Un-bearably touching: Watch these polar bear sisters meet for first time

By Brelaun Douglas via SWNS

These two polar bear sisters' first time meeting will melt your heart.

Amelia Gray, 5-year-old polar bear and newest Oregon Zoo resident, met her half-sister Nora for the first time last week.

In the video, the siblings can be seen romping around the zoo's Polar Passage, playfully sparring, chasing one another and splashing into their saltwater pool.

“Polar bear introductions can be very intense so we took it slowly at first,” said Amy Cutting, overseer of the zoo’s polar bear area.

“But they made it very clear they wanted to be together, and their care team listened.

“Now the two are having a great time playing and hanging out. We’ll continue to keep a close eye on their interactions, but things are off to a great start.”

Amelia Grey arrived in Oregon last month and had been getting familiar with Polar Passage on her own before the meet up.

The new area was designed to provide bears with their own space, as well as opportunities to socialize. It includes two large connecting habitats, each with a large saltwater pool, shelters and natural terrain.

“Polar bears are highly intelligent and playful with one another, but it’s important to have the option for ‘alone time,’ as well,” Amy said.

“Because of the way we designed this space, they can choose to spend time together or separate themselves.”

Polar bears are classified as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission has designated them as facing a high risk of global extinction.

Oregon Zoo works with on projects with Polar Bears International, the U.S. Geological Survey and others to shed new light on how climate change is affecting polar bears in the Arctic.

Amy said visitors will likely see more playful wrestling, swimming and diving from the furry sisters in the coming weeks.

She said : “They are getting on like a house on fire.”

“We could not be happier for both of them.”