Zoo wonders why two polar bears won’t mate, discovers they’re both female?
Back in June, a zoo in Hokkaido put a male polar bear named Tsuyoshi into an enclosure with a female polar bear named Kurumi. Months passed, and the bears showed no signs of mating, so they carried out an examination and found that Tsuyoshi was actually a female:
The pair started living together in June this year but Tsuyoshi never exhibited any signs of amorous intentions. The zoo on Nov. 4 put Tsuyoshi under anesthesia and found the bear to be female.
Yoshio Yamaguchi, head of the Kushiro zoo, said, “I have rather mixed feelings, given the need for breeding, but Tsuyoshi is an idol for Kushiro,” adding that he will consider what to do with the help of other zoos in Hokkaido.
On the bear’s name, he said, “We will not be changing it to ‘Tsuyoko’ since it is loved by citizens (by the current name).” “Ko” is a common suffix for a Japanese female name.
Tsuyoshi’s “brother” Pirika, who lives at another zoo in Hokkaido, was also recently discovered to be a female.
[hat tip to Caine]
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