Hudson and Humphrey leaving Winnipeg zoo, heading back to Toronto

Hudson and Humphrey, two of the Assiniboine Park Zoo's beloved polar bears, are leaving Winnipeg and moving back to Toronto, where they were born.

Officials with the Winnipeg zoo announced on Friday that the bear brothers will move back to the Toronto Zoo on Oct. 11.

• Hudson the polar bear arrives in Winnipeg
• Humphreythe polar bear arrives atAssiniboinePark Zoo
• Winnipeg zoo's polar bears hang out together for 1st time

Hudson came to the Assiniboine Park Zoo from Toronto in January 2013, and he was one of the first polar bears to live at the zoo's Journey to Churchill exhibit.

He was also the first polar bear at the Winnipeg zoo sinceDebby,who was the world's oldest polar bear,died in 2008 at the age of 42.

During his tenure at the Assiniboine Park Zoo,Hudson greetedmany guests anddignitaries, including Prince Charles in May 2014.

"He is very special to us. He's the most famous bear in Winnipeg right now and he will be sorely missed at our facility," saidGaryLunsford, theAssiniboinePark Zoo's head of zoological operations.

Prince Charles meets, feeds Hudson the polar bear

10 years ago

Duration 2:16

Prince Charles got an up-close meeting and feeding with Hudson the polar bear at Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo.

Humphrey, Hudson'syounger sibling, was also born at the Toronto Zoo and arrived in Winnipeg in March 2015.

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Bothbearswere around 15 months old when they arrived in Winnipeg.Hudson will celebrate his fifth birthdayon Oct. 11 the same day the bears leave the city while Humphrey will turn three on Nov. 9.

Humphrey the polar bear makes a helicopter-like sound

9 years ago

Duration 0:29

Humphrey, a young polar bear at Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo, makes a helicopter-like sound from inside his enclosure at the Journey to Churchill exhibit. Handlers say he makes the sound to soothe himself.

"We are very grateful to have had Hudson and Humphrey here in Winnipeg for the last few years and to have given them the opportunity to become socialized with our other polar bears," saidLunsford in a news release.

"While they will certainly be missed by our staff and visitors, we know that Toronto Zoo is very excited for their return."

The Assiniboine Park Zoo will have 10 days of farewell festivities for Humphrey and Hudson starting Saturday.

Zoo officials say the pair'sdeparture will create more roomto houserescued polar bears from northern Manitoba.

Karl Enns was at the zoo today with his kids to see the bears. He was surprised to hear the news.

"It's a little bit sad of course to lose them, but it's important to share with other parts of Canada and maybe other parts of the world," said Enns.

"[Hudsonwas]kind ofthe face of the zoo for a long time,so there's definitely going to be a spot that will be tough to fill," he said.

The zoo is still home toseven bears,all from the province's north:Storm, Aurora, Kaska, Blizzard and Star are at the Journey to Churchill exhibit, while cubsEli and Yorkare currently living intheLeatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre, also located on the zoo grounds.