Copenhagen Zoo is closing its Arctic Ring polar bear pool for two months due to a leak in the concrete foundation, reports the Danish online magazine Ingeniøren.

The popular arctic ring is closing just 18 months after its grand opening while an investigation will determine who will have to foot the bill for the damaged foundation.

Leaks in concrete

Steffen Strait, the zoo's executive director, contended that the problem was not unusual and that the zoo has been aware of the leak issue since the ring was finished in February 2013. 

The leaks were expected to be sealed during the concrete carbonisation process, but this didn't happen so an independent inspector will now assess the cause of the problem and who should pay for the repairs.

Polar bears' success
2013 was a record year for the zoo with 1.4 million visitors, a success which has been widely attributed to the Arctic Ring, which is expected to reopen in November.

Meanwhile, the female polar bear has been moved to the old pool, while the male is being sent on holiday to the Scandinavian wildlife park.

Extra improvements
The zoo will also use the two months hiatus to make other improvements to the Arctic Ring facility, including new interactive features and fixing the public toilets.  

The Arctic Ring was a gift from A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller's Foundation and cost 151 million kroner.