Meet Cranbeary: Alaska Zoo hosts female polar bear from Denver on a matchmaking trip

Cranbeary's trip to the Alaska Zoo isn't the first away from home for the polar bear from Denver. Born at the Denver Zoo, Cranbeary, now 16 years old, spent about four years at the Memphis Zoo before returning to the Denver Zoo in 2010.

As part of the zoo and aquarium captive breeding program, Cranbeary will be introduced to Louie, the Alaska Zoo's male polar bear. In January, unless she is already pregnant by a Denver polar bear, she will be made viewable to the public at the Alaska Zoo.

Beth Foglesong, the Alaska Zoo's zookeeper, said, "We are super excited to have her here."

"She is adapting pretty well," said Meryt Schumacher, the Denver Zoo's marine mammal specialist.

Cranbeary has been exploring her outdoor space, and her bright white coat is now covered with Alaska dirt. Schumacher said Cranbeary likes to play with trash cans and loves romaine lettuce. It is not yet known how long her stay in Alaska will last.