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| Churchill was an iconic bear, larger than life |
We
have lost yet another iconic polar bear this year. Now we must say
goodbye to the gruff and grand Churchill, who ruled over Rostock Zoo
most of his life. He would have been 34 years old in another month.
Und
wieder haben wir eine Eisbärikone verloren,eine weitere in diesem
Jahr.Wir nehmen Abschied vom grummeligen,großartigen Churchill, der
die meiste Zeit seines Lebens im Zoo in Rostock verbracht hat. Ende
nächsten Monats wäre Churchill 34 Jahre alt geworden.
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| Churchill peeks out into his enclosure |
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| He liked his vegetables. Here is a carrot |
He
was born November 28, 1979 in Rostock, Germany. He lived in Kolmarden Sweden
and Gelsenkirchen for a couple of years, but was back home in Rostock
by 1982, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Geboren
wurde er am 28.November 1979 in Rostock. Danach verbrachte er viele
Jahre in Kolmarden, Schweden sowie in Gelsenkirchen in Deutschland.
1982 kam er dann zurück nach Rostock, wo er bis zu seinem Lebensende
blieb.
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| Churchill |
Churchill
was the father of Boris, the last remaining of the rescued Suarez
Bros. Circus bears, who lives in the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma
Washington.
Churchill
war der Vater von Boris; der letzte der noch überlebenden Eisbären
aus dem geretteten Suarez Bros.Circus in Mexico - und Boris lebt nun
in Tacoma, Washington im Point Defiance Zoo.
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| Churchill was a bear with many fierce expressions |
Churchill
was also the father, with mother Vienna, of Victoria (1996) now in
Aalborg Denmark, Viktor (1998) now in Rhennen, Vitus (2000) now in
Karlsruhe, Vilma (2002) who has lived in Nuremburg, Tiergarten,
Wuppertal Zoo, and now is back in Rostock; and the twins Venus and
Valeska (2004).
Churchill
war auch gemeinsam mit Vienna der Nachkomme von Victoria(1996) ,jetzt
Aalborg Zoo in Dänemark,Viktor (1998) jetzt in Rhenen, NL; Vitus
(2000) jetzt in Karlsruhe,Vilma (2002); die erst im Tiergarten
Nürnberg, danach dann im Zoo Wuppertal gelebt hat,nun wieder nach
Rostock zurück kommt. Außerdem gibt es noch die Zwillinseisbärinnen
Venus und Valeska (2004).
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| Churchill relaxes in his retirement home at Rostock |
He
is the grandfather of the famous Milak, daughter of Victoria, of the
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark, and also of Anori, daughter of Lars and
Vilma, of Zoo Wuppertal. Vilma has just this week returned to Rostock, and daughter Anori has a new playmate, cousin Luka.
Er
ist auch der Großvater von Milak, Victoria's Tochter aus dem Aalborg
Zoo in DK, ebenso von Anori, Tochter von Lars und Vilma aus dem Zoo
in Wuppertal.
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| Seven of Churchill's children are still living |
Through
his son Viktor, Churchill is the grandfather of Rocky, the triplets
with Huggies: Ewa, Jelle and Henk; Sprinter (2007) with Freedom;
Walker and the late and much missed little Swimmer (2008) with
Huggies; Sesi and Siku (now named Taiko) with Freedom in 2010; and
Luka and Lynn in 2011 with Huggies. Luka is now at Zoo Wuppertal with
his cousin Anori.
Durch
seinen Sohn Viktor ist Churchill der Großvater von Rocky, den
Drillingen von Huggies: Ewa, Jelle (jetzt Yelle) und Henk; Sprinter
(2007) mit Freedom; Walker und der leider gestorbene Swimmer (2008)
mit Huggies, Sesi und Siku (jetzt Taiko) mit Freedom in 2010; ebenso
Luka und Lynn mit Huggies. Luka ist nun im Zoo Wuppertal gemeinsam
mit seiner Cousine Anori.
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Churchill lived alone for the past few years.
Vienna and Lars live in the larger enclosure nearby. |
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Churchill in the sand pile of the Mother-Cub Enclosure.
Sometimes he would dig. Mostly he would nap. |
Churchill
is also grandfather to Ranzo in 2011, through his daughter Venus in
Ranua, Finland.
Churchill
ist auch Großvater von Ranzo im Jahr 2011, durch seine Tochter Venus
in Ranua, Finland.
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Vienna was injured by Churchill several years ago.
She still lives at Rostock Zoo, but away from Churchill. |
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Vienna is urged to stand and stretch the tendons
in her injured leg as therapy |
Churchill
spent many years with Vienna in Rostock, but a few years ago, he
became aggressive, and wounded Vienna terribly, biting her and taking
a chunk out of her back leg. Churchill was judged to have been too
rough to ever be with another bear, so he has spent his retirement
years in the Mother-Cub enclosure at Rostock, basking in the sun on
warm afternoons, and digging in the sand pit to make a soft bed.
Churchill
war schon einige Jahre zusammen mit Vienna in Rostock, aber dann
wurde er sehr aggressiv und verletzte Vienna sehr schwer er hat sie
gebissen und ein Teil ihres Hinterbeines rausgerissen.Man beschloss,
dass er nicht mehr mit anderen Bären gemeinsam verbringen kann,
somit verbrachte er seinen Lebensabend in der Mutter/Kind Anlage im
Zoo in Rostock, ließ sich in der Sonne aalen,in der Sandkuhle graben
um sich dort ein weiches Bett zu machen.
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| Boris in the Sand pin, getting ready to take a nap |
He
had a reputation to be gruff, but he had a bold personality, and many
fans. He leaves behind a generation of younger polar bears in
Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France and the U.S.A.
Er
hatte einen Ruf ruppig zu sein, aber er hatte einen kühnen
Persönlichkeit, und viele Fans. Er hinterlässt eine Generation von
jüngeren Eisbären in Deutschland, Schweden, Dänemark, Frankreich
und den USA.
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Churchill enjoying his afternoon nap on August 30, 2013,
the day of my visit to Rostock |
