A warm paw of welcome to the newest Polar Bear in the Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life The Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life welcomes its newest resident, Norton, an 800 lb., 17-year-old polar bear from the Providence, Rhode Island Zoo.  "Norton's arrival at the Arctic Ring of Life is part of our commitment to the cooperative management of polar bears in North American zoos," states Scott Carter, Director of Conservation and Animal Welfare for the Detroit Zoological Society, "We hope that he will be breeding with Barle, our 17-year-old female."
Norton arrived at the Detroit Zoo two months ago as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP). The mission of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's SSP program is to help guarantee the survival of endangered or threatened wildlife species. There are about 30,000 polar bears in the world that can be found in the United States, Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. In the wild their diet consists of mostly seals; but at the Zoo, they are fed a dietary supplement of fish and produce. Norton will be slowly introduced to five other polar bears in the 4.2 acre Arctic Ring of Life, the world's largest polar bear exhibit. This environment simulates their wildlife habitat and Norton can enjoy the Polar Passage, a 70-ft. long clear underwater tunnel. Come see him make a splash in the 300,000 gallons of chilled salt water in his new home at the Detroit Zoo this summer.  The Arctic Ring of Life is open during normal Zoo hours and there is no additional admission fee. The Detroit Zoological Society, founded in 1928, is committed to celebrating and saving wildlife. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Zoo is open year round with several indoor viewing areas. The Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696 in Royal Oak. Admission is $10.50 for adults 13 to 61; $8.50 for senior citizens 62 and older and students ages 2 to 12; and children under two are free. The Detroit Zoological Society is always looking for volunteers.
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