Zookeepers in Berlin have announced that their baby polar bear is a lively girl with "a few sharp claws." The little bear measures just 61 centimeters and could get her first visitors as early as March.
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Vets at Zoo Berlin were excited on Friday to announce that the newest addition to their polar bear family is a "lively, strong girl."
The baby bear, born on December 1, was separated from her mother, Tonja, for the first time for a 15-minute medical examination.
Veterinarian Günter Strauss said the cub measured 61 centimeters (2 feet) from head to toe and was "a hefty 8.5 kilos (18.7 pounds) on the scales."
"Thanks to her mother's milk — which, with around 30 percent fat, is very nutritious — the baby has grown quickly in recent weeks," Strauss said. "She currently drinks two hours a day and hasn’t eaten solid food yet."
The bear has not yet been named. Zoo directors said this would be determined in collaboration with potential future adopters.
Visitors will be pleased to hear that she may make her first public appearance as early as March.
German zoos have welcomed some of the most adorable baby animals. We share some of our favourite pictures of these feathered and furry friends, which are sure to tug at the heartstrings.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/C. Schmidt
Cheeky Rieke
Orangutan baby Rieke became the latest addition to Berlin Zoo's primate family early 2015. Orangutans are found only in the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. The destruction of these forests in recent years for palm oil means these primates, which live to up to 45 years, have now become an endangered species.
Image: Reuters/F. Bensch
Loves the limelight
This curious flatland tapir, also known as a Brazilian tapir, pokes its nose at a photographer's waiting lens at Magdeburg Zoo. The tapir was only two-week old when this picture was snapped. It was unfortunately attacked by its mother Tala but vets at the zoo were feeding the little animal by bottle.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Kalaene
Furry friends in fir trees
Dresden Zoo was thrilled to welcome four baby red pandas, born to mom Nouanne from France and Manchu from Spain. These cute little animals rememble raccoons but share their habitat and preference for bamboo with giant pandas. Their fur is a rusty red color, which means they are able to camouflage well in fir trees, which are often covered in a reddish moss.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Kahnert
Half a kilo of cuteness please
This baby girl koala weighed only 580 grams even after living at Duisburg Zoo for the first six months of her life. Koalas are marsupial animals, which means they have a pouch to carry their babies. This little baby is holding onto the shoulder of vet Lena. Koalas come from the other side of the world in Australia, where they feed on a diet of eucalyptus leaves.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Weihrauch
Cacophonous concert
Three-month-old northern fur seal Bud with his mother, Donna. Since Bud arrived, there has been non-stop howling from their enclosure - and that's as it should be! Baby fur seals recognize their mothers by voice. So mother and baby both bark as loud as they can, putting on quite a show for visitors at Hannover Adventure Zoo.
Image: Zoo Hannover/dpa
Eat up!
A mother drill peels a piece of fruit for her baby so he can grow up to be big and strong. Pinto was born at Hellabrunn Animal Park in Munich to parents Kaduna and Bakut. His big ears and spiky hair match his cheeky, lively character. Zoos are especially proud of babies like Pinto, since drills are among the most endangered primate species in the world.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Bockwoldt
Sent from heaven
Yashoda protects her little daughter as the baby elephant takes a walk at Hamburg's Hagenbeck Zoo. Yashoda’s fifth child came into the world after a pregnancy of 688 days. The city of Hamburg opened her naming up to the public and around 7,700 fans voted online to call her Anjuli, which means "God's gift."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Bockwoldt
Kiss me, mom!
Little Kaja the sea lion was born at Wuppertal Zoo. California sea lions are considered among the most elegant of marine mammals. Swimming takes practice and newborns are not able to swim right away. This little girl's increasingly daring antics have been delighting visitors. Good luck, Kaja!
Image: Zoo Wuppertal/dpa
Touch-and-go start
Flavio the giant anteater was born three weeks earlier than expected. He needed assisted feeding at first, but has made it through the most critical phase. "I am very proud of the young boy," says Halle Zoo’s director Dennis Müller. Zoos around the world have tried and failed to breed giant anteaters, making Flavio’s survival all the more special.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/H. Schmidt
Best mom in the world
This blissful baby bonobo spends most of her time on her mother Kutu's belly. Kutu seems at ease after the birth of her third child. The other members of the 17-strong bonobo troupe at the Frankfurt Zoo come regularly check the mother and child. This troupe is thought to be the largest of these apes in any zoo worldwide.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/C. Schmidt
Don't smother me!
Katja the sea lion takes nudges her daughter Jule, who is keen to join her playmates. Jule is one of three sea lions born at the Duisburg Zoo in June 2015. Katja was bottle-fed, so the zoo has been impressed by how well she has taken to becoming a mom herself.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Hiti
Big babies
This unusual-looking family of rheas, or nandus,lives at Worms Animal Park. The rhea is a flightless bird from South America. Chicks are usually cared for by their father, but in this case, dad wasn't up to the job so Gertrud the hen had to step in as a foster mum. Rheas grow up to well over a meter in height so Gertrud's adoptive brood will soon tower above her!