The Cochrane, Ont. habitat has seen several upgrades this year
COCHRANE – A polar bear turning 16 may not come with a driver’s licence in the wild, but at the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat, staff leaned into the milestone.
Ganuk, one of the habitat’s resident polar bears, marked his “sweet 16” in December with a car stuffed with food-filled gift boxes, tropical fruit, a pumpkin-based birthday cake and even a novelty Ontario driver’s licence.
Habitat manager Amy Baxendell-Young said the idea came together naturally.
“The sweet 16 just worked,” she said. “The car was actually something I picked up at a local thrift store quite a while ago, with this birthday in mind. And because when you turn 16, you get a car — at least when you’re wealthy — we decided to spoil him.”
Ganuk received papayas, watermelon and a bear-friendly cake made with pumpkin, peanut butter, oats and eggs. After posing for his “licence photo,” the birthday boy promptly shredded the licence and fell asleep on it, Baxendell-Young said.
For staff, the celebration marked more than a fun social media moment. Sixteen is a meaningful age for a polar bear in human care.
“In the wild, especially for males, that would be getting toward the end of life,” Baxendell-Young said.
“But in human care, with consistent food and veterinary support, it’s common for them to live into their early to mid-20s. He’s fully grown, a mature male, and we still expect to celebrate many more birthdays with him.”
Ganuk and his birthday car filled with treats. Supplied photo
Ganuk is often described by staff as a “gentle giant.” Despite his size, Baxendell-Young said he is remarkably patient and calm, particularly when it comes to daily medical care.
“He’s very tolerant and very relaxed,” she said. “He knows how to get our attention when he wants something, but he’s incredibly special to work with.”
Earlier this year, fellow resident Henry also drew attention for an unusual display of natural behaviour. Baxendell-Young said Henry spent months digging an expansive den into a former beaver cache — a behaviour rarely seen in male polar bears.
“It was huge. Four staff could stand inside it at the same time,” she said. “It was really cool to see him feel the urge to express that unusual, natural behaviour, and to know our environment allowed him to do it.”
SEE: ‘Oh, Henry!’: Cochrane polar bear gets paws-itively perfect party
August also marked one year since the death of Inukshuk, the habitat’s longtime resident polar bear.
“We still talk about him every day,” Baxendell-Young said. “But the memorial really helped. It felt like a proper goodbye.”
SEE: Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat to honour Inukshuk one year after his death
Inukshuk’s legacy continues through research efforts, though some U.S.-based studies have paused. Baxendell-Young said the habitat is still adjusting diets and preparing samples so they can contribute when research resumes.
The habitat also saw a strong tourism season in 2025, benefiting from a staycation-focused strategy. Attendance has already surpassed last year’s totals.
“In 2024, we had just under 13,000 visitors,” Baxendell-Young said. “This year, year-to-date, we’re already over 16,000.”
SEE: Cochrane’s polar bear attraction prepares for staycation tourism boost
Several upgrades were made this year, including enhancements to the bears’ training crate — a key tool that allows voluntary medical procedures. A donor funded modifications to better accommodate Ganuk’s needs, with local company Detour Machining and Fabrication completing the work.
The habitat’s new training crate. Supplied photo
The habitat also welcomed its first co-op students since before the pandemic and expanded outreach efforts with new highway billboards and a full slate of Polar Bear Week programming in November, which included virtual events for schools across Ontario.
Looking ahead to 2026, Baxendell-Young said education will be a major focus, with plans to expand virtual learning options and school engagement.