A female polar bear club that was born at the Toronto Zoo on Remembrance Day has been given a name that carries plenty of military significance to go along with her birthday.
Officials at the zoo announced on Thursday that the three-and-a-half-month-old cub has been named Juno to commemorate the beach that Canadian troops landed on as part of World War II’s D-Day invasion. It was also announced that Juno will be given honourary induction into the armed forces and used as a mascot of sorts.
Incidentally, the Canadian Forces have used a polar bear as their mascot for the last number of years.
“We are proud and happy to adopt Juno into the army today and promote her immediately into the rank of private. I believe that Private Juno will have a long and successful career in the army and like all good soldiers I am sure she will work hard and advance in rank over the years,” Brigadier General David Patterson said. “Eventually she could be known as Sergeant Juno, Captain Juno or perhaps even one day General Juno.”
Juno was one of two polar bear cubs that was mother Aurora gave birth to on Nov. 11, though the other cub did not survive.
Today, Juno is a healthy 10 kilograms, according to zoo officials.
Zoo visitors will be able to view the cub for the first time on Saturday.
