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An Ontario wildlife refuge held a “sweet 16” birthday party for one of its polar bears, complete with an oversized driver’s license.
The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat said Ganuk’s 16th birthday party, held this month, featured a large toy car stuffed with tropical fruit, a pumpkin-based birthday cake and wrapped gift boxes loaded with snacks.
“The sweet 16 just worked,” habitat manager Amy Baxendell-Young told Timmons Today. “The car was actually something I picked up at a local thrift store quite a while ago, with this birthday in mind. And because when you turn 16, you get a car — at least when you’re wealthy — we decided to spoil him.”
Refuge staff created an oversized Ontario driver’s license for Ganuk, which he promptly shredded and turned into a comfy napping spot.
Baxendell-Young said 16 is a big birthday for a polar bear.
“In the wild, especially for males, that would be getting toward the end of life,” Baxendell-Young said. “But in human care, with consistent food and veterinary support, it’s common for them to live into their early to mid-20s. He’s fully grown, a mature male, and we still expect to celebrate many more birthdays with him.”
