Zoo may reopen this week; return of bear, seals unknown

• Cleaning Polar Shores

Workers with the ATI cleaning company scrub and sanitize the polar bear exhibit at the Lake Superior Zoo on Thursday afternoon, removing the covering of mud and other debris left by the June 20 flood. (Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com)

Talk about it

The Lake Superior Zoo probably will reopen sometime after Wednesday, according to Zoological Society CEO Sam Maida. But when — and even if — the zoo’s popular polar bear and two seals will return from the Como Zoo in St. Paul is unknown.

Though the animals’ Polar Shores exhibit was not included in the Zoological Society’s 2010 long-range plan, Berlin (previously part of a pair with the late and well-loved Bubba) has been a visitor favorite.

“Polar Shores’ real claim to fame is its home to the star attraction at LSZ, our beloved Polar Bear Berlin,” according to the zoo’s website.

“Our plan, right now, is yes (they’ll return),” Maida said. “(Berlin) is our bear. But the exhibit hasn’t been assessed yet, and then how long it will take for it to be fixed, if it’s fixable, and will the damages be beyond the dirt and the mud?”

However, Maida acknowledged that the zoo’s long-range plan doesn’t include Polar Shores.

“That’s something that always has to be looked at,” Maida said. “But the question you asked was: Is the plan now for her to come back? The plan now is, yeah, that would be the case.

“But also the (Association of Zoos and Aquariums), the keepers on the bear might have a different opinion,” he said. “And you’re right, the master plan is something we’d consider, too.”

Peter Pruett, the zoo’s director of animal management, said bringing those animals back should be re-evaluated.

“One of the things we have to decide is: Is it worth putting money into Polar Shores to get it back to where it was prior to the flood, even though Polar Shores isn’t necessarily in our master plan?” he said. “And then we want to decide: What do we want to do with this master plan? The master plan is a living document, so can it change?”

“Simply put: We have all kinds of options,” he said.

Pruett said the zoo’s senior staff will consider those options and hope to make a decision on the Polar Shores exhibit as soon as possible.

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