping scientists learn more about their nutrition, metabolism and survival strategies. They also assist in evaluating new tools, such as advanced tracking systems, that will one day improve research in the wild. This collaboration allows wildlife managers to anticipate challenges and develop strategies to help polar bears endure in a changing Arctic.

“We still have gaps in understanding how climate change is affecting wild polar bears, and it’s essential that the bears in professional care help scientists learn more about their species,” said Amy Cutting, vice president of conservation at Polar Bears International. “These bears are perfect candidates to help because they already voluntarily participate in many care-focused behaviors and seem to find those experiences enriching.”

This transfer from Oregon Zoo will provide Amelia Gray the opportunity to be with a male polar bear with the goal of raising cubs someday. Brookfield Zoo Chicago supports the cooperation among Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoos to maintain a sustainable and genetically diverse population of polar bears. After getting acclimated to her new habitat at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, she will be introduced to Hope and, eventually, Hudson.

For more than 40 years, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a recognized leader in polar bear care and conservation. Its experts have driven and supported groundbreaking research into polar bear behavior and development, while also providing innovative care. A notable milestone was in 2019, when the Zoo’s animal health and welfare team completed the first-ever CT scan on a living polar bear. Conducted as part of a routine preventative health exam, the scan helped establish vital medical baselines—advancing the zoological community’s ability to care for the species and serving as an early example of the now-essential Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database (ZARD). Brookfield Zoo Chicago is also part of Polar Bear International’s network of Artic Ambassador Centers, supporting collaborative research, education and action programs that address challenges polar bears face in the wild.

Guests can expect to see Amelia Gray at Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Great Bear Wilderness as early as mid-October. This historic habitat highlights native species found in the North American wilderness—including polar bears, brown bears, Mexican wolves, bald eagles and bison. In addition to connecting with wildlife, guests can learn about the conservation efforts that brought most of these species back from the brink of extinction as well as their cultural importance for many Native American communities.

More information about Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s conservation efforts, ways to support the Zoo’s mission and details to plan a visit are available at brookfieldzoo.org.

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Media Note: B-roll and photos are available here for media use only, courtesy of and with credit to Oregon Zoo. Journalists interested in interviews should contact Zoo PR Director Julianne Olivo at julianne.olivo@brookfieldzoo.org.

About Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Connect. Care. Conserve. Since 1934, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a global leader in animal well-being and conservation, inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Zoo is a private nonprofit organization that operates on 235 acres of land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 species—including many of Earth’s most endangered. Brookfield Zoo Chicago was the first zoo in the world to be Humane Certified™ by the American Humane Society for the care and welfare of its animals, and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and ArbNet. For more information, visit www.brookfieldzoo.org or follow @BrookfieldZoo on Instagram, Facebook and Threads.