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Twin polar bear cubs make debut at Sendai zoo

Twin polar bear cubs make debut at Sendai zoo

NHK02-06-2025
A zoo in Japan introduced twin polar bear cubs to the public on Monday.
About 200 people waited in line outside Yagiyama Zoological Park in the city of Sendai before it opened.
Visitors cheered as they watched the animals playing with each other and cozying up to their mother.
The male and female cubs, which were born at the park in December, are currently estimated to weigh 30 kilograms. Officials expect the female cub to reach about 350 kilograms in four years, and the male to be around 500 kilograms.
A visitor from Tokyo carrying stuffed toy polar bears said they are so small and adorable. Another visitor said he was so eager to see them he came to the zoo on the first day they are shown to the public.
The park is set to open public voting to select their nicknames from a shortlist of six possibilities. Voting will last until June 17, and the results will be announced in a ceremony on July 5.
The cubs are on public display between 9:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. daily. Zoo officials say the time will be extended as they grow up.
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