Polar Bear

About Kenda

December 1, 1983 - June 13, 2011

Kenda, who was born at the EcoTarium (then-Worcester Science Center) in 1983 to parents Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, would have been 28 years old on December 1. She died on Monday, June 13, after a medical exam confirmed that she had developed kidney disease, a degenerative disease common in older polar bears. Due to the rapid deterioration of her health and her bleak prognosis, the decision was made to humanely euthanize Kenda.

Kenda was the first polar bear to be born and raised in New England. At the time, The Worcester Telegram held a contest to name the bear cub and more than 25,000 people participated -- some from as far away as England and Spain. At four months old, she was named "Kenda," an English name meaning "child of clear, cool water." She quickly became a celebrated member of the Central Massachusetts community, visited by thousands of families each year.

The EcoTarium wishes to thank our staff, Wildlife care team, the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, our volunteers, donors and all of Kenda's friends for their love and care through the years.

Donations in memory of Kenda may be made to the Kenda Memorial Fund for enrichment and toys for her animal friends at the EcoTarium. Kenda loved her enrichment activities with our Wildlife Staff!

About Polar Bears

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the wild give birth to 1-3 (usually 2) cubs in early winter while in their hibernation den. Unlike black (Ursus americanus) and brown bears (Ursus horribilus), only pregnant female polar bears go into hibernation. When the cubs are first born, they are hairless, blind and weigh less than a pound. Polar bear milk is extremely high in fat content, and the cubs grow quickly. They emerge from the den with their mother in late spring.

In the wild, polar bear cubs remain with their mother for over 2.5 years. While with their mother, cubs learn how to hunt ringed seals, young walrus and fish. They also learn to avoid large adult male bears, which can be very aggressive and are known to kill cubs. By the time they leave their mother, they are considered sub-adult (juvenile) bears.

Whereas summer and fall are considered bounty times for black and brown bears to gather food, it is a time of food scarcity for polar bears. Polar bears hunt on the pack ice which breaks up in late summer. During these lean months when seals can be hunted only with great difficulty, polar bears will scavenge carrion such as beached whales and will eat seaweed and lichen. Some bears may not eat for months.

When the ice reforms in the winter, bears resume their hunting. However, a hibernating pregnant female bear will not eat until the following spring. Once out of the den, female bears with cubs to feed often target seal birthing dens which contain seal pups. These young seals become an easy meal on which to raise a couple bear cubs.

Polar bears are now protected under the Endangered Species Act at Polar Bears International.