SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Hogle Zoo reported Tuesday that Nora, the 3-year-old polar bear who broke her right front leg between her shoulder and elbow, is recovering “nicely” from surgery last week to repair the break.
According to a post on the zoo’s Facebook page, surgeons and zoo veterinarians are pleased with her progress.
“She’s protecting her leg and putting just a little bit of weight on it, which is just what the surgeons wanted. Her incision looks clean and her foot flexion is also just what we were hoping to see,” the post said.
The post included short clip of Nora moving about.
According to the zoo, Nora was found in her exhibit on Jan. 23 unwilling to move. Keepers monitored her closely for a few days, but Nora didn't budge. By Jan. 26, she made her way into the back holding area, allowing the zoo's animal care team better access.
An examination the next day confirmed the 500-pound bear, who had metabolic bone disease as a cub, broke her humerus, rendering her unable to walk.
A large-animal orthopedic team from Texas A&M, a human orthopedic surgeon from University of Utah Hospital and a veterinary anesthesiologist from North Carolina State University performed surgery on Feb. 4.
Nora arrived at the zoo in the fall of 2017 to be paired with then 2-year-old polar bear Hope. Born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the bear then spent a year at Oregon Zoo before moving to Salt Lake City.