Winnipeg zoo's newest polar bear cubs named Blizzard, Star

Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo introduced its two newest polar bear cubs todayand revealed their names, Blizzard and Star.

The brother and sister cubs, whicharrived in September from northern Manitoba,made their first public appearance at the zoo's International Polar Bear Conservation Centre (IPBCC) after being quarantined for 30 days.

Brian Joseph, the zoo's director of zoological operations, says he's happy to finally introduce the orphaned cubs to the community.

"The bears have acclimated very well. They're incredibly confident little animals," Joseph said.

"The first thing they want to do when they get here, even before they're out of their crate, is have something to eat."

The 11-month-old cubs will make their temporary home in the zoo's old bear enclosures before they join the other polar bears Hudson, Storm, Aurora and Kaska in the Journey to Churchill exhibit.

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They will remain on exhibit at the IPBCC for several months, growing and adjusting to their new home. When we feel they are ready we will begin the process of introducingthem to our other bears, Joseph said.

Their names come from an online poll, whichclosedWednesday. It asked people to choose from the following names for the male: Blizzard, Jack and Keewatin; and for the female:Crystal, Trinity and Star.

The options were provided by students from three northern Manitoba schools located in the area where the cubs were found Gillam School, George Saunders Memorial School, and Fox Lake School.