ホッキョクグマの赤ちゃん　生後100日迎えすくすく成長　最近習得した“技”も披露　秋田・男鹿市 (26/03/18 18:30)

We had the opportunity to meet the polar bear cub born in December 2025 at the Oga Aquarium GAO ​​in Oga City, Akita Prefecture, ahead of its official debut. The cub is growing well and even showed us a new trick it recently learned. Announcer Airi Tachikawa: "We were told the cub was at the end of the corridor, and there it is! It's tiny. It started walking and moved. It seems a little interested in the microphone. Its mother, Momo, has also arrived." With its fluffy white fur and tiny ears, this male cub was born on December 4, 2025, at the Oga Aquarium GAO, to polar bears Gota and Momo. Four days ago, on March 14th, it reached 100 days old. Currently, it is about 70 centimeters long and weighs about 10 kilograms. It slowly follows behind its mother, Momo, but seems somewhat awkward. The baby polar bear started eating mackerel and polar bear food about a week ago, but it still loves its mother's milk. Announcer Tachikawa: "There's a baby under its mother, Momo. It's drinking Momo's milk." After finishing, it pops out and, holding onto its mother, stands up with a little effort. Although it's through a net, it stares intently at us and seems very interested in the camera. This is the third successful polar bear breeding at GAO. Kiyotaro Taguchi, who has watched the growth of previous generations, also feels that this one is growing well. Kiyotaro Taguchi, Oga Aquarium GAO: "Until now, I thought the baby was small, but it's growing day by day and has become quite plump. Recently, it's started to eat food and occasionally stands up on its hind legs." It showed us its ability to stand up. GAO is accepting name suggestions for the baby cub until the 22nd, and has already received nearly 10,000 submissions from within and outside the prefecture. When asked about the cub's personality, which might be helpful for naming, Ms. Taguchi said, "Compared to the previous two cubs, she seems quite cautious, and still doesn't go near the water much. I get the impression she has a rather gentle personality." When asked what kind of name would be best, she said, "A name that's easy to remember and friendly would be good." The name will be selected from the submissions, taking into account the opinions of GAO and Hamamatsu City Zoo in Shizuoka Prefecture, the cub's hometown. The final name will then be decided by a vote of GAO visitors, and the naming ceremony will be held on April 25th. The public debut date is yet to be determined, but if all goes well, it is expected to be sometime after April. Seitaro Taguchi: "They grow up so quickly. The time you can see them as small is short, so I really want people to see polar bears when they're little." Polar bear breeding is extremely difficult. According to GAO (German Aquarium Association), about 200 cubs have been born in Japan so far, but only about 30 have survived for more than six months. Regarding the reason for this, Mr. Taguchi says, "Even if a cub is born, the mother bear may not raise it unless the environment and other conditions are right for her." Wild polar bears give birth in small, dark dens in snowdrifts and other places. At Oga Aquarium, a "birthing room" has been prepared to resemble a wild den. It is kept dark and quiet, and for the first two months after birth, zookeepers do not enter the room; only surveillance cameras are used for monitoring. For polar bears, who are extremely sensitive, minimizing external stimuli is essential. Thanks to this kind of environment, the cub is growing well. I have high hopes for their future growth.