Polar Bear Snow Play: Missouri Zoo Delight

An energetic polar bear was definitely taking advantage of the snowy weather in Missouri.

On Sunday, Jan. 25, the St. Louis area saw temperatures well below freezing and between 8 and 12 inches of snowfall as a historic snowstorm moved across the U.S., according to the St. Louis American.

While many people avoided the roadways and opted to stay inside altogether during the severe winter weather, a polar bear appeared completely unbothered by the cold as he rolled around in the fresh, powdery snow that had fallen into his enclosure at the Saint Louis Zoo.

In adorable security camera footage shared to the Missouri zoo’s Facebook on Sunday, the 3-year-old animal named Kallu pushes a toy ball into a pool before playfully diving in after it. He then gets out and drags his body across the soft snow while pushing around another one of his enrichment toys.

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Once the polar bear grows tired of frolicking around his enclosure, Kallu spends a few moments rolling around on his back to soak up the rare amount of snow that has settled atop the rocks in his habitat.

To make the snow day even more relaxing for Kallu, the Saint Louis Zoo announced that it would be closed on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 “due to the snow, extreme cold, and to allow team members additional time to safely work on snow removal.”

While Kallu was having the time of his life during the East Coast snowstorm, veterinarians and animal welfare groups warned pet owners to take extra precautions to keep their pets safe ahead of sub-freezing temperatures and heavy snow.

“Cold weather can be as dangerous for pets as it is for humans,” the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said in a Jan. 23 advisory, warning that animals have a harder time regulating body temperature and are at risk of frostbite and hypothermia during prolonged exposure.

Even pets with thick fur can become vulnerable in the extreme cold, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Winter weather can also worsen underlying conditions, including arthritis, and introduce hazards such as toxic de-icing chemicals, frozen water sources, and antifreeze spills.