Over the years, the Alaska Zoo has had its fair share of favorite animals, and that list keeps growing with the arrival of Kova the polar bear in the spring of 2024.

Orphaned on the North Slope of Alaska, Kova won everyone over shortly after her public debut. Whether online or in person, she’s entertained audiences with her playful, impromptu diving routines in the pool.

“She’s quite the acrobat underwater,” Zookeeper Taleah Reece said. “She’s always playing with toys, throwing balls all the way down, we do a lot of enrichment, melons, and different stuff in the pool.”

Kova got to know her new home with the help of her polar pal, Cranbeary, the zoo's other resident polar bear. Before they could share a space, Kova had to spend her first six months in quarantine. After that, she spent a year interacting with Cranbeary - more than 20 years her senior - through fences. It took some time, but the zoo staff couldn’t be happier with the results.

“They have become fast friends,” Reece said. “We were not anticipating such a close bond and relationship.”

This connection has revealed a new side of Cranbeary according to those who have watched her since she arrived from the Denver Zoo in 2018.

“My favorite part is seeing Cranbeary’s renewed youth with the introduction of Kova,” Alaska Zoo Executive Director Tristan Thon said. “Watching her, seeing that youthful, playful side come out of her.”

Luckily, the zoo’s polar bear exhibit makes it easy to watch these four-legged friends enjoy each other's company. With three viewing areas, you can see these bears from all angles. Kova’s love for water adds to the excitement, as visitors can watch her dive in and swim underwater.

All this activity means these bears get pretty hungry. Reece mentioned that they are fed salmon, halibut, or white cod. They also get red meat, which all carnivores at the zoo eat, along with lard to help their body fat.

“Enrichment-wise they love dried fruit, melons, and peanut butter,” Reece said. “Things that they would not normally eat in the wild. So, it’s fun to have them try different things like that.”

There’s a lot to look forward to at the Alaska Zoo, with exciting new improvements on the way. They’ve acquired an additional 9 acres next to their 28-acre property located in the lower foothills of the Chugach Mountains. Soon, visitors will be able to enjoy a new trail featuring orphaned moose calves on either side, as well as a bigger musk ox exhibit.

If you can’t visit the Alaska Zoo in person, you can still get involved by following Kova and Cranbeary’s on the Alaska Zoo's Polar Bear cam or by sponsoring the bears. For a more immersive experience, consider taking a tour of the polar bear exhibit as part of one of the zoo's added guided encounters.