Baby bear has warm welcome

Intimate first moments of life as a tiny newborn polar bear – the second ever born in Australia – snuggles with its mum Liya at Sea World.

SEA World has welcomed its first polar bear cub, the second to be born in captivity in Australia.

Long-time Sea World residents Liya and Nelson are proud parents of a 15cm cub weighing 600g.

Its gender is yet to be determined as mother and baby have been snuggled in a darkened den since the birth four days ago, and will remain there for up to 10 weeks.

Sea World marine sciences director Trevor Long said the park had made the birth and after-birth experience as close to life in the wild as possible.

"Liya gave birth in the den, created to mimic the dark ice caves where polar bears give birth in the wild," he said.

NEW PARENTS: Liya and baby in the cave. Picture: Sea World

"The labour was quite hard on her and she was quite uncomfortable. Two cubs were born but Liya chose to devote all her attention and efforts to one. Sadly, only the one survived, which has devastated our staff who tried to intervene, but in this case nature took charge," he said.

"Liya is a great mother and is nurturing her young cub who has not even opened its eyes yet.

"We are closely monitoring the pair and the next seven days will be critical."

Mr Long said it was an amazing achievement for the park, the Gold Coast and Australia.

BIG DADDY: Dad Nelson waits patiently. Picture: Sea World   

"This is only the second ever polar bear born in captivity in Australia, the first was in South Australia in 1985," he said.

"There are only about 25,000 remaining polar bears in the world and the birth of this cub could be instrumental in the conservation of the animal."

The cub will be introduced to the public in about 16 weeks when it is strong enough to leave its mother and the den.

Australia's first polar bear born in captivity was in South Australia in 1985. Sea World has been trying since 2000.

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