Smiling polar bear cub debuts at western NY zoo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- A smiling, playful 3-month-old polar bear cub has made its public debut at the Buffalo Zoo in western New York.

The fluffy white cub was introduced Friday as the zoo announced the next phase of fundraising for a new $18 million polar bear exhibit. About $4 million is still needed.

The Buffalo Zoo says it's one of only two zoos in North America to have polar bear births in 2012.

The cub is still too small to exhibit but she's visible via closed-circuit television at the zoo on weekday afternoons.