PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A new resident has arrived at the Oregon Zoo’s Polar Passage habitat.
Kallik, a three-year-old polar bear from the Saint Louis Zoo, explored his new home for the first time Friday morning.
Kelly Gomez, who oversees the zoo’s polar bear area, said, “Kallik is making himself right at home. He ventured out to explore, dove into both of his chilled saltwater pools and enjoyed some treats.”
Born Nov. 11, 2022 at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, Kallik moved to St. Louis in 2025 with his twin brother, Kallu.
Weighing over 700 pounds, Kallik is described as playful and curious, with expectations to grow larger as he matures.
Male polar bear Kallik in Polar Passage. © Oregon Zoo / photo by Michael Durham.
Gomez noted, “From around 2.5 to 5 years old, polar bears are considered ‘subadults,’ so Kallik is still growing and developing. We’re looking forward to introducing such a young, energetic bear to zoo visitors.”
The previous residents of Polar Passage, female bears Nora and Amelia Gray, recently relocated as part of a plan by the Polar Bear Population Alliance to maintain a sustainable, genetically diverse polar bear population in the U.S.
Polar bears are classified as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act due to changes in their Arctic habitat caused largely by climate change.
Amy Cutting, vice president of conservation at Polar Bears International, stressed the role of zoos and aquariums in conservation efforts.
“Modern zoos and aquariums play a key part in saving this species,” she said. “Polar bears live in one of the harshest environments on the planet, making them notoriously difficult to study so we have gaps in our understanding of how climate change is affecting them. The bears in professional care can help.”
The Oregon Zoo, part of Metro, has contributed to conservation efforts globally, acting on behalf of species from pikas to polar bears.