Former Oregon Zoo Polar Bear Nora Breaks Bone At New Home In Utah

PORTLAND, OR – Maybe Nora should have stayed in Portland. The young polar bear who spent a year being beloved by Oregonians when she was at the zoo here, broke her leg recently at her new home at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The zoo says that she broke her humerus on her front right leg.

She'll have surgery on Monday.

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"She's a very rambunctious bear," the Lead Keeper at Hogle, Kaleigh Jablonsk, said. "It's not unusual to watch her head-dive into the snow without any hesitation.

"She just plays rough."

After noticing that Nora wasn't moving for two days, she allowed keepers to take x-rays. Her keepers discovered that Nora's injuries are not all that unusual. At least three other her bears her age had similar breaks from playing rough.

Keepers say it's somewhat expected. While only 3-years-old, Nora weighs 500 pounds.

After discovering the break, Hogle assembled a team of specialists to asses Nora what to do.

In the operating room on Monday, there will be a large animal orthopedic team from Texas A & M, a human orthopedic surgeon from the University of Utah, and a veterinary anesthesiologist from North Carolina State.

Hogle says they are working hard to get Nora the best care possible.

"Nora is one of the most special, most charismatic animals of our Hogle Zoo family," Hogle Associate Veterinarian, Dr. Erika Crook says. “We have reached out far and wide to find experts to give her the best chance possible to get back on her feet.

"She's in very good hands."

Photos via Hogle Zoo.