Polar bear twins have been reunited in a zoo after more than two years apart. The siblings were separated shortly after birth when one of them developed severe health problems and was later rejected by their mother.
The female polar bears (Ursus maritimus), named Astra and Laerke, were born at Detroit Zoo on Nov. 17, 2020 to mother Suka and father Nuka. But two days later, Laerke was separated from the den she shared with her mother and sister due to a medical emergency, which required keepers to hand-feed her and monitor her around the clock. After making a full recovery, zoo staff attempted to slowly reintegrate Laerke with Suka and Astra — but it did not go to plan.
