Zoo Weather: Rainy With a Chance of Polar Bear (VIDEO)

After a year of heartbreak in which the Oregon Zoo had to say goodbye to two elderly polar bears claimed by cancer, there's finally some good news.

Nora, the 1-year-old polar bear cub acquired from the Columbus Zoo, is expected to make her public debut this week. When exactly it will happen will be up to Nora.

The zoo says it has reopened the public viewing areas around the polar bear habitat. They had been closed to minimize distractions to Nora as she got used to her new home.

Nora will have access to the entire run of the habitat — including behind-the-scenes den areas — and she may choose to be out of view.

"Visitors might see more of her in the coming weeks, but that’s all up to Nora," said senior keeper Nicole Nicassio-Hiskey. "We understand how excited people are to see her, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding. Her welfare has always been the guiding principle for us."

Although there is no set schedule for when Nora might be out, she is typically most active before 11 a.m., according to keepers. As a young bear, she likes to take naps and go to bed early. Nicassio-Hiskey cautions that visitor viewing could close again if Nora needs additional quiet time. Updates will be posted as quickly as possible to the zoo’s website.

Caregivers were saddened last week by the death of the elderly polar bear Tasul, whom they hoped would befriend and mentor the 1-year-old Nora. The two polar bears met on several occasions, but they had yet to become comfortable together.

Tasul's twin brother, Conrad, died earlier this year.

"One of the reasons Nora came here was to meet another bear," said curator Amy Cutting, who oversees the zoo’s polar bear area. "It’s beneficial for a young bear that was hand-raised to have a mentor bear as soon as possible, so we’re in touch with the Species Survival Plan about what is best for Nora at this time."

Keepers at the Columbus Zoo made the difficult decision to hand rear Nora a little more than a year ago, when the cub’s mother began leaving her unattended in the den for prolonged periods of time. Nora weighed about 1 pound when her Ohio caregivers began raising her; she now weighs more than 200 pounds.

Until a companion for Nora is found, Cutting said, the Oregon Zoo is fully prepared to provide care for her with enrichment, positive-reinforcement training and opportunities to participate in conservation science.

Photos/video courtesy Oregon Zoo