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Local Expert Spreads Important Message On International Polar Bear Day

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - International Polar Bear Day is a day to think about, of course, polar bears, but also how you can help save them.

The two polar bears at the Philadelphia Zoo are named "Klondike" and "Coldilocks" -- both female and 34 years old. They were enjoying the cold weather Thursday by rolling around in the snow.

"These girls behind us are ambassadors," says Polar Bear keeper and expert Candice Robinson. "They are educating people about conservation and saving wildlife, especially saving the polar bears."

polar bear coldilocks
"Coldilocks" resting at the Philadelphia Zoo. (Credit: John McDevitt)

Robinson says the polar bear in the wild lives to be about 18 years old. She says their numbers are threatened because of the climate change -- melting sea ice is affecting their habitats:

"Anything you can do to conserve energy here, even if it's a small amount, actually helps with the gas emission in the air and all of that pollution is actually melting that sea ice in the aortic circle"

This weekend at the children's KidZooU, visitors will be able to decorate light switch plates that they can take home, reminding them that saving energy (like turning off lights when leaving a room) saves wildlife, like the polar bear.

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