Monday's Temps Even Too Cold for Polar Bears in Chicago

It was even too cold for Chicago's resident polar bear Monday.

Brookfield Zoo's polar bears may have been seen enjoying the cold weather Monday,
but Lincoln Park Zoo says its polar bear, Anana, was kept inside Monday because of the record-low temperatures.

Zoo spokeswoman Sharon Dewar says that while the below-zero weather might be comparable to what polar bears experience in the wild, Anana doesn't have a thick layer of fat that bears typically get from eating things such as seals and whale carcasses.

That extra insulation would make it uncomfortable to live in Chicago during the rest of the year, so Anana gets a different diet.

While she stayed inside, Anana lounged in her comparatively balmy indoor climate that's kept at 40 to 50 degrees.

Anana usually has access to both an indoor and outdoor area. She was allowed to venture outside Tuesday, but zoo officials noted she always has the option to stay inside her den.

The zoo closed at 3:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday due to the frigid temperatures.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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