tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52318858796123487282024-03-16T11:51:43.326-07:00My Polar Bear Friends and Friends of Polar BearsMolly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.comBlogger277125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-73929971645945548082024-02-16T10:30:00.000-08:002024-02-16T10:34:47.339-08:00A boyfriend for Qannik<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD9lv8kt-dBSgso5NDJAH60SBmGO0uNaAlhop6xpAAzOfWFG97rEE5msuUH8jeuK6vvGyfI_-K8UTjsQ0FyXSMnJTbZFBuMPfhcnQKyy00PSLwC-1tbqgGx59yj9jTm42-EOncHfkAF6-AELjosYixNHW_hOR1whdBRDh6xx6wOq6HJ25FyhYMI4bSW4/s3060/qannik%20ice%20walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="2136" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD9lv8kt-dBSgso5NDJAH60SBmGO0uNaAlhop6xpAAzOfWFG97rEE5msuUH8jeuK6vvGyfI_-K8UTjsQ0FyXSMnJTbZFBuMPfhcnQKyy00PSLwC-1tbqgGx59yj9jTm42-EOncHfkAF6-AELjosYixNHW_hOR1whdBRDh6xx6wOq6HJ25FyhYMI4bSW4/w446-h640/qannik%20ice%20walk.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> The lovely bachelorette Qannik</span></b></p><p></p><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Wildborn Qannik is 13 years old now, and about to get her first boyfriend.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrNENqD-oMdOifqh2jSOs3hJyz3DkfXceS3dEgqYCuezr0lJHEJmdTrXhwHoYOFuiS51aj4ShEklntAruXEy4VqE08IH6aT800L7APZDFksl5MwtW4-ObclWRj9Bckn8actktV63_-gT8jz8pps-ReU8aSixaw8RDDqPgGBalN7sFctcEYKVIbcWVcWE/s5184/bo%20pipe%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrNENqD-oMdOifqh2jSOs3hJyz3DkfXceS3dEgqYCuezr0lJHEJmdTrXhwHoYOFuiS51aj4ShEklntAruXEy4VqE08IH6aT800L7APZDFksl5MwtW4-ObclWRj9Bckn8actktV63_-gT8jz8pps-ReU8aSixaw8RDDqPgGBalN7sFctcEYKVIbcWVcWE/w640-h426/bo%20pipe%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Bo playing with a pipe feeder in Henry Vilas</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Borealis, or Bo for short, made the trip from Henry Vilas Zoo in Wisconsin to Glacier Run in Louisville a few weeks ago, and is now out of quarantine, the zoo has announced. Bo has been exploring the outdoor habitat and maybe in a few weeks, he will spend some time with Qannik. </span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-CncfN9fkFVB1eeLo_WO25MeqrqV0584FHX67JyMnUnBtIIM3RDAuBp_8QKWVagH3Mauc8VoiNJPD7GrhjbUmvOKiWUz49fW7p1_lANn8WBFii6dnnJG3E1K3zKbyPuGAf58dFzNE6gtWa0BBR3rP3kB-B75u1qOa2jX9RXtOnsqubR40t0mrcPO-6g/s6000/qannik%20face.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-CncfN9fkFVB1eeLo_WO25MeqrqV0584FHX67JyMnUnBtIIM3RDAuBp_8QKWVagH3Mauc8VoiNJPD7GrhjbUmvOKiWUz49fW7p1_lANn8WBFii6dnnJG3E1K3zKbyPuGAf58dFzNE6gtWa0BBR3rP3kB-B75u1qOa2jX9RXtOnsqubR40t0mrcPO-6g/w640-h426/qannik%20face.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik of Glacier Run</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Qannik has never shared space with another bear, but she is quite familiar with having male bears as close neighbors. Bo's brother Siku used to live in Glacier Run, and he would watch Qannik across the way in the other enclosure. But since Qannik is property of Fish and Wildlife, she was not allowed to be part of the breeding program until just a few months ago. Lately, she has been enjoying the companionship of a wild Night Heron, who has adopted the bear habitat as its home. It will be interesting to see how Bo reacts to the bird.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m_t5mcEP2ATL7DZO-2vtj8kPMm8nIAdXj4npkcsbuMCli9uKttZHfeloCn0oSEst-byibcxiaQhaYKqyfAQiXOv9CmjdRlJJTlu96x5kfWhBh6ps5Lynz-HPDxcRCVf2GjCuI4Dq6neFY8rL7EHd1K7Hq-wMP_IGTeMiK21cs2dhhTQk_H3cAOj4Cog/s3325/qannik%20watches%20herron.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2815" data-original-width="3325" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m_t5mcEP2ATL7DZO-2vtj8kPMm8nIAdXj4npkcsbuMCli9uKttZHfeloCn0oSEst-byibcxiaQhaYKqyfAQiXOv9CmjdRlJJTlu96x5kfWhBh6ps5Lynz-HPDxcRCVf2GjCuI4Dq6neFY8rL7EHd1K7Hq-wMP_IGTeMiK21cs2dhhTQk_H3cAOj4Cog/w640-h542/qannik%20watches%20herron.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik and her "pet" Night Heron.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTT9aDoykStrri8KsnDZxLvEH_ZNRKBk9wQbTlt_Si8Nn7pPiQjimbNywpZMakTBrQecIgNavFKNN-AWcsjz82NU9kBdhYhmG4e5rt6pqnt1F_rnsFd0whpFF2opt5nOX770kkkyppRVvaUcjfiFfxyFgGSvYCCIDmR3ovqnooHx_GD2Qyg6Y2E-2qak/s3440/qannik%20bone%20smile.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3225" data-original-width="3440" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTT9aDoykStrri8KsnDZxLvEH_ZNRKBk9wQbTlt_Si8Nn7pPiQjimbNywpZMakTBrQecIgNavFKNN-AWcsjz82NU9kBdhYhmG4e5rt6pqnt1F_rnsFd0whpFF2opt5nOX770kkkyppRVvaUcjfiFfxyFgGSvYCCIDmR3ovqnooHx_GD2Qyg6Y2E-2qak/w640-h600/qannik%20bone%20smile.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik, here with a big smile, loves the water. Bo does too.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Qannik also is familiar with Lee, who lived at Glacier Run for some time, but is now back in Columbus with Bo's much older sister Aurora. Each of the male bears in Glacier Run was close by in a downstairs bedroom area, so Qannik would see them and smell them and even growl at them. But to have no bars in between, that will be something new for our girl.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2K_GqjbDpnaq_Lx5h9jHW1pnN6yuSVSSIU_u7KUlwAtw4TcNWe1AOdvRo1b6WxMU0YfpqUr9qHY9cl9Bah1Tdjg0BjhcCwJBQqHuU0CxGo-weVriAXJDkS3OcV0b7l8V9LU3WMKdW2lvhL7R9xnzmnp1-s2bgpuzrMVht8eoGgQ5JOodFb6KRqIbOrw/s4374/bo%20chew%20paw%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4374" data-original-width="3108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2K_GqjbDpnaq_Lx5h9jHW1pnN6yuSVSSIU_u7KUlwAtw4TcNWe1AOdvRo1b6WxMU0YfpqUr9qHY9cl9Bah1Tdjg0BjhcCwJBQqHuU0CxGo-weVriAXJDkS3OcV0b7l8V9LU3WMKdW2lvhL7R9xnzmnp1-s2bgpuzrMVht8eoGgQ5JOodFb6KRqIbOrw/w454-h640/bo%20chew%20paw%202.jpg" width="454" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Bo was very interactive with people<br /> when he lived in Toledo with his mom Crystal</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Qannik was raised by keepers after her rescue from the oilfields of Alaska, first in the Alaska Zoo, and then after she was flown to Louisville in late June of 2011.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExOMPfaKztfZoP-oggJj1N1blDUFc6JX8eqlyTC_TBGTp7C8HNxXQzaRMXz8S8h7gXZl1DZfqz6nSnD02wYRb2Lsx5FfvqPL0GYG3IYxRU6pEM_4fWHzGqot6VpAhPDxt8Vy0MEdDZAamSLuFeyu5FOO4x4MkauEHobJXuWxDmayeFyFwpyJi5NoKd7I/s4345/bo%20blue%20cube.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3350" data-original-width="4345" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExOMPfaKztfZoP-oggJj1N1blDUFc6JX8eqlyTC_TBGTp7C8HNxXQzaRMXz8S8h7gXZl1DZfqz6nSnD02wYRb2Lsx5FfvqPL0GYG3IYxRU6pEM_4fWHzGqot6VpAhPDxt8Vy0MEdDZAamSLuFeyu5FOO4x4MkauEHobJXuWxDmayeFyFwpyJi5NoKd7I/w640-h494/bo%20blue%20cube.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Bo loves toys. Here is is in Toledo as a baby.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bo is the five year old son of Crystal and the late Marty, so he is closely related to most of the younger bears in the USA zoos. Qannik, being rescued from the wilds of Alaska as a tiny cub, has valuable genes. </span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6S-Xm1oXHJVZtzV5diGUbC0BtmiZ4F3LHc52wwGf-JenOPSNt6kCX7gmQfleW6yUJnbtjxUPWx1DvxcF-V1W29phTj37hK0T1CnbjrXXkhTngpxPfrBCIP2IJikvIkhXsnNAY5zjs2jJLkmZmjvq7m-4iyX97Yv2LaR1IkQlBTyxFvPxgX7KvCEr_vU/s3075/bo%20red%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3075" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6S-Xm1oXHJVZtzV5diGUbC0BtmiZ4F3LHc52wwGf-JenOPSNt6kCX7gmQfleW6yUJnbtjxUPWx1DvxcF-V1W29phTj37hK0T1CnbjrXXkhTngpxPfrBCIP2IJikvIkhXsnNAY5zjs2jJLkmZmjvq7m-4iyX97Yv2LaR1IkQlBTyxFvPxgX7KvCEr_vU/w624-h640/bo%20red%20ball.jpg" width="624" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Baby Bo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4dgsXMqjBA2XC3sWdutxk7un90TB02JQVTF06HQdz_t273MWmGHK6CFvbAdQUO1o-F2ESp-ViKX9H9_u7eTzsDn6Fg7-0LZGvN7XBFOxd2KVbygs0DQvbAZAGNgw1x6AZxkFg8qv8sp3LxxeFLzkXu93Ef6M3ipAMFAqa4hM4tbxJsCMyApLcLYBIJc/s5184/bo%20berit%20love%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4dgsXMqjBA2XC3sWdutxk7un90TB02JQVTF06HQdz_t273MWmGHK6CFvbAdQUO1o-F2ESp-ViKX9H9_u7eTzsDn6Fg7-0LZGvN7XBFOxd2KVbygs0DQvbAZAGNgw1x6AZxkFg8qv8sp3LxxeFLzkXu93Ef6M3ipAMFAqa4hM4tbxJsCMyApLcLYBIJc/w640-h426/bo%20berit%20love%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Berit, on right, showed Bo the proper way to court a lady.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bo has been living with older lady bear Berit for three years in Henry Vilas Zoo, so she has taught him how to get along with a female roommate. Bo is young, so will probably not be dominant with Qannik, who is used to being a diva.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjf4nKzi4vIce1wXK9DLt_UY68bRQrX422OpR1Yja7rVYo7vq8h6MBPhNzjGR0tompMW9cMnSkM6Js9t2mBvFwA58KdzX5af7PhdocBAnLE6Un3hjpE9V3CH2iRZVFphWLyCnibCwLqSxfNEqflbTsd0vyA8jTl2GYKk3GmPzxAnAoaERSENuLsKItp28/s1527/qannikcradle3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1527" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjf4nKzi4vIce1wXK9DLt_UY68bRQrX422OpR1Yja7rVYo7vq8h6MBPhNzjGR0tompMW9cMnSkM6Js9t2mBvFwA58KdzX5af7PhdocBAnLE6Un3hjpE9V3CH2iRZVFphWLyCnibCwLqSxfNEqflbTsd0vyA8jTl2GYKk3GmPzxAnAoaERSENuLsKItp28/w640-h472/qannikcradle3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Qannik in her rocker toy, not long after she arrived in Louisville.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyfYjaS-UpI9TN-RPUdiE0bAcVqNST1AsMRJdfZLvGdYidQUl4UN2Nb0IJd3pHl4LcGImWKFEoGgXNxXX3CUC3Qpc54gN3-JsLp7ISRe_7UQZI14L7NyAnEVFH_fv2UbX2cEEVC6mkFO7RT6JOl4LS1sepA4SqcYJlnoeXRhJLNA2K2pWtrFH5-x7yWc/s1918/Qannikegg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1580" data-original-width="1918" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyfYjaS-UpI9TN-RPUdiE0bAcVqNST1AsMRJdfZLvGdYidQUl4UN2Nb0IJd3pHl4LcGImWKFEoGgXNxXX3CUC3Qpc54gN3-JsLp7ISRe_7UQZI14L7NyAnEVFH_fv2UbX2cEEVC6mkFO7RT6JOl4LS1sepA4SqcYJlnoeXRhJLNA2K2pWtrFH5-x7yWc/w640-h528/Qannikegg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Baby Qannik with a crazy egg.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">They do have some things in common. Bo always loved to swim in the pool at Henry Vilas, and Qannik is quite the water baby too. She really enjoys her underwater adventures in the deep dive pool at Glacier Run. So maybe they will have some fun together in the water. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYjNaAf2ZhhaSBZaOpIyRLxNk6m38qLDIL16P3Uf4jnE6xQFBamrsnvTZ7mDer75_tcjU7h4CHAwG23B4YbSUO05hQeX4Vo0HIyW7-xQQIZXxFyj6J1wr7C8eWnnp3DeIH8owf49jxfTG0Wiyq92pNDpOxxnLoBz-pAQmaV-NIuYrxihT4MjXlQ29Hs8/s5184/qannik%20pickle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYjNaAf2ZhhaSBZaOpIyRLxNk6m38qLDIL16P3Uf4jnE6xQFBamrsnvTZ7mDer75_tcjU7h4CHAwG23B4YbSUO05hQeX4Vo0HIyW7-xQQIZXxFyj6J1wr7C8eWnnp3DeIH8owf49jxfTG0Wiyq92pNDpOxxnLoBz-pAQmaV-NIuYrxihT4MjXlQ29Hs8/w640-h426/qannik%20pickle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik and one of her pickles. She has gone through quite a few.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The two potential sweethearts also like their toys. Qannik will have to learn to share her giant pickle. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FLsC7PHPhFljTE4OlCC-euO6ypqpARMy2oI7fxI0w6Ptk5r7W5sN0JcNVbUHNHpPfNnL0USDqA3MFKPNbQiBjY7HhQUGboVvhSZFerR223_31xOEFH6j3rgXy6hC5l2-DDPZI5UenbuJipJ048s9PqkKayL6J3zp7pO5-hiW35hFiKoLmE5Q8MuNFiY/s3290/qannik%20ball%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="3290" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FLsC7PHPhFljTE4OlCC-euO6ypqpARMy2oI7fxI0w6Ptk5r7W5sN0JcNVbUHNHpPfNnL0USDqA3MFKPNbQiBjY7HhQUGboVvhSZFerR223_31xOEFH6j3rgXy6hC5l2-DDPZI5UenbuJipJ048s9PqkKayL6J3zp7pO5-hiW35hFiKoLmE5Q8MuNFiY/w640-h560/qannik%20ball%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik at her 13th birthday.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So now Louisville is about to get its own version of "The Bachelor." Here's hoping it is love at first sight for our two polar bear sweethearts.</span></p><p><br /></p><br />Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-38875430982340372024-01-24T10:49:00.000-08:002024-01-25T09:53:41.189-08:00A new "Era" for Qannik<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9JPnlo5c4QCym4R1XmSO-c8K28a59Lkm5c-BZXaRqg3pORPesFyM_FZbVEo3vHSAYxZnOMukXCw3g-kH03hBg0mgWJTNIgbX-1rkqA8wRCCuWwfQASAzqkQ5fQlJbGsWtKNpb3WHGIrcRP-lOkV-_8RpeLFrGFtnDTgQNVTGHar1CICrSsgspf_pJfI/s3312/qannik%20look%20at%20me.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3312" data-original-width="2886" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9JPnlo5c4QCym4R1XmSO-c8K28a59Lkm5c-BZXaRqg3pORPesFyM_FZbVEo3vHSAYxZnOMukXCw3g-kH03hBg0mgWJTNIgbX-1rkqA8wRCCuWwfQASAzqkQ5fQlJbGsWtKNpb3WHGIrcRP-lOkV-_8RpeLFrGFtnDTgQNVTGHar1CICrSsgspf_pJfI/w558-h640/qannik%20look%20at%20me.jpg" width="558" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik at her birthday party in 2023</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's time to celebrate Qannik's birthday with a party, and also to look ahead to what her future might hold. This year the party had a Taylor Swift theme with an environmental twist.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSNzsWqvcAHkeRwbwH4ZFnGWbF72dkVQa90_PXGg0WqNntsb7GTcEX75wGCbokSZ4lhDxhCT4BHemra55LOBCndbarZ0YiAUW6QFEm3TAKWRIMR9kXXG3yN9s4umdY-6Zkrvt6EdRJBODD8qx7dYyrQeYoI3YEgyqiDOstHdkkvIAdmq5vpcnHBtBTzk/s4350/qannik%20blocks%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2840" data-original-width="4350" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSNzsWqvcAHkeRwbwH4ZFnGWbF72dkVQa90_PXGg0WqNntsb7GTcEX75wGCbokSZ4lhDxhCT4BHemra55LOBCndbarZ0YiAUW6QFEm3TAKWRIMR9kXXG3yN9s4umdY-6Zkrvt6EdRJBODD8qx7dYyrQeYoI3YEgyqiDOstHdkkvIAdmq5vpcnHBtBTzk/w640-h418/qannik%20blocks%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The keepers setting up the party on January 20, 2024. <br />Qannik was gifted a new giant pickle by a fan.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This past Saturday, Louisville Zoo celebrated Qannik's 13th birthday with a Swifty theme, on a sunny but bitterly cold day. Perfect for a polar bear.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKXbQiLoVgaVpeNRP-zK1UI1abaZZmnYPNRfoiE2A9fhwO5Crj4zhDto5JOxEWumZ37d6ihnWaiX8BMbyC0m-QFxPcrc9du3BC_ab_RfVgPx-I3Q52UgHBsxy-Qw4ieKWY0h-yKllsCWACQ2Sd3hz2b3OQDH3yx6GS-TelylIyVNx8gJh3gniossRnKk/s3290/qannik%20ball%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="3290" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKXbQiLoVgaVpeNRP-zK1UI1abaZZmnYPNRfoiE2A9fhwO5Crj4zhDto5JOxEWumZ37d6ihnWaiX8BMbyC0m-QFxPcrc9du3BC_ab_RfVgPx-I3Q52UgHBsxy-Qw4ieKWY0h-yKllsCWACQ2Sd3hz2b3OQDH3yx6GS-TelylIyVNx8gJh3gniossRnKk/w640-h560/qannik%20ball%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A new ball, a t-shirt slogan, and an icy treat for Qannik.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Qannik got a new red ball and a new giant pickle, plus lots of her favorite pumpkin chunks. The specially designed posters were affixed to blocks with yummy peanut butter, and Qannik had fun ripping off the posters and licking the peanut butter.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRopTRMOss0Alp4Y8azm6UWM4I0w2c-DO0R0oYIaVj2TLbfwZqFCAPOf8jAze9fMPeLPoS9aPy7ygINlqcO_P-JC2pRn13r-s9VEw5dnEeR6FI1DU663QQSFwsAYcwE6aTdIDeZAl8h94Yg81P0NkT8xQTCN5GK0e6oINgVg__ExsP0KwnIEQl86nzjU/s4275/qannik%20entrance.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2310" data-original-width="4275" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRopTRMOss0Alp4Y8azm6UWM4I0w2c-DO0R0oYIaVj2TLbfwZqFCAPOf8jAze9fMPeLPoS9aPy7ygINlqcO_P-JC2pRn13r-s9VEw5dnEeR6FI1DU663QQSFwsAYcwE6aTdIDeZAl8h94Yg81P0NkT8xQTCN5GK0e6oINgVg__ExsP0KwnIEQl86nzjU/w640-h346/qannik%20entrance.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik comes down the ramp to the "stage"<br /> which was set with song lyrics and Swifty sayings.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVneeThcO_CzYXrCy2MigvkZg5j5E7SxBOD_v_kTY7yBJp981fBt2xcOIW9PXFaREYnQhvXbAsxJHv-5Fbfbxdu9HegeYRt2MR4VIrfI8WPFPtUTWeogJLbFa4UFgcvi8TUeZro8IQ_ozwEfYEqlIY8bY5hw9UyTQkqonM6FN02AdFwAwqifqTtRDJmAY/s3365/qannik%20dance%20step.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3220" data-original-width="3365" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVneeThcO_CzYXrCy2MigvkZg5j5E7SxBOD_v_kTY7yBJp981fBt2xcOIW9PXFaREYnQhvXbAsxJHv-5Fbfbxdu9HegeYRt2MR4VIrfI8WPFPtUTWeogJLbFa4UFgcvi8TUeZro8IQ_ozwEfYEqlIY8bY5hw9UyTQkqonM6FN02AdFwAwqifqTtRDJmAY/w640-h612/qannik%20dance%20step.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik performs some clever dance steps for her fans.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The zoo decided that because Qannik was entering her teen years, a Taylor Swift theme would be appropriate. The keepers had fun putting together the song lyrics and Swifty sayings that decorated the "stage."</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpSIBBI_MFV04C7fzaskxMFZbOeNMQNMrk_PEikDYs6VT0kPDvWyIBD2FqXsY87MYa-B56yuVdexBjvdTaak08yzv2szJMLSGS3dncs8OZlwtS-i2r7ckofC3bVXUw4mgdnxFmlm3BIMUlZND1P9plOTNd3ObkYJ1cDSnF6iB__XEDngkH79LiBfnRQc/s3954/qannik%20and%20ERAS%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1878" data-original-width="3954" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpSIBBI_MFV04C7fzaskxMFZbOeNMQNMrk_PEikDYs6VT0kPDvWyIBD2FqXsY87MYa-B56yuVdexBjvdTaak08yzv2szJMLSGS3dncs8OZlwtS-i2r7ckofC3bVXUw4mgdnxFmlm3BIMUlZND1P9plOTNd3ObkYJ1cDSnF6iB__XEDngkH79LiBfnRQc/w640-h304/qannik%20and%20ERAS%20poster.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik inspects the Conservation ERA poster, featuring her photos.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TLPpSDY5vFdbgs8Uc_2lRFE_PQdjBXkkWbUwWj5AmDMAzE89dsLTBb6dxgK-ZU0u5KBkYAeMiY1n_Et449oa3j-OiXqFlO4ZK9uKbHL7jRgqgbHHQfDKGtTxQVh5jWUlG_6ianX2AVLbLy8DTZaFopLvuzrTppmG2GrOBZjsQ7ofi7tJJPamuK3Cx34/s2316/qannik%20poster%20turn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="2226" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TLPpSDY5vFdbgs8Uc_2lRFE_PQdjBXkkWbUwWj5AmDMAzE89dsLTBb6dxgK-ZU0u5KBkYAeMiY1n_Et449oa3j-OiXqFlO4ZK9uKbHL7jRgqgbHHQfDKGtTxQVh5jWUlG_6ianX2AVLbLy8DTZaFopLvuzrTppmG2GrOBZjsQ7ofi7tJJPamuK3Cx34/w616-h640/qannik%20poster%20turn.jpg" width="616" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik in front of her ERAS poster.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJxl7p55VIfjaanBAu8s75qNUuwhovfjgLq49KIwfL6Om01xhKNUFZv9iQ7Nc_61MToQbVe2xDw7VgK0W27Jg3pu_Idrm0fXEdsReNrqWRSQCe9S0O0TQEXCF3d-VzKTmQq8KOwE2e-nIlYHt5uTelFy8TF8ALmRmSvmBNOkdEfWDpisgilkTgCO941E/s4932/Conservation%20Era%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="4932" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJxl7p55VIfjaanBAu8s75qNUuwhovfjgLq49KIwfL6Om01xhKNUFZv9iQ7Nc_61MToQbVe2xDw7VgK0W27Jg3pu_Idrm0fXEdsReNrqWRSQCe9S0O0TQEXCF3d-VzKTmQq8KOwE2e-nIlYHt5uTelFy8TF8ALmRmSvmBNOkdEfWDpisgilkTgCO941E/w640-h490/Conservation%20Era%20poster.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik's version of the ERAS poster</span><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilptwvAVn3S_iqbeAN90Yh0sdQDehzvzEAR0mDGaIS8swxSklNl3tVNmLC1w1EFWfgfxuB-DytHK435PpMMCnhESfY0syM-wIUj4nAajYZyEPZ-eNJyZwvP61X9uMDm_5wSYy-FfBcXw6MIHSv8_hmHP8RhFbf_8nIoZ-g6504NZ_GYxpzBLu_cqhWSyY/s6000/qannik%20cruel%20summer%20block.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilptwvAVn3S_iqbeAN90Yh0sdQDehzvzEAR0mDGaIS8swxSklNl3tVNmLC1w1EFWfgfxuB-DytHK435PpMMCnhESfY0syM-wIUj4nAajYZyEPZ-eNJyZwvP61X9uMDm_5wSYy-FfBcXw6MIHSv8_hmHP8RhFbf_8nIoZ-g6504NZ_GYxpzBLu_cqhWSyY/w640-h426/qannik%20cruel%20summer%20block.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> <b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Promoting Conservation the Qannik way. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> "Cruel Summer" is a Taylor Swift song.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU6soPMOOjzj2_FTejNoIXuzq6e8jEdfG95RMllDW4Vcrd4mkixPKaiWmMGZ5AIF7s0GxXwRP9UmdcNiQszM6V_hB2zFi2to76fF-4Vc9lBqn1w4Q7RNChZGfItsjT2E06G9opP5d9CmYhyvYLL7WM8CgO6DV6oN-MsUpyL0eS5cx9j0Ged0cf_VPS8E/s3396/qannik%20lick%20poster%20red.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3054" data-original-width="3396" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU6soPMOOjzj2_FTejNoIXuzq6e8jEdfG95RMllDW4Vcrd4mkixPKaiWmMGZ5AIF7s0GxXwRP9UmdcNiQszM6V_hB2zFi2to76fF-4Vc9lBqn1w4Q7RNChZGfItsjT2E06G9opP5d9CmYhyvYLL7WM8CgO6DV6oN-MsUpyL0eS5cx9j0Ged0cf_VPS8E/w640-h576/qannik%20lick%20poster%20red.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b> Delicious poster for Qannik's RED album.</b></span></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWiZlD_d9J6Zq0eG6dGOgqux2gWQsHfK3EsRci8ex8BTnpFGy9vdH86SK4ThTAkrG95v04xrwMXUmk2lV9p6vnmmkh9Kd6OX3W0ROJ2m6ANqVdalGcdZd4dQzBaTr7FOUBE15M3aguyNvEYrWL_R8aP3FA-ccLa47NvQFVBrtOESvPd_Bjt9lW6IsBLI/s5925/qannik%20stand%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3010" data-original-width="5925" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWiZlD_d9J6Zq0eG6dGOgqux2gWQsHfK3EsRci8ex8BTnpFGy9vdH86SK4ThTAkrG95v04xrwMXUmk2lV9p6vnmmkh9Kd6OX3W0ROJ2m6ANqVdalGcdZd4dQzBaTr7FOUBE15M3aguyNvEYrWL_R8aP3FA-ccLa47NvQFVBrtOESvPd_Bjt9lW6IsBLI/w640-h326/qannik%20stand%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Qannik shows off how tall she is.</span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPoAcxibxATNe4AhwEPxD5umlsv2vttIBVBYZY_T6h2NMhq9xivPGYYJ4cANjPnZvmklnH_d4u5tqhLbew6qImSDL5IqC5xkAAYbIQxL5CZFjdTiNXrH3woIqnrvF07CdnMxXkleiQdfNm7f0I78bsP6RdOiqFJ-SMv63_knOz4R9PFMuvXpzWdFUfuE/s6000/qannik%20photos%20of%20qannik.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPoAcxibxATNe4AhwEPxD5umlsv2vttIBVBYZY_T6h2NMhq9xivPGYYJ4cANjPnZvmklnH_d4u5tqhLbew6qImSDL5IqC5xkAAYbIQxL5CZFjdTiNXrH3woIqnrvF07CdnMxXkleiQdfNm7f0I78bsP6RdOiqFJ-SMv63_knOz4R9PFMuvXpzWdFUfuE/w640-h426/qannik%20photos%20of%20qannik.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So many pretty bear pictures on the poster.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLag2R1LK8-daWyB9fGseixv8TUCVRk5FSCLVnFEupzLPdObHh4agCpQOTIZTjN4umaJtMKaKCjv_QQYWtJ11evq5wku-HfIG3W4pfjRm6mSJzaNa69XJd4D3Mx0EDgh9oOkdQv3F7BFRaU658wKYEnH86PL5vIJgBDog4F430agNDqxGKbsqcNCvuGgA/s4100/qannik%20friend%20herron.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3635" data-original-width="4100" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLag2R1LK8-daWyB9fGseixv8TUCVRk5FSCLVnFEupzLPdObHh4agCpQOTIZTjN4umaJtMKaKCjv_QQYWtJ11evq5wku-HfIG3W4pfjRm6mSJzaNa69XJd4D3Mx0EDgh9oOkdQv3F7BFRaU658wKYEnH86PL5vIJgBDog4F430agNDqxGKbsqcNCvuGgA/w640-h568/qannik%20friend%20herron.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik's special guest at her party was the Night Heron,<br /> a native bird to Kentucky who has made Glacier Run his home for the past year. Qannik doesn't seem to mind.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Click on this link below to see my story and photos in Knuti's Magazine featuring more pics of the Night Heron with Qannik:</i></span></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://knutismagazine.com/?p=10562"><span style="font-size: large;"> Knuti's Magazine story on Qannik</span></a><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The number of polar bears in US zoos has been in decline for several decades. While there were once 300 or so polar bears in US zoos, the number is now down to below 40. All the younger bears are closely related, which makes pairing them off more difficult. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A poorly thought through federal law passed in 2008 banned the import of polar bears from other countries. Whereas we used to trade polar bears to Europe and even Japan, and brought in bears as well, that was stopped. Crystal, our most prolific mother and grandmother, was born in Belgium, and without her, there would be no young ones here in the US. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv9pJU_e5WtA8Pz2lWkn7SK7uV-jNg2yZqoQOny3z4p-S2x1OTeeMk52vmflUBn_gJ6xUZh_xdpeVXj3svp7vA7WR32RrzSfTxZWQouKWRC8IikcH2gUX8Xweo2cxBNyOGqYBsca6jKJsbICEIU6qqiiohahFDA439Dp_HT9mj5ZpPajQ_r8ED2-nxtQ/s4110/kallik%20crystal%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4110" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv9pJU_e5WtA8Pz2lWkn7SK7uV-jNg2yZqoQOny3z4p-S2x1OTeeMk52vmflUBn_gJ6xUZh_xdpeVXj3svp7vA7WR32RrzSfTxZWQouKWRC8IikcH2gUX8Xweo2cxBNyOGqYBsca6jKJsbICEIU6qqiiohahFDA439Dp_HT9mj5ZpPajQ_r8ED2-nxtQ/w640-h476/kallik%20crystal%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal of the Toledo Zoo, with one of her current twins.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To complicate matters, rescued polar bear cubs from Alaska had been deemed to be the property of Fish and Wildlife and under their jurisdiction. For many years, these bears, even though they were born in the US, could not be part of the breeding program. That is changing, and thus Qannik can be matched with a male polar bear now.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">t isn't just Qannik who has been affected. A young female polar bear named Zara was rescued last year and now lives at the Alaska Zoo. She is two years old.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The San Diego Zoo has three wildborn bears, but female Chinook is too old to breed, and 23 year old brother and sister twins Kalluk and Tatqiq are bonded and would not do well apart. Tatqiq has been on birth control for many years, so she cannot reproduce, but Kalluk might be considered for breeding as his wild genes are valuable. I have understood that Chinook, Kalluk and Tatqiq were grandfathered anyway, and not included in the breeding ban of wild bears.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Kali, the male polar bear who was rescued when his mother was shot by a hunter, and who lived in the Alaska Zoo, then the Buffalo Zoo as a companion to young Luna, and now in the St. Louis Zoo, has been living alone for years, but maybe now can be matched with a suitable female from our core family from Crystal.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Of course zoos that currently have a polar bear or two are not happy to give them up, so it will probably be a struggle to find a mate for Qannik. Since she is wildborn, her genes are quite valuable, and she is not related to any of the other zoo bears.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">20 year old Payton, who was born in the Brookfield Zoo and later lived in the Memphis Zoo and then the North Carolina Zoo, was chosen to move to Louisville to be a mate to Qannik, but sadly he died two hours into his journey on October 25. It was later found that he had some heart disease and a tumor, but no definitive cause of death has been announced. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So now we wait to see if our bachelorette bear will find a suitable companion. She has never lived with another polar bear, but she is quite familiar with both Siku of Lincoln Park and Lee of Columbus, for these males have also spent time in Louisville, living next door to Qannik, so she knows them in that way, accustomed to their scent and seeing them often, but not sharing a space exactly.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65HKBlrpIkSEXPBog0jghon6AoUX1AHAH2W2Qg0hLz8USCIxLezzirJSgEl8soYtP95rwY45kFPzggMLqAapACIYLGSyKwMvkd_xoJb4ayHcyw_ykoPJ79xd_llML_Ahni2n0c7slzVVgy0gzAT6nq4TqU7pzshiYssi-qZ1AYachc_hDB4n4dzPS4_E/s1340/Sikusmile.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1340" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65HKBlrpIkSEXPBog0jghon6AoUX1AHAH2W2Qg0hLz8USCIxLezzirJSgEl8soYtP95rwY45kFPzggMLqAapACIYLGSyKwMvkd_xoJb4ayHcyw_ykoPJ79xd_llML_Ahni2n0c7slzVVgy0gzAT6nq4TqU7pzshiYssi-qZ1AYachc_hDB4n4dzPS4_E/w640-h574/Sikusmile.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Siku during his years in the Louisville Zoo.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I am sure that both Nuka and Lee, as proven breeders, were on the list as possible suitors as Suka and Aurora waited through the denning up season, but as no cubs were born, these guys will not be moving, most likely.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Five year old Bo, who was born in Toledo and is now living with older lady bear Berit in Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison Wisconsin, might be a good choice, as he is young and just beginning his breeding years. Berit has given him the social skills to interact with a lady bear. Crystal's year old twin boys, Kalluk and Kallu, will be needing a place to which to move in about a year, and they could move in with Berit at Henry Vilas. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3uYmq2jNo-zM28gJul5H7Gx-7DE1WVR6LWY9oU3e_PBn1fGRFyjQv3qN3ZG-WIIkp6ktzRX6xImwGWkqaWzSpieUnEZrX3hWJ7_Tc_OW4NZonwIxgVJ-LyZrphHTV-cOBuBlDu1qLRFe4f3kPwLcUgt1X4v_KpbgoECHenlG1BH-CiLyIGXqQQbtW6w/s5184/bo%20blue%20ball%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3uYmq2jNo-zM28gJul5H7Gx-7DE1WVR6LWY9oU3e_PBn1fGRFyjQv3qN3ZG-WIIkp6ktzRX6xImwGWkqaWzSpieUnEZrX3hWJ7_Tc_OW4NZonwIxgVJ-LyZrphHTV-cOBuBlDu1qLRFe4f3kPwLcUgt1X4v_KpbgoECHenlG1BH-CiLyIGXqQQbtW6w/w640-h426/bo%20blue%20ball%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Bo at Henry Vilas.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Qannik is quite people oriented, and something of a diva, so I suspect it will take some time for her to accept a boyfriend. She might do best with Bo, since he is young and probably willing to follow her lead. Breeding season is almost underway, so there will probably be no action this coming season.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25NXlTL6zqhar-3tBf3BnkAahi-nIr3iIOvQX1jjiz46xJrq0f5KtKFoRHty2WrPK-qWHNVK9VlwQhATmjk8NSAaG2obHpybPcPL8YmJD2bByfQSxXME1Z2qnxkdjj7mEzcxmIy2ZfO2YYNPBi9T6IzYQ0XByF09bt38_qtnOpnK9_dnsuXZgTeh047o/s6000/qannik%20climb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25NXlTL6zqhar-3tBf3BnkAahi-nIr3iIOvQX1jjiz46xJrq0f5KtKFoRHty2WrPK-qWHNVK9VlwQhATmjk8NSAaG2obHpybPcPL8YmJD2bByfQSxXME1Z2qnxkdjj7mEzcxmIy2ZfO2YYNPBi9T6IzYQ0XByF09bt38_qtnOpnK9_dnsuXZgTeh047o/w640-h426/qannik%20climb.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>So now Qannik waits to see who is coming to keep her company.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEuLJ7HShIX5EQTGejG8PxJwtaWE0fHnHTTT7jpWiDDypEy3d7JkpzwlUUp8oOIUpxBsfMl5iMM6j88iS28QU5to8fhQOHTxPHfXMzaBqVUxFr-wAmR_BIw6ihLG216aWwE_PdDeCbf8_EMiNSmXL4oixauPAdkW9BArUrihH89_V6zegBPtAWGCLwM4/s6000/qannik%20face.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEuLJ7HShIX5EQTGejG8PxJwtaWE0fHnHTTT7jpWiDDypEy3d7JkpzwlUUp8oOIUpxBsfMl5iMM6j88iS28QU5to8fhQOHTxPHfXMzaBqVUxFr-wAmR_BIw6ihLG216aWwE_PdDeCbf8_EMiNSmXL4oixauPAdkW9BArUrihH89_V6zegBPtAWGCLwM4/w640-h426/qannik%20face.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik, our latest Bachelorette. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzv9brYFYBlrN4nJTW6grGIeTLcICxanD-AIt7Nhax-OT-ccJPZa2FopmXQed-FY2CnFsbFYVa2f4THMfxYoRnC_5nEMcwyYuHRtAsw_Xr0yfhhDzXoMvWYrOP5KO4mnRx1v67hpYGTYkj148ktING1cFQVrlo1L4guoi623zpKSKerEUgvLMNXv0OgQ/s3400/qannik%20shake%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3400" data-original-width="3025" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzv9brYFYBlrN4nJTW6grGIeTLcICxanD-AIt7Nhax-OT-ccJPZa2FopmXQed-FY2CnFsbFYVa2f4THMfxYoRnC_5nEMcwyYuHRtAsw_Xr0yfhhDzXoMvWYrOP5KO4mnRx1v67hpYGTYkj148ktING1cFQVrlo1L4guoi623zpKSKerEUgvLMNXv0OgQ/w570-h640/qannik%20shake%205.jpg" width="570" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here's Qannik in 2020, showing that she can "Shake It Off."</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-33335771362282202982023-12-27T10:48:00.000-08:002023-12-27T10:48:27.393-08:00A snack for the Aalborg bears<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6WhtBUf4lNlMBJvdMLMZi3Ry-A4nwgudFgMEe4obnTeBVhh5yojAdW3IokTwl-eG-6N3CUFSHSqpEWdqsku1_yYe8Th7h6rt_29x2W3Mb6sorMuOlFfFpfVBu7h3Gw51kvDX4FAHvUBb9W6OSVFf4sqLzHpCIFQOWpoBlZPE1uoileIzMIskRGeKBxU/s3297/Malik%20at%20table.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3297" data-original-width="3031" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6WhtBUf4lNlMBJvdMLMZi3Ry-A4nwgudFgMEe4obnTeBVhh5yojAdW3IokTwl-eG-6N3CUFSHSqpEWdqsku1_yYe8Th7h6rt_29x2W3Mb6sorMuOlFfFpfVBu7h3Gw51kvDX4FAHvUBb9W6OSVFf4sqLzHpCIFQOWpoBlZPE1uoileIzMIskRGeKBxU/w588-h640/Malik%20at%20table.jpg" width="588" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Malik sits at the restaurant table, waiting for someone<br /> to take her order and serve her a fine gourmet dinner.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As 2023 comes to an end, one more look back at my visit to Aalborg Denmark in September. <span>In the wild, polar bears mostly prey on seals, and occasionally on a beached whale.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But in zoos, what do they have for dinner? They have some interesting favorites in Aalborg Zoo in Denmark, things that they would never dream of in the wild.</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW1w1Iz-uISEjLe6n4UA2DJlST2G4DgVjkO9Wwh6O_eedPrcxRQfF2vo9m3PEuCSVVPfFJSrDbwnVBRhzqdj-yMtlNujPqhjXaN56kY73i6qlT21E_YWPwXjE0zayfy4QquppIx9ejC0MID87AN3b4Jyv917VXUUAPXm4m1PFZJ0MePI6w3HwF8nmm7Y/s4015/water%20cub%20fish%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3235" data-original-width="4015" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW1w1Iz-uISEjLe6n4UA2DJlST2G4DgVjkO9Wwh6O_eedPrcxRQfF2vo9m3PEuCSVVPfFJSrDbwnVBRhzqdj-yMtlNujPqhjXaN56kY73i6qlT21E_YWPwXjE0zayfy4QquppIx9ejC0MID87AN3b4Jyv917VXUUAPXm4m1PFZJ0MePI6w3HwF8nmm7Y/w640-h516/water%20cub%20fish%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Fish is regularly served up to the polar bears, sometimes Salmon, sometimes mackerel,<br /> sometimes even trout.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Polar bears need lots of fat. Sometimes they are given lard, which the bears find yummy. Sometimes they get skin with layers of fat, and they have to work hard to get the fat off.</span></div></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlL2M3AgTuKU9tNGFlzp88lllYWuuT6ep8PGF7HRSQfnsgCS6fmuUVZ4jqrvYU-JqSowNs4gJono7wuh8oilMaIJ8dH55M7NiQ9KmRfwlw4HCh5f_7vW_g23TultmKm0SFbvhahiTr8-wn8Wms3NsyCuFki3oBf9NJJWlsvAsp8IRcrZgVlMjNaxfyEk/s3584/Malik%20skin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="3584" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlL2M3AgTuKU9tNGFlzp88lllYWuuT6ep8PGF7HRSQfnsgCS6fmuUVZ4jqrvYU-JqSowNs4gJono7wuh8oilMaIJ8dH55M7NiQ9KmRfwlw4HCh5f_7vW_g23TultmKm0SFbvhahiTr8-wn8Wms3NsyCuFki3oBf9NJJWlsvAsp8IRcrZgVlMjNaxfyEk/w640-h492/Malik%20skin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Malik enjoying some fatty skin the cubs just dug up out of the gravel.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMyNuvGrMbuQnGnUyAoU9XJ2A-hgQXmsZdKa_aiZXIN1zqamtSp32lR3CIAkEL3fbLiBgIGSKKyqxJ7kQZcwTeXbt0JZ32ROJ6FiuivwwcoY4om86cXpJLu2txn1I7t96vdR5ZX-OWSAozNRWioAjrlH8y5YvIcp9dCNw1uYD55A3PolPIzx9JwbhWjE/s3094/cubs%20fat%20skin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="3094" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMyNuvGrMbuQnGnUyAoU9XJ2A-hgQXmsZdKa_aiZXIN1zqamtSp32lR3CIAkEL3fbLiBgIGSKKyqxJ7kQZcwTeXbt0JZ32ROJ6FiuivwwcoY4om86cXpJLu2txn1I7t96vdR5ZX-OWSAozNRWioAjrlH8y5YvIcp9dCNw1uYD55A3PolPIzx9JwbhWjE/w640-h522/cubs%20fat%20skin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sisters Imaq and Inuk wonder how to share this fatty skin.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPkpTEti8AYmZ6S-u1g9PnMSq_Pjev13vUEIkvecgXN_tlcwSbCGJ3t1XPoa3VbCqRn4sGw7kcbG0wvc7GvNGk41QO4vTwRUCEsYSu-zR3z0-kTIoJUk53FqxPwJ0b5IN7naIHL-Xo7VC7dujbk6swSyHYw98okviNj9a5negpZAWNLrE3C9k_g6C1K8/s3843/malik%20table%20land%20cub.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2786" data-original-width="3843" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPkpTEti8AYmZ6S-u1g9PnMSq_Pjev13vUEIkvecgXN_tlcwSbCGJ3t1XPoa3VbCqRn4sGw7kcbG0wvc7GvNGk41QO4vTwRUCEsYSu-zR3z0-kTIoJUk53FqxPwJ0b5IN7naIHL-Xo7VC7dujbk6swSyHYw98okviNj9a5negpZAWNLrE3C9k_g6C1K8/w640-h464/malik%20table%20land%20cub.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Children may pester their mother,<br /> but still are welcome in this restaurant. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Malik is still waiting to be served.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In September, our group of polar bear fans got a special treat ourselves when we we allowed to go behind the scenes and bring fruit and vegetables from a list approved by the zookeepers. Some of the vegetables came from our gardens. The bears got cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, pears, celery, carrots and more.</span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIdnUd88Ja2_H7Xt5MjAWMsl40at-cW7_bOMRjircyeCGfG_oCXjRQ_njf9wekpQUDvdmkH3V1SAMZ-ezzgQ1S3ypobEnKGKQDkjTsLIcOBt8upsYXNWuEuOtwIFU8fi8s1KzmepKw8fGwuI3s8R3QGEhSYsLIPVoUImcKijLMcs0HxiQWkF35CqKTFg/s5184/cubs%20corn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIdnUd88Ja2_H7Xt5MjAWMsl40at-cW7_bOMRjircyeCGfG_oCXjRQ_njf9wekpQUDvdmkH3V1SAMZ-ezzgQ1S3ypobEnKGKQDkjTsLIcOBt8upsYXNWuEuOtwIFU8fi8s1KzmepKw8fGwuI3s8R3QGEhSYsLIPVoUImcKijLMcs0HxiQWkF35CqKTFg/w640-h426/cubs%20corn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A special treat, corn on the cob, already shucked,<br /> and brought by visitors.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwMhQgchGj2zo2GwNZD4Gd4JrXgpwEmFLn47Y8hZDefk69NGkyQwu_B4XI4bbW6QQoUjWho3qYrzkZzWkovmVV4N9HVcR8ejWJSempPg9pn0KzDk9b02EBcFoXWGr85zrMlg3WC96_9EB3snKQjayUQnYGNcKrgH2GmJ7-3Ubyi5KL9kt9W8bVgxNReg/s3995/watermelon%20run%20away.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3355" data-original-width="3995" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwMhQgchGj2zo2GwNZD4Gd4JrXgpwEmFLn47Y8hZDefk69NGkyQwu_B4XI4bbW6QQoUjWho3qYrzkZzWkovmVV4N9HVcR8ejWJSempPg9pn0KzDk9b02EBcFoXWGr85zrMlg3WC96_9EB3snKQjayUQnYGNcKrgH2GmJ7-3Ubyi5KL9kt9W8bVgxNReg/w640-h538/watermelon%20run%20away.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Three watermelons, one for each. They really like the melon. <br />This was the first time they had it.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBVA2qewj-0zShF63H7XlREOuwc3LuoTb-Zt_GWjIW4mSyr3B6frqo_i5cbW1Cl1hC90qkhffc7-7malasup3VcJwUmndNxAQtc318TVKzhqcU5UH5s1rbkcObuzVPpnWf58nUQnYbhIQECzouL5o3JIjVnMUU4aCr1r8cm9Uz6Da7aXsWxnyBq2BGxo/s4263/feeding%20pears.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3346" data-original-width="4263" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBVA2qewj-0zShF63H7XlREOuwc3LuoTb-Zt_GWjIW4mSyr3B6frqo_i5cbW1Cl1hC90qkhffc7-7malasup3VcJwUmndNxAQtc318TVKzhqcU5UH5s1rbkcObuzVPpnWf58nUQnYbhIQECzouL5o3JIjVnMUU4aCr1r8cm9Uz6Da7aXsWxnyBq2BGxo/w640-h502/feeding%20pears.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here the bears get some pears from a visitor in the polar bear group.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Xud1I-QrfCuP034jhpd2Y-yD2cjR8x9hZvM6NQhGR5JFbdbJjNX5xAndPQrSot7E5FAlMO_8_kO0yu4r26YEMswFJYXcZCorJO23md2aoxxO8j3q7iLkPxRpnvmr9ijcg8KUch454OY_Z_NZKDMpMRfXA-ZcpERFNgpzT1USsL2PU0aScmIKhd3M5xw/s2751/cub%20eat%20grapes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2751" data-original-width="2583" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Xud1I-QrfCuP034jhpd2Y-yD2cjR8x9hZvM6NQhGR5JFbdbJjNX5xAndPQrSot7E5FAlMO_8_kO0yu4r26YEMswFJYXcZCorJO23md2aoxxO8j3q7iLkPxRpnvmr9ijcg8KUch454OY_Z_NZKDMpMRfXA-ZcpERFNgpzT1USsL2PU0aScmIKhd3M5xw/w600-h640/cub%20eat%20grapes.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Grapes are good too. Like a Roman orgy.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBcZuRSn10ZHbHwRxtxU8vhZzf-DhuMgtfmmEiAT3WAAw_u5NlrQmuBN6Zpc4v8g8PAcr_CSiiid8LmzaOuLi9_-AXqoli86ZO9THvBlS0vT36bJFjK_GaqvcAhtKBqnPRNNLodqzVtvrDAexqGpN1mtNkXEjY1KV3jT2N0_pH7ezO8Sb_F-JVG_rUoc/s3626/Malik%20stalk%20of%20celery%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3283" data-original-width="3626" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBcZuRSn10ZHbHwRxtxU8vhZzf-DhuMgtfmmEiAT3WAAw_u5NlrQmuBN6Zpc4v8g8PAcr_CSiiid8LmzaOuLi9_-AXqoli86ZO9THvBlS0vT36bJFjK_GaqvcAhtKBqnPRNNLodqzVtvrDAexqGpN1mtNkXEjY1KV3jT2N0_pH7ezO8Sb_F-JVG_rUoc/w640-h580/Malik%20stalk%20of%20celery%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Malik's favorite is celery.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndqBgwcQyItO7BshbxpIsj30DN3Y7j4B7A6Lsm7UVOwtRYXtI8_-eO8YXCu1LjrQBAQe_wdlOGYkeFkhWa0DjSQVXKMi5vz0oK6AtpSxuL5c-veARi2ECBBKAewUZRVl7LR77SH-1oXBhIOmipZ7VwFgJbNQ8-Iu2-p5CSxPz5EK6Hrkykg2_Wi6sFmw/s3770/land%20cub%20celery.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2930" data-original-width="3770" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndqBgwcQyItO7BshbxpIsj30DN3Y7j4B7A6Lsm7UVOwtRYXtI8_-eO8YXCu1LjrQBAQe_wdlOGYkeFkhWa0DjSQVXKMi5vz0oK6AtpSxuL5c-veARi2ECBBKAewUZRVl7LR77SH-1oXBhIOmipZ7VwFgJbNQ8-Iu2-p5CSxPz5EK6Hrkykg2_Wi6sFmw/w640-h498/land%20cub%20celery.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The cubs like celery too.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-sJrrMjHjciXtAu-Ih9sTMAh7MKkarrWu4BGxYBSk5Q3Iu-p0DZ8CCa7LHyVE5-5c48Rzz38XjlEZJfUsrtO5iO6ovLYKlqW1KTvImZOhctozL63EAyqAQNRVpW9FJidHjpgjXP77b1_R5n4DRNLmgjjsD4ORv6TRYENTJEL0zbdOl1T3yo_InF-sz4/s3297/love%20carrot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2870" data-original-width="3297" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-sJrrMjHjciXtAu-Ih9sTMAh7MKkarrWu4BGxYBSk5Q3Iu-p0DZ8CCa7LHyVE5-5c48Rzz38XjlEZJfUsrtO5iO6ovLYKlqW1KTvImZOhctozL63EAyqAQNRVpW9FJidHjpgjXP77b1_R5n4DRNLmgjjsD4ORv6TRYENTJEL0zbdOl1T3yo_InF-sz4/w640-h558/love%20carrot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yummy carrots</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilugnO4U2tlNouQem1V274Wx3U9LPzJmh1vCaEln12tM6a0PxtDRyLBgSt5HoMyqeIqOIr7vqvIh0EsO2-CE6tVv6qQuoxT1kNYBiPbq4NOWatMICI3Sk_kbuX2xwy8m_yqdKj9CZbdfCY0A8Zgn2oi_QwNQNYM_jTZ91l7f_dSNaUEZzZG5vaDOA3Luk/s4326/swim%20celeriac.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2919" data-original-width="4326" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilugnO4U2tlNouQem1V274Wx3U9LPzJmh1vCaEln12tM6a0PxtDRyLBgSt5HoMyqeIqOIr7vqvIh0EsO2-CE6tVv6qQuoxT1kNYBiPbq4NOWatMICI3Sk_kbuX2xwy8m_yqdKj9CZbdfCY0A8Zgn2oi_QwNQNYM_jTZ91l7f_dSNaUEZzZG5vaDOA3Luk/w640-h432/swim%20celeriac.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Celeriac is very funny looking, but Malik loves it.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfqsIXMIPzbCntgAGp-buSR5G34qPnQjTyYSe_032Di5G0AbjNKBINr7sEE3sj6zB6U5bss7AD_3hfTRTuN-_evrIiXIBkZQTfl84iVlQYMQA4OkE8izzxHFfLi8UbqYotxZ3ypnCdUbA98Ug5EKlHLoFYlA0LOej7e2JIWcDPzBcPDbmAbJeJDMvsZg/s4907/twins%20carrot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="4907" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfqsIXMIPzbCntgAGp-buSR5G34qPnQjTyYSe_032Di5G0AbjNKBINr7sEE3sj6zB6U5bss7AD_3hfTRTuN-_evrIiXIBkZQTfl84iVlQYMQA4OkE8izzxHFfLi8UbqYotxZ3ypnCdUbA98Ug5EKlHLoFYlA0LOej7e2JIWcDPzBcPDbmAbJeJDMvsZg/w640-h340/twins%20carrot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The kids are liking their carrots. Synchronized eating.<br /><br /></span><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpfn6xB9DL1ZNO5rbh8e01Fgd4XZHO-CPJi-5o1L0ZZrHJXhJ8pOMyisqvOlxl0Ap4fsXfIQnVEug0nOqLmcCzMCyU4Mf8T0BpWkU9WDRhatxwwoMzO3oGXJP0j5eGlssx07h47_HKjyye59g0z_k3tggdJDzlgomRyPAGuzkp3jBo8guWEhKKRBoNOc/s2247/polar%20bear%20food.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2058" data-original-width="2247" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpfn6xB9DL1ZNO5rbh8e01Fgd4XZHO-CPJi-5o1L0ZZrHJXhJ8pOMyisqvOlxl0Ap4fsXfIQnVEug0nOqLmcCzMCyU4Mf8T0BpWkU9WDRhatxwwoMzO3oGXJP0j5eGlssx07h47_HKjyye59g0z_k3tggdJDzlgomRyPAGuzkp3jBo8guWEhKKRBoNOc/w640-h586/polar%20bear%20food.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dinner is served. It looks like Fennel and Fish are on the menu.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zeHXaZl_9KbzIGy_rR8nOYbn9uDT7F3_fXt_xn4CpCSAUk4VX9C3yQ9dj7YCwzspX0wBA6N1-cGTaYH2bmwf_2wxXufjSJeno4UJsjJGAXjG138q6x4CFA6OuKi6TigYaWKMY5UgHKHz15SP7fIjwSvKF5784fFAvqEcM5SAaC0ee3q-bJWpyUTu9hw/s5184/malik%20nursing%20content.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zeHXaZl_9KbzIGy_rR8nOYbn9uDT7F3_fXt_xn4CpCSAUk4VX9C3yQ9dj7YCwzspX0wBA6N1-cGTaYH2bmwf_2wxXufjSJeno4UJsjJGAXjG138q6x4CFA6OuKi6TigYaWKMY5UgHKHz15SP7fIjwSvKF5784fFAvqEcM5SAaC0ee3q-bJWpyUTu9hw/w640-h426/malik%20nursing%20content.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The favorite meal for the cubs comes from Mom. <br />Even though they are four years old.<br /><br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></b><p><br /></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-45654418935634680902023-12-19T08:51:00.000-08:002023-12-19T08:51:52.581-08:00Malik and her girls of Aalborg Zoo<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIs1u2pjse2JhZPfzbtEfFntoVoUvJ3OQjpZov09Ea86FQWZJwl3iwQhCRxF5ViYiTYMzmZGxTgWnJAz2KMAHKA5p24LxZSpLmWQGKISiQ394cjsd__OWq6WSiCL12lHc84CHeZXeoLpo8gVSqfCPwpYUiZ8av2bPtnN7ynViBHmzrdiCicdez4Ln5Dg/s3381/malik%20stand.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3381" data-original-width="3276" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIs1u2pjse2JhZPfzbtEfFntoVoUvJ3OQjpZov09Ea86FQWZJwl3iwQhCRxF5ViYiTYMzmZGxTgWnJAz2KMAHKA5p24LxZSpLmWQGKISiQ394cjsd__OWq6WSiCL12lHc84CHeZXeoLpo8gVSqfCPwpYUiZ8av2bPtnN7ynViBHmzrdiCicdez4Ln5Dg/w620-h640/malik%20stand.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Inuk, Imaq and Mother Malik. <br />The cub who stays on land is on the left,<br /> and the cub who likes the water is in the middle.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br />My first international trip in almost five years, and I missed Aalborg Zoo most of all. I had not yet met Malik's most recent twins, Imaq and Inuq, the offspring of the late Nord. So I arranged to spend some time in Aalborg in September, and it was a gathering of polar bear fans as well.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31xPfFCvTqzcGH3L2lg5M1zBXtlQhLax-P3xftJ4rEcD8GpLxWqRVXdupPwdMUyvlMEJ-KFPnCSskrrF5uIb2540n59PxGf7VoUG9K-PF5qniSVTlNXjc8ZKEq2ewxDUGh9k-OxPtboFeyVVPRErNaml6k5vkKlGl4P2UA5tugaZjRzo6GFm33bdnyW8/s2048/ralph%20molly%20with%20bears%20by%20sussi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31xPfFCvTqzcGH3L2lg5M1zBXtlQhLax-P3xftJ4rEcD8GpLxWqRVXdupPwdMUyvlMEJ-KFPnCSskrrF5uIb2540n59PxGf7VoUG9K-PF5qniSVTlNXjc8ZKEq2ewxDUGh9k-OxPtboFeyVVPRErNaml6k5vkKlGl4P2UA5tugaZjRzo6GFm33bdnyW8/w640-h426/ralph%20molly%20with%20bears%20by%20sussi.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here I am with Ralph from the UK, in front of one of the lower windows, as the cubs roll in the river rocks. Photo by my friend Sussi</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Although the cubs, who turned four years old in November, have been chipped, with a name assigned to each chip, even the keepers seem are not quite sure which one is Imaq and which is Inuk. DNA tests have shown that both are girls. The cubs are a bit smaller than their mom, but not by much, so it is easy to mix the three of them up at times. They were still nursing in September, even at that age, so sometimes you can tell it is Malik when you can see the milk bar on her chest, or the trailing beard under her chin.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHkq8UnEgfUdjywr-b_mlC_56HYHuWm0M9y4yvY41F0fXkAaA1pHH_Z7hYljfQsMsckRltXoTWVbvhbtd3_kmeIGsiDfWbuDzTEt6MzGvWrUYsukD6CU2qkFfushnjN54NVjYnPJQX0OMy9QYR-lmrJEXo3FldUdBfW2F3dcv-kagATlCOk95FBdiN-c/s5184/malik%20nursing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHkq8UnEgfUdjywr-b_mlC_56HYHuWm0M9y4yvY41F0fXkAaA1pHH_Z7hYljfQsMsckRltXoTWVbvhbtd3_kmeIGsiDfWbuDzTEt6MzGvWrUYsukD6CU2qkFfushnjN54NVjYnPJQX0OMy9QYR-lmrJEXo3FldUdBfW2F3dcv-kagATlCOk95FBdiN-c/w640-h426/malik%20nursing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Malik still nursing her cubs, who are almost four years old.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">At this age, the cubs are easy to tell apart, both by appearance and by behavior.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0thmFm-4WGAL9T_mJVKg2lXMG_bvC_dTB69yS7mxdzY1ofj8zeaqWaQ9MULW2jPaSaBVNbXCQply72Vx0g11B3h6nB9pnfMbFkXUdNl96ZmuBfMNFUwErKHOgxNB3fy-vLsTadhkLlQv2PvFYXs-ssn5-FU2IG_aIDbE_8pKuVNGhxb4BEmC4CX0Xcsk/s3619/water%20malik%20land%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2282" data-original-width="3619" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0thmFm-4WGAL9T_mJVKg2lXMG_bvC_dTB69yS7mxdzY1ofj8zeaqWaQ9MULW2jPaSaBVNbXCQply72Vx0g11B3h6nB9pnfMbFkXUdNl96ZmuBfMNFUwErKHOgxNB3fy-vLsTadhkLlQv2PvFYXs-ssn5-FU2IG_aIDbE_8pKuVNGhxb4BEmC4CX0Xcsk/w640-h404/water%20malik%20land%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Malik in the middle, with the cub who likes water on the left, <br />and the cub who stays on land is on the right.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">One of the girls has a bigger head and thicker neck, and almost a fluffy mane of fur, and she is a little darker. That one tends to hang around her mother a little more, often following Malik about, and this cub is usually on land, only goes into the water sometimes to play with her sister or fetch food, reluctantly. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAcbBPqGsdpyx5lYH_23HwtQI0sDl8eIdGpI7bnXxTsYjndGYzyUo-DrZ8D2C9Irvk7VjHUknadw5P8ieYPyKxKSxIYMPaQpW3KsGvrk15jWxV1Z5-pCkYN7x1qHzjJjCEr68y_Bjo0I464yVQzA_lXDLHkX3ub_Dxc3ugqXBZjlX5lU7P2NSKgbpT4Q/s4991/land%20cub%20Malik.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2660" data-original-width="4991" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAcbBPqGsdpyx5lYH_23HwtQI0sDl8eIdGpI7bnXxTsYjndGYzyUo-DrZ8D2C9Irvk7VjHUknadw5P8ieYPyKxKSxIYMPaQpW3KsGvrk15jWxV1Z5-pCkYN7x1qHzjJjCEr68y_Bjo0I464yVQzA_lXDLHkX3ub_Dxc3ugqXBZjlX5lU7P2NSKgbpT4Q/w640-h342/land%20cub%20Malik.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The land favoring cub on the left, with Mother Malik. <br />She likes to be near mom.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The other cub has a more streamlined look, sleeker fur and is lighter in color. She is the independent girl, away from mom a lot more, and tends to be in the water most of the time. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcX0mjhgaLlybZONtonko04jWleAp7dPSOK0cyt39l-JlxFN55pQo6SROGptrRbC81sTlM4aYqKm5HBfYSqmXSGym74AWiWOyf0KhbOfAzM0PEDMMdI68TYmS6QOPMWVlZNYgcFf5B1qtwXrTvSRMSX-esbSztq4QTsfqq2NKBAs5rikC0fFJykXDeB0/s4641/sister%20cubs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2933" data-original-width="4641" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcX0mjhgaLlybZONtonko04jWleAp7dPSOK0cyt39l-JlxFN55pQo6SROGptrRbC81sTlM4aYqKm5HBfYSqmXSGym74AWiWOyf0KhbOfAzM0PEDMMdI68TYmS6QOPMWVlZNYgcFf5B1qtwXrTvSRMSX-esbSztq4QTsfqq2NKBAs5rikC0fFJykXDeB0/w640-h404/sister%20cubs.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Water cub and Land cub</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5wxMEbu9Drk1Xp9GXQPSvJOTgqPPHQbfbzNyib99AXlmbZve_TDPXb1WbbUfGpO4bapIgJBSxmpmEbFKivaYglGncO6beDBuz8SHagWR6XzIEjxFmCVWjyTOXHim8W9dSSYIl-vUa__hgl0gohSA6YAWbth8FvV5aJjJl6Qze5GcgNdhgyAowKMaVGc/s4872/cubs%20plotting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3185" data-original-width="4872" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5wxMEbu9Drk1Xp9GXQPSvJOTgqPPHQbfbzNyib99AXlmbZve_TDPXb1WbbUfGpO4bapIgJBSxmpmEbFKivaYglGncO6beDBuz8SHagWR6XzIEjxFmCVWjyTOXHim8W9dSSYIl-vUa__hgl0gohSA6YAWbth8FvV5aJjJl6Qze5GcgNdhgyAowKMaVGc/w640-h418/cubs%20plotting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0osOYhrVOkuRq_8fkjLxgv6RovLCt3-jQcYtGpBts1Em1ghIuwONUze54whV8HAnYV16RTuxo77NQDtMRufJL9Gc7MXpYsPB8eUg8WEQ0Ps9aFXUpIwfAQHiHMRnw4uGE0FFkx6B7CbRfJA7dBXqYFYeWvMX0ZWqyP4dGrRE_3aGkygyydCm867e5XA/s4592/cub%20profile.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3374" data-original-width="4592" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0osOYhrVOkuRq_8fkjLxgv6RovLCt3-jQcYtGpBts1Em1ghIuwONUze54whV8HAnYV16RTuxo77NQDtMRufJL9Gc7MXpYsPB8eUg8WEQ0Ps9aFXUpIwfAQHiHMRnw4uGE0FFkx6B7CbRfJA7dBXqYFYeWvMX0ZWqyP4dGrRE_3aGkygyydCm867e5XA/w640-h470/cub%20profile.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Water cub and Land cub, Imaq and Inuk, who is who?</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There are times when both cubs are in the water, having some wonderful splashy battles, or enjoying the many snacks the keepers throw in for them. Or they are both on land.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilIjnzw-5CtNj8CGZvcm5WRSYqRRS7CSNHHWDrkmWeOM7xCFlMa9KaLIP0WEMqv9YshQcigzgVCSOgA-1jLR_kD4KlaHju-Y32QCxLCzjTAsOZAsSqrcWM4KgDKTBZM-STNuHIQK9sD-vPHLsU0h2g3OWVDJFWgiCLsT99Jiy_HRxXJHm92yN4DFCt2E/s3402/cubs%20wrestle%20water.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3017" data-original-width="3402" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilIjnzw-5CtNj8CGZvcm5WRSYqRRS7CSNHHWDrkmWeOM7xCFlMa9KaLIP0WEMqv9YshQcigzgVCSOgA-1jLR_kD4KlaHju-Y32QCxLCzjTAsOZAsSqrcWM4KgDKTBZM-STNuHIQK9sD-vPHLsU0h2g3OWVDJFWgiCLsT99Jiy_HRxXJHm92yN4DFCt2E/w640-h568/cubs%20wrestle%20water.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sisters wrestle in the water</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Another way to tell the cubs apart is that the cub who likes to be near mom and stay on land also really likes to interact with the visitors, especially my friend Ralph. She would spend forever sitting with him, playing with him, talking to him. We were all enchanted with the "bearmance."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaJ8s7Y-UAMRE_2N9OXqux82-EpNFQJTyg8GrZaN1DlgmZh3SP6s3JIj0AAmzO3lxzzHElRFb-snXp69isWu6oPKBxe7JmTBCmbQg-2Jp1F2IXUOXo4senJINDdF7A2vQzoUAMG7NKF1IivCEvN5Zqx5EFKTPYbuFskmgXYlYX_IlZ2BGwvkF6UTjSkM/s2048/cub%20loves%20ralph%20by%20j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaJ8s7Y-UAMRE_2N9OXqux82-EpNFQJTyg8GrZaN1DlgmZh3SP6s3JIj0AAmzO3lxzzHElRFb-snXp69isWu6oPKBxe7JmTBCmbQg-2Jp1F2IXUOXo4senJINDdF7A2vQzoUAMG7NKF1IivCEvN5Zqx5EFKTPYbuFskmgXYlYX_IlZ2BGwvkF6UTjSkM/w640-h426/cub%20loves%20ralph%20by%20j.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The cub who likes to be on land also really likes Ralph.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cqdIOxI2JB7-Osb_f4RjrcR-kKKycdBEBECDLOgPwhd_aOfzS7TNxoFlTY7Natb3pbqaXOusJVenY1fHN8TJPTxLQ4IF3PegnEbKDy5_rjcQkesq3BdkzQ2ObSC1lAYIvXwexlXoSNyw8HiHVd3b1TYm-yNGtsb-EanZaMUQ2H7d9bUIR7aXaN6KfBI/s3038/ralph%20eat%20my%20hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2954" data-original-width="3038" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cqdIOxI2JB7-Osb_f4RjrcR-kKKycdBEBECDLOgPwhd_aOfzS7TNxoFlTY7Natb3pbqaXOusJVenY1fHN8TJPTxLQ4IF3PegnEbKDy5_rjcQkesq3BdkzQ2ObSC1lAYIvXwexlXoSNyw8HiHVd3b1TYm-yNGtsb-EanZaMUQ2H7d9bUIR7aXaN6KfBI/w640-h622/ralph%20eat%20my%20hat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b> Watch out, she wants to eat that hat.</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The special gathering of polar bear fans was held on Wednesday, September 13, and it was open to anyone who wanted to come to the zoo that day. Ralph from the UK was there, as well as Marga and Hartmut from Berlin. And of course the Danish fans.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-byCqmTWGdqC_yeEK_FXu1yYRFFEU9IbobjFLQEv7iFlRPNPOl9aZenFSrqb_NpCkfUMzOvID9HhIMoTxRDrnbIJ5B0gR5gbTVCRkOqCM1-arfSjEy2fyTx0qFIK4PeMI902KkpWZy1Q71nSFxC1-WTmSi6XHAAA2bQkyLRTtEH55MklOc15-rtVV2Gg/s2048/group%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-byCqmTWGdqC_yeEK_FXu1yYRFFEU9IbobjFLQEv7iFlRPNPOl9aZenFSrqb_NpCkfUMzOvID9HhIMoTxRDrnbIJ5B0gR5gbTVCRkOqCM1-arfSjEy2fyTx0qFIK4PeMI902KkpWZy1Q71nSFxC1-WTmSi6XHAAA2bQkyLRTtEH55MklOc15-rtVV2Gg/w640-h426/group%20photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some of the polar bear group, photo by Jeanette.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The highlight of the day came when we were allowed a behind the scenes visit to the polar bears, and we brought fruits and vegetables to feed them, approved by the keeper. We brought apples, pears and grapes, as well as carrots, cucumbers, shucked corn on the cob and tomatoes. Their favorite treat seems to be celery. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb6vCZ7j_5YIs-RdF3cw2utGWwDsbLe2NJkHUNHF0aI4xEuyvflSPldK1mL3EOPqpMfqHzCbk5TKdmfO1YaBXh242Ix3a0AIvQHL6rOuwmTajnSKxkB0oLLbjQUgf93m2nh3EdI-BH2Zm5dhO44YS3bn1QRq-nxS2KnbhTjFqFbm8-nmKPQy8c_78ib4/s5184/Ellen%20feeding%20cucumbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb6vCZ7j_5YIs-RdF3cw2utGWwDsbLe2NJkHUNHF0aI4xEuyvflSPldK1mL3EOPqpMfqHzCbk5TKdmfO1YaBXh242Ix3a0AIvQHL6rOuwmTajnSKxkB0oLLbjQUgf93m2nh3EdI-BH2Zm5dhO44YS3bn1QRq-nxS2KnbhTjFqFbm8-nmKPQy8c_78ib4/w640-h426/Ellen%20feeding%20cucumbers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One of the guests feeding cucumbers to the bears.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It is exciting to be so close to the polar bears, and to watch their delight as they got their special treats. I fed them the corn, giving each bear a cob, but one cub stole from her sister, and ran away with two cobs all to herself. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSN0o3kuQitt2RAeW5aLKwySisyc4Ql9kZPPHBDaCmyExF7WJpbhytTKChXXsDhFNoQw0kJyJ2yJldCpJWMiZQ4_z0XFN9v310r2F1aSYcZKvY1qWFVx5EppmH7HP07f9TP2Ej2QBXTva27dXZ8PRZn90qRXwlkoslx9VGQxPfVCNtxJir1_kRIyYFKs/s728/cub%20steal%20corn%20by%20R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="684" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSN0o3kuQitt2RAeW5aLKwySisyc4Ql9kZPPHBDaCmyExF7WJpbhytTKChXXsDhFNoQw0kJyJ2yJldCpJWMiZQ4_z0XFN9v310r2F1aSYcZKvY1qWFVx5EppmH7HP07f9TP2Ej2QBXTva27dXZ8PRZn90qRXwlkoslx9VGQxPfVCNtxJir1_kRIyYFKs/w602-h640/cub%20steal%20corn%20by%20R.jpg" width="602" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The cub who likes to be in the water seems to be dominant,<br /> as she her sister's cob of corn and ran away.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Jeanette also brought three watermelons for the keeper to throw into the pool later. That was a big hit too.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LfNGfdRyrqqWBB5s_X2s9qx5aqSglzWxW5TNIE4fupSgHlsYv7baZ7wDItKfjeRjtBQ3OcGdLdcHgIznGZ31ElE20WmIFJl2EAzQug5p9u1jv_W2X53Y3B9h6IRVKsyRHAUKZbttCu21YZReoUU4OV9nlZ2PMH9XljXSROJJHjfZ0ijTQ2C1GfqUWxQ/s5184/waiting%20for%20watermelon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LfNGfdRyrqqWBB5s_X2s9qx5aqSglzWxW5TNIE4fupSgHlsYv7baZ7wDItKfjeRjtBQ3OcGdLdcHgIznGZ31ElE20WmIFJl2EAzQug5p9u1jv_W2X53Y3B9h6IRVKsyRHAUKZbttCu21YZReoUU4OV9nlZ2PMH9XljXSROJJHjfZ0ijTQ2C1GfqUWxQ/w640-h426/waiting%20for%20watermelon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Waiting for the watermelons</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeCUFpUAznqbYB_lpB4RfOtG3SB9moLErbaol6Nybcc7zvLyi2Z7ykgZy3JtoDvdjvas0NKLsV2wn9Th84UiibLzulIdHDgcL9b6Pwr9_wrYskaSlURT0X_8T0-gy2M9oB7_JDHPYllFDM-UE6HzRbdcgkR33w4L8b4AlGR8YPfEMr1EjHxUUCrH02rA/s3458/watermelon%20eat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="3458" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeCUFpUAznqbYB_lpB4RfOtG3SB9moLErbaol6Nybcc7zvLyi2Z7ykgZy3JtoDvdjvas0NKLsV2wn9Th84UiibLzulIdHDgcL9b6Pwr9_wrYskaSlURT0X_8T0-gy2M9oB7_JDHPYllFDM-UE6HzRbdcgkR33w4L8b4AlGR8YPfEMr1EjHxUUCrH02rA/w640-h506/watermelon%20eat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Watermelon in the water</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7F2cBNsZmlGdt6WZHfNeA7P3SMwpPKBFmYivv-1SaKVkixhWs35rao4JDE18EuN8VOZmflT_1RSo8MTUnqwqyoP4B2amlH11YqO87Ago5TWbplt8VfPyXp_cTv3sxjnd_6G0H7xGerjOS8DHVCNsfNXP1FJb8d7cIWgbGe1X-iSxBb14IAVlRPOEloEM/s5184/watermelon%20run%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7F2cBNsZmlGdt6WZHfNeA7P3SMwpPKBFmYivv-1SaKVkixhWs35rao4JDE18EuN8VOZmflT_1RSo8MTUnqwqyoP4B2amlH11YqO87Ago5TWbplt8VfPyXp_cTv3sxjnd_6G0H7xGerjOS8DHVCNsfNXP1FJb8d7cIWgbGe1X-iSxBb14IAVlRPOEloEM/w640-h426/watermelon%20run%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Best to find a place to eat this, away from sister.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtG1wFE6Xx1jzTprl1csRAi3OMNuKhebuDIxpzzDKsrT2mb-ebS4ieUrhv84mJf0WaAEwXPX4B5iv6VcUZd843iaKjh_IICdxH5Ez_z55vnhoNDEYf5ZfFfl5U2oexx_vT2l5EXM9q_3W3ropko4fdh5OpK3OoRa_TjBUf3nApmBX2G3UNBEFeqaM9dI/s2457/land%20cub%20watermelon%20eat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2289" data-original-width="2457" height="595" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtG1wFE6Xx1jzTprl1csRAi3OMNuKhebuDIxpzzDKsrT2mb-ebS4ieUrhv84mJf0WaAEwXPX4B5iv6VcUZd843iaKjh_IICdxH5Ez_z55vnhoNDEYf5ZfFfl5U2oexx_vT2l5EXM9q_3W3ropko4fdh5OpK3OoRa_TjBUf3nApmBX2G3UNBEFeqaM9dI/w640-h595/land%20cub%20watermelon%20eat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Chowing down</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxgNsvhfSOUTMVjOS8VX_KGG6grumeGhhBOBpylvli9vJgLCDb-vn5K1gMBj8Esvkoz1lo3bOvswU_-OQdmLWDHynNwkJSUiGVL75L1TeSZLi-PeRJT85xUoRRDMpivcmF0aTHKxZMMER26OoySW_UtcgZIrJIetau6x86cnhuGGvZALe-VDlKNOidzQ/s3995/watermelon%20run%20away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3355" data-original-width="3995" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxgNsvhfSOUTMVjOS8VX_KGG6grumeGhhBOBpylvli9vJgLCDb-vn5K1gMBj8Esvkoz1lo3bOvswU_-OQdmLWDHynNwkJSUiGVL75L1TeSZLi-PeRJT85xUoRRDMpivcmF0aTHKxZMMER26OoySW_UtcgZIrJIetau6x86cnhuGGvZALe-VDlKNOidzQ/w640-h538/watermelon%20run%20away.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Running away with the prize. There were three melons for three bears.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7A4xhL5efmYh5V79PT3aomh55DLzp_VFY3amsBgEzOywo46YW7brk8aFY2n1BityJe6km5meQBFesYzIPZCE4Cqt5sq00px740kYh1mFYegIqSLvnkA3-JTATu6uRmv-my4ZkxCNK0ii2LfzoddvGEQs5UMsifPxdVwYUctbasxaRDcDr0lWyDIs1dI/s3525/watermelon%20yum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3400" data-original-width="3525" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7A4xhL5efmYh5V79PT3aomh55DLzp_VFY3amsBgEzOywo46YW7brk8aFY2n1BityJe6km5meQBFesYzIPZCE4Cqt5sq00px740kYh1mFYegIqSLvnkA3-JTATu6uRmv-my4ZkxCNK0ii2LfzoddvGEQs5UMsifPxdVwYUctbasxaRDcDr0lWyDIs1dI/w640-h618/watermelon%20yum.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Making a delicious mess. They ended up eating the rind too.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7aQCKZjPPcX5OKGAJSYIDmoEn3VxyoOXq58nXzvjF-VCagOuWI75IfX3ZCwY-bUa3o14h33roRJVxeBwGieK0EvmxX173eg47mKvNH6glP75hW2ZsaQ8qzT573vt2vDjaf9UBjwYgT6nojZI9J_hr2gBKiVwW_oWm8xNUEefzDp921LpCIzdeGN2R1E/s2751/cub%20eat%20grapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2751" data-original-width="2583" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7aQCKZjPPcX5OKGAJSYIDmoEn3VxyoOXq58nXzvjF-VCagOuWI75IfX3ZCwY-bUa3o14h33roRJVxeBwGieK0EvmxX173eg47mKvNH6glP75hW2ZsaQ8qzT573vt2vDjaf9UBjwYgT6nojZI9J_hr2gBKiVwW_oWm8xNUEefzDp921LpCIzdeGN2R1E/w600-h640/cub%20eat%20grapes.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some leftover grapes are found</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-60945614766973050622023-11-17T10:22:00.000-08:002023-11-17T10:22:49.046-08:00The Toledo twins at one year<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgky4beIx_aI0c7G7gBt06Qy7Ym2TpCBzaQCWxsdWFK-gXe3SFyYdZzSMEtr93z_pRUFs9bYgM1CnMaB0h1uwOsbz1uBB45ZVTAZ1GIhX2aBwAIOdZJhyDXsP9oJXH1JlVmAxIhs__5qINdFkk_4F1SNNw47YY1G3liY7ke2umfz9yY1A3LSYRljAqhnbQ/s4860/cubs%20browsing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2995" data-original-width="4860" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgky4beIx_aI0c7G7gBt06Qy7Ym2TpCBzaQCWxsdWFK-gXe3SFyYdZzSMEtr93z_pRUFs9bYgM1CnMaB0h1uwOsbz1uBB45ZVTAZ1GIhX2aBwAIOdZJhyDXsP9oJXH1JlVmAxIhs__5qINdFkk_4F1SNNw47YY1G3liY7ke2umfz9yY1A3LSYRljAqhnbQ/w640-h394/cubs%20browsing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A little watermelon for the cubs</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir72AKdIhPpCBaFXVsioqH7xaG49TSbJADRrlsXAbgcWSBW8G3rhyphenhyphenG48eK4ZN4tdNP5NV9CFgthM1AkKqO5YW9SHivWnhlGwCVAy_omQcZckKDzZqGDGpMz77rUgH3t6xZSMZJawow6bNswtRV5JsPoah4zFUJuYfGdnQvwmV_Y-wGeRkwf4hY4vL1vWU/s5574/cubs%20browing%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3210" data-original-width="5574" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir72AKdIhPpCBaFXVsioqH7xaG49TSbJADRrlsXAbgcWSBW8G3rhyphenhyphenG48eK4ZN4tdNP5NV9CFgthM1AkKqO5YW9SHivWnhlGwCVAy_omQcZckKDzZqGDGpMz77rUgH3t6xZSMZJawow6bNswtRV5JsPoah4zFUJuYfGdnQvwmV_Y-wGeRkwf4hY4vL1vWU/w640-h368/cubs%20browing%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu and Kallik clean up after the party</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div><span style="font-size: large;">Kallik and Kallu, twin sons of Crystal and Nuka, were treated to a grand birthday party on November 11 in honor of their first birthday. Mom Crystal turned 25 the previous day, and she was included in the festivities of course.</span></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0UYYYNZ7ibXmCr4WeO4dy7WBta6ZGhvq_Lc6zCNN5sPTiCzgP18HPw27tpNGK753w9XXeuP0-ETNOKa60SkfOXcIaYwrcOEOHMXtu0V8RWvsSo-IdK_f2rVAO7fPw_KXBf3Hug41IzM54mNKPGsQZdcSSHroveo8nUcN6IxmYoeT3rbAgkMUUv1phyA/s4660/cakes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2360" data-original-width="4660" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0UYYYNZ7ibXmCr4WeO4dy7WBta6ZGhvq_Lc6zCNN5sPTiCzgP18HPw27tpNGK753w9XXeuP0-ETNOKa60SkfOXcIaYwrcOEOHMXtu0V8RWvsSo-IdK_f2rVAO7fPw_KXBf3Hug41IzM54mNKPGsQZdcSSHroveo8nUcN6IxmYoeT3rbAgkMUUv1phyA/w640-h324/cakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The cakes before the bears came roaring in. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></div></span><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-bNEfag_O3AAwYUu6G3oLQIzbpCMm1jNOdEtqCGYhVu9E8NVgiCFpSuMb9CIOSn7Fr9AR6u43dC00ILFyd8Hooerg8U9Zf4sukIzw2C9f4Jnjb722KXzPen6mjIBJkHICZy2NFJKEHzZoEoTKxnzlD56SiXX8Ns6mLaP4rgqAXL9O5yuijCQdZVuQLI/s6000/cub%20watermelon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-bNEfag_O3AAwYUu6G3oLQIzbpCMm1jNOdEtqCGYhVu9E8NVgiCFpSuMb9CIOSn7Fr9AR6u43dC00ILFyd8Hooerg8U9Zf4sukIzw2C9f4Jnjb722KXzPen6mjIBJkHICZy2NFJKEHzZoEoTKxnzlD56SiXX8Ns6mLaP4rgqAXL9O5yuijCQdZVuQLI/w640-h426/cub%20watermelon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Watermelon is the recent favorite treat.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxOWjIELM2Yktl9kpjon4NnIxpgRpgvEb1QHhbIGscuuR4HgUEy7GHNPIjH9gy5YUMyoADH09J_r85gjrxdKE-5rVHw_DtDLNMQDKUcu9KyFm4y148WJ0Y_f3bz1htCjW3AmWf-YQLz6p2TWqIQ1qfdSDnNdHmZ-U1IfQLiG70aKdiGcKklNnKEJI_cc/s5808/cubs%20and%20crystal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2244" data-original-width="5808" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxOWjIELM2Yktl9kpjon4NnIxpgRpgvEb1QHhbIGscuuR4HgUEy7GHNPIjH9gy5YUMyoADH09J_r85gjrxdKE-5rVHw_DtDLNMQDKUcu9KyFm4y148WJ0Y_f3bz1htCjW3AmWf-YQLz6p2TWqIQ1qfdSDnNdHmZ-U1IfQLiG70aKdiGcKklNnKEJI_cc/w640-h248/cubs%20and%20crystal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Three bears and a play spool. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The keepers had built three "birthday cakes" made of watermelon, lettuce, lard and a carrot on top for a candle, each sitting on a block that had been labeled for each bear. Kallik and Kallu's boxes included their nicknames, Lightning and Thunder. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkYOy5zs7Bv3r9bReKJNpvgm7-TAHEEUaAzbaMO0Sy4kI3s2KAWvDK3BHschjg8kC2TnrdZMe6fgUo2NvjosIkMz_Jh8K-1IbLa7-QAHXhGItT_L1abwAt9EHnU2dvUXoUVnvsZLc-p-D1kq7lZ1Z_JaIO45PKwS1cAIxHt6mMamkjLSxEOHzF65Nrdc/s5730/cards.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="5730" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkYOy5zs7Bv3r9bReKJNpvgm7-TAHEEUaAzbaMO0Sy4kI3s2KAWvDK3BHschjg8kC2TnrdZMe6fgUo2NvjosIkMz_Jh8K-1IbLa7-QAHXhGItT_L1abwAt9EHnU2dvUXoUVnvsZLc-p-D1kq7lZ1Z_JaIO45PKwS1cAIxHt6mMamkjLSxEOHzF65Nrdc/w640-h262/cards.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some of the birthday cards made by the children.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A good crowd of fans turned out for the party, including many children, and many made cards for the birthday boys. Since the zoo has shown the growth of the cubs since birth on a public webcam, many have followed K and K since those early days, and they have many fans.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB-yJICE8iKk00ep4urlaEuXZnBJAJeWQ4QjDIOSjAauMCETAg5JjSSmbpyGN5_5zU4O4IIMIiRsW1gFnZcHsHHEC4SyyXhzq6IDzUV77qlL7QzEZL0g7WNK3S6vNZzty3SHxuF0Fi3wms1TF23TUWdmFhJJL__1JI5Raiaq32pwxgYxxgtGl_ER8RWA/s4450/crystal%20and%20kallik.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3045" data-original-width="4450" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB-yJICE8iKk00ep4urlaEuXZnBJAJeWQ4QjDIOSjAauMCETAg5JjSSmbpyGN5_5zU4O4IIMIiRsW1gFnZcHsHHEC4SyyXhzq6IDzUV77qlL7QzEZL0g7WNK3S6vNZzty3SHxuF0Fi3wms1TF23TUWdmFhJJL__1JI5Raiaq32pwxgYxxgtGl_ER8RWA/w640-h438/crystal%20and%20kallik.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal in back, and one of the cubs, probably Kallu,<br /> who likes to be near mom.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The bears cannot read, or at least did not bother to check the writings, so just went to the nearest cake, and after that, just traded off. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFz07IYn7dsbq3slbf9HTlP1-OPHpANloAkaewYQvLCEsS5dlAWmqGKXSwLEH8_wcM2VtAUS4tAGLEDGKVXVngInUYg2IzCnQS-XcIYwENJCeOm2kyWKoM5wV1SpSpE-lPWqio41nzgWUF0B2kcjDTO7Dcnd6alvSEroyp3a1gJcAf8TiiInG3hCuIJQ/s3620/crystal%2025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="3620" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFz07IYn7dsbq3slbf9HTlP1-OPHpANloAkaewYQvLCEsS5dlAWmqGKXSwLEH8_wcM2VtAUS4tAGLEDGKVXVngInUYg2IzCnQS-XcIYwENJCeOm2kyWKoM5wV1SpSpE-lPWqio41nzgWUF0B2kcjDTO7Dcnd6alvSEroyp3a1gJcAf8TiiInG3hCuIJQ/w640-h414/crystal%2025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The birthday party for Crystal and her cubs.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The keepers told me that once a year, they try out different produce for the bears to see if their tastes have changed. Even though these foods are not available in the wild where the bears live in nature, zoos have found that polar bears really love their fruits and vegetables when they can get them. Right now, the Toledo bears prefer watermelon. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal is also very fond of seaweed, so there were balls of seaweed for her.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1wqRfsJ3PP8flz0dAPC5v76hZ8GoKwznJwpiz4z2MaPCW0L260wns8-Frc9FihJ94Ke-k3kMCG6ppaLAY8I3cBURGDQdUsfk0qVpVhe-5rdLhpdGMz3ZCeCXf9LoXomXHg8CiZ73UZQMkew041UFGxaJM-ZF1LyPFnEJJUTQ03w8cxRZQD-MjbJjAB8/s5814/crystal%20seaweed%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3720" data-original-width="5814" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1wqRfsJ3PP8flz0dAPC5v76hZ8GoKwznJwpiz4z2MaPCW0L260wns8-Frc9FihJ94Ke-k3kMCG6ppaLAY8I3cBURGDQdUsfk0qVpVhe-5rdLhpdGMz3ZCeCXf9LoXomXHg8CiZ73UZQMkew041UFGxaJM-ZF1LyPFnEJJUTQ03w8cxRZQD-MjbJjAB8/w640-h410/crystal%20seaweed%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yummy seaweed for Crystal</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Some fish were also given to the bears as part of the birthday feast.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-UKv9Fs4o36dWr6qwOb12MJJF9FLoagAMVCJbSGZar9G9Klg_SXl3umGDDkh4Ch-pAnz1lu61nlRaTUbIYml1_CXrCwtJ88fk-gtPeb2jk7s6odFZgnwzBS9zehZC8vlHXY-10d65lTgq5Hf9tTZf7NPGxS32kAotE0ykTt6AWaTgoey9dWC7t9ST60/s6000/Kallu%20fish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-UKv9Fs4o36dWr6qwOb12MJJF9FLoagAMVCJbSGZar9G9Klg_SXl3umGDDkh4Ch-pAnz1lu61nlRaTUbIYml1_CXrCwtJ88fk-gtPeb2jk7s6odFZgnwzBS9zehZC8vlHXY-10d65lTgq5Hf9tTZf7NPGxS32kAotE0ykTt6AWaTgoey9dWC7t9ST60/w640-h426/Kallu%20fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Kallu with some of the fish treats.<br /></b><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kallik was much smaller when he was born, maybe half the size of his brother, but he has caught up since then, and now his weight is reported at 320 to 340 pounds. Kallu, the bigger cub, weighs 340 to 360 pounds.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When they were younger, it was easier to tell Kallik from his bigger brother, but now they are nearly the same size. How to tell them apart? Kallu has a longer tail, and there is less fur on his tail so the black skin shows through. Kallu sometimes has a spot on his forehead too. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HrazTN21e57_T3Ml2qyYtE2SQpmVRlPF1jNKJoA2FLZf-x00jU6VfuDgJs32gp1GX3Xxr4qzpcxFmzHz2_LIZbbUTGQPS6Z7kJmcFO3YjuqrJVFxZCfZJJMfyzdvhZSLV3n4_lmj7nTmXeduqDW3p2dk-0UkddnHDp-VvkOGZjMXkAl6OGQoZyvvRbs/s6000/Kallu%20tail.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HrazTN21e57_T3Ml2qyYtE2SQpmVRlPF1jNKJoA2FLZf-x00jU6VfuDgJs32gp1GX3Xxr4qzpcxFmzHz2_LIZbbUTGQPS6Z7kJmcFO3YjuqrJVFxZCfZJJMfyzdvhZSLV3n4_lmj7nTmXeduqDW3p2dk-0UkddnHDp-VvkOGZjMXkAl6OGQoZyvvRbs/w426-h640/Kallu%20tail.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Because Kallu has less fur on his tail,<br /> there seems to be a black streak. One way to tell them apart.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">During their first year, Kallu has tended to stay near his mother, while the smaller Kallik has been more independent. But on Saturday, while the boys did play together in the water for a bit, and Kallu tended to check in with his mother quite often, mostly they were off on their own, each doing their own thing, after consuming most of the birthday treats, leaving Crystal to do as she wished, sometimes napping, sometimes just watching the boys play.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda4eCOeTp7N07-OBGq4Pz8sHcsDnVg1tRa8aafYHlEqXIubNZnDLMBsmQ9XZYDR9u2dlyCVngtMNsJ96n3K4d6TzNVNUMyEYOtCn-SqW1pVPUad8mEN6IXjSJNJHJTLNVpIEfM6KLgaZ_upoAe3NNzOekfzs3yqli62nMcHZ4IyieHDVHMUzFDWC9fAI/s6000/kallu%20disk%20crystal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda4eCOeTp7N07-OBGq4Pz8sHcsDnVg1tRa8aafYHlEqXIubNZnDLMBsmQ9XZYDR9u2dlyCVngtMNsJ96n3K4d6TzNVNUMyEYOtCn-SqW1pVPUad8mEN6IXjSJNJHJTLNVpIEfM6KLgaZ_upoAe3NNzOekfzs3yqli62nMcHZ4IyieHDVHMUzFDWC9fAI/w640-h426/kallu%20disk%20crystal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu plays with the pickle lid, and Crystal check in.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kallu and Kallik both love playing with the black plastic pickle lids, hiding them, flipping them around, tossing them in the air. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HQ8sCTbGwmEMYlfy42QPbJQr_5uKEJLZSQy6EI3ItglrO1dI-DQw4m10WTb9UINqH2Dq74sFx4WGBMl7DCZR_Jf8k0tCWuBLC3Cotz7Igq5I3AX6YpxEhU_DDr9olX2bvooIMgYDQU9ofOCmEhcQJajXoOS_xOKTmlsWBPHUfTsldqTyO9RNZ_FmN9g/s4110/kallik%20crystal%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4110" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HQ8sCTbGwmEMYlfy42QPbJQr_5uKEJLZSQy6EI3ItglrO1dI-DQw4m10WTb9UINqH2Dq74sFx4WGBMl7DCZR_Jf8k0tCWuBLC3Cotz7Igq5I3AX6YpxEhU_DDr9olX2bvooIMgYDQU9ofOCmEhcQJajXoOS_xOKTmlsWBPHUfTsldqTyO9RNZ_FmN9g/w640-h476/kallik%20crystal%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallik plays with the floating iceberg, and Crystal observes.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kallik played quite a bit with the "new" floating iceberg, which was brought out for their birthday. But he would incorporate his lid in the play. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ac2nM1Ny8kEuA_ILm2p5MgGLzBbfxW5qU2lRze_0z7xTh7pwrHLI1yS00klaMhhM98ZJHTtigiUWg3KAX3LuSYGFQ4r_827Z3BIAYZAEQNL6472F-UcUQmer5Nm-TzNDXkR4HfJI_etPfmRQZyaacdqa5ZDgABDj9LJu-mVBUVCc0PS1LZHT4FGEfVI/s2755/kallik%20iceberg%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1965" data-original-width="2755" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ac2nM1Ny8kEuA_ILm2p5MgGLzBbfxW5qU2lRze_0z7xTh7pwrHLI1yS00klaMhhM98ZJHTtigiUWg3KAX3LuSYGFQ4r_827Z3BIAYZAEQNL6472F-UcUQmer5Nm-TzNDXkR4HfJI_etPfmRQZyaacdqa5ZDgABDj9LJu-mVBUVCc0PS1LZHT4FGEfVI/w640-h456/kallik%20iceberg%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallik having a blast with the new iceberg.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kallik and Kallu's father, Nuka, returned to the Detroit Zoo last spring, and now Suka, who is also Crystal's daughter, is said to be denned up and awaiting the birth of cubs again. Suka gave birth three years ago to twin girls, and one was raised by keepers. These girls now live in the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Most likely, Nuka will not return to Toledo, since Crystal is 25 years old and her genes are so well represented, Kallik and Kallu will most likely be her last cubs. She is already mother to nine bears, which includes three sets of twins.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As the birthday morning wore on, the cubs enjoyed playing together in the water.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lzDouPDIU2HfL6ZRyHWySXMIcpT1dS_hIkCeeAxpe7mgJVMbBVucCgdHeLorcIh-TIdyPqy6uU55AdKqoHUpCagoeGWdCuDWDtereEI1QFEtvPYRQbkebSPTl5mnUKwQpxtoAXDWxxtdZ2vcxUtp9XM55QP_bwZZekAmzhhjYoBoS9RML0iRGjObvFI/s6000/cubs%20chase%20in%20water%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lzDouPDIU2HfL6ZRyHWySXMIcpT1dS_hIkCeeAxpe7mgJVMbBVucCgdHeLorcIh-TIdyPqy6uU55AdKqoHUpCagoeGWdCuDWDtereEI1QFEtvPYRQbkebSPTl5mnUKwQpxtoAXDWxxtdZ2vcxUtp9XM55QP_bwZZekAmzhhjYoBoS9RML0iRGjObvFI/w640-h426/cubs%20chase%20in%20water%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Sort of Synchronized Swimming.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrsu-NaYNItpYtfCN7Daa10y858lojJapQl6gu2TEhsjpSYIy4FjJJiOgDWqDxciKDGeLlTgWKYJQLxldul83b4GaknoZQ5mm4pn4FO-8yS0M3VtXaPZXHMckODtLTQyw3r5v4uv0n-4wDuuK09FDAgSE54PHv2L6f19tegxf0TtfrrgveuaP2k-kQo8/s6000/cubs%20chase%20in%20water%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrsu-NaYNItpYtfCN7Daa10y858lojJapQl6gu2TEhsjpSYIy4FjJJiOgDWqDxciKDGeLlTgWKYJQLxldul83b4GaknoZQ5mm4pn4FO-8yS0M3VtXaPZXHMckODtLTQyw3r5v4uv0n-4wDuuK09FDAgSE54PHv2L6f19tegxf0TtfrrgveuaP2k-kQo8/w640-h426/cubs%20chase%20in%20water%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Playing together but not really together.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboCbnGwW_JgROdwtnFtNNGvCXkzN0QlH3dOM2nwMJasrHlUtjaj4adRAh4vu4raAoleHjofVXKwUP4JR8pbTaC_dMZdwY9c-wyidHzQTvoKX-s_gmcuHOLkffFXbCwv_sd0mjYsGg1DxLK0EWO0AlQT6WkDGJ0tMgTl8alKzkGSxNvY0tU80cf7iYawA/s6000/cubs%20chase%20in%20water%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboCbnGwW_JgROdwtnFtNNGvCXkzN0QlH3dOM2nwMJasrHlUtjaj4adRAh4vu4raAoleHjofVXKwUP4JR8pbTaC_dMZdwY9c-wyidHzQTvoKX-s_gmcuHOLkffFXbCwv_sd0mjYsGg1DxLK0EWO0AlQT6WkDGJ0tMgTl8alKzkGSxNvY0tU80cf7iYawA/w640-h426/cubs%20chase%20in%20water%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe something fun over here?</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKUDaFaAU2fTdQPijFqpqRHl_eiKtssagSgDtvmTiegjCMNIYpJIFvkKckmZ-PkVKpB88tUoteMED2l1dxw6KWrKN06-oCOt6QK2aZqL3PxsYwehibQO2PqYDC99PMCHtmf6mFf3GPgBCBs8B9KBgdzMcQt81F4Le0teWRqecaoU_mY5RzdjslgzYQ-I/s5808/cubs%20chase%20in%20water.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3306" data-original-width="5808" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKUDaFaAU2fTdQPijFqpqRHl_eiKtssagSgDtvmTiegjCMNIYpJIFvkKckmZ-PkVKpB88tUoteMED2l1dxw6KWrKN06-oCOt6QK2aZqL3PxsYwehibQO2PqYDC99PMCHtmf6mFf3GPgBCBs8B9KBgdzMcQt81F4Le0teWRqecaoU_mY5RzdjslgzYQ-I/w640-h364/cubs%20chase%20in%20water.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Time to get up and check out the party leftovers.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrW98fAL2sdoyTHF1kIypkcXfDtTkdYJ38Aur2eozNzlWo_-XGjGWTuYdyID0G1RUHAtCaKfu-5Vh3q1jwNbijqoVHyUOydW9pFiPce8QwH0euN70-eVgfbfqL4ZkmqakvlwePOcE1jW4fvQpURMC3_b1GbvMoEhc66bWxU87NFJj7cmDfmZcn88XTc0/s3610/cub%20fish%20in%20mouth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3610" data-original-width="2700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrW98fAL2sdoyTHF1kIypkcXfDtTkdYJ38Aur2eozNzlWo_-XGjGWTuYdyID0G1RUHAtCaKfu-5Vh3q1jwNbijqoVHyUOydW9pFiPce8QwH0euN70-eVgfbfqL4ZkmqakvlwePOcE1jW4fvQpURMC3_b1GbvMoEhc66bWxU87NFJj7cmDfmZcn88XTc0/w478-h640/cub%20fish%20in%20mouth.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Someone caught a fish! <br />It was part of the party treats laid out.<br />Kallu was carrying them about.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The black plastic lids were big hit. Great for tossing, and the perfect size to carry around.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvO12b4AaF5kpPXWEqOFLsTeupEOF3w4FyxfRzMRM_r4w9V9csDc9ICEATBSGvlWg93O-Zsdq5jOiiG6qVkXpTAwAWaXNYu2dG-t18CvAZ92eHR8KcOl0TPWT7ezgU3bIdMf41SDpihSREFAqQXkxS53kyOtMtB44SpwqSqYgJBXSQcX7Af9zydyyiMA/s3500/kallu%20lid%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3425" data-original-width="3500" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvO12b4AaF5kpPXWEqOFLsTeupEOF3w4FyxfRzMRM_r4w9V9csDc9ICEATBSGvlWg93O-Zsdq5jOiiG6qVkXpTAwAWaXNYu2dG-t18CvAZ92eHR8KcOl0TPWT7ezgU3bIdMf41SDpihSREFAqQXkxS53kyOtMtB44SpwqSqYgJBXSQcX7Af9zydyyiMA/w640-h626/kallu%20lid%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu is obsessed with the black plastic lids. <br />He hides them and then digs them out again.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5A3JTAbEfSY_82Irz_MdW8A_Svx_rV7Ld02obbtqfSDyfDoF9v5mduMJHeXy6FIN-GUN7TzI4yvjseLZAoAMqCGiVipaQ26mh31bLmuQ6PVK0qobS8LH1OwutFxV-bIc32tgAvXLAolVDnKJnyvRrJx9pXs6htgyEgQeqR3vPDuxJVEdim56zCMFsaM/s3435/kallu%20lid.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3435" data-original-width="2955" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5A3JTAbEfSY_82Irz_MdW8A_Svx_rV7Ld02obbtqfSDyfDoF9v5mduMJHeXy6FIN-GUN7TzI4yvjseLZAoAMqCGiVipaQ26mh31bLmuQ6PVK0qobS8LH1OwutFxV-bIc32tgAvXLAolVDnKJnyvRrJx9pXs6htgyEgQeqR3vPDuxJVEdim56zCMFsaM/w550-h640/kallu%20lid.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu balances, then flips it into the air.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkz_hWBSuxw-S4j7oGh-c2kb3GeMTpCCTom7Q45CE5VR_-B6Z3fl2A_UUe3D0sSf97S-xJX7KYCsOQm_JQulGjOXKDLBnIpiAObmq7y0tdnRjZSa60R-s47PZAEQYyqW0JV6sbYieBLGx-C0GscWlMjZtacp1Rs4z97c0vIerZeOtMXQxeDxsVWVxujc/s3870/kallik%20lid.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2740" data-original-width="3870" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkz_hWBSuxw-S4j7oGh-c2kb3GeMTpCCTom7Q45CE5VR_-B6Z3fl2A_UUe3D0sSf97S-xJX7KYCsOQm_JQulGjOXKDLBnIpiAObmq7y0tdnRjZSa60R-s47PZAEQYyqW0JV6sbYieBLGx-C0GscWlMjZtacp1Rs4z97c0vIerZeOtMXQxeDxsVWVxujc/w640-h454/kallik%20lid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallik likes the lids too.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Back to the party room to clean up. There are a few bits and pieces and the cubs rub their faces on the paint from the signs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBLZXsOZQmiSK2gAV_FWd7YwqQxO4vsrmT9hsGLKZUbugI9Fzh8r3iivbacO86atNuLiApanriqJfN3klbwIBYpfM8QCIXHoBJBCCNyM0AGM_l8_ymtAz8oMtMvfhmbIoPbhx2pWPzvdqa0Amhj15enpk_vQYZGBhywhzt3mi_THh8Gw9SgHYjgckbN8/s5080/cub%20paint%20on%20face.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="5080" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBLZXsOZQmiSK2gAV_FWd7YwqQxO4vsrmT9hsGLKZUbugI9Fzh8r3iivbacO86atNuLiApanriqJfN3klbwIBYpfM8QCIXHoBJBCCNyM0AGM_l8_ymtAz8oMtMvfhmbIoPbhx2pWPzvdqa0Amhj15enpk_vQYZGBhywhzt3mi_THh8Gw9SgHYjgckbN8/w640-h304/cub%20paint%20on%20face.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Kallu got a third eyebrow with the paint. Here he is with Crystal. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3RHVYGxHKAPtL9J74Excs_u8qAX130VA10H6RKULQE6c4gRxqjdHZKS9909daZxfvzMN7NMflbqZ85xNCq40eTjZ6bZD5lCJzd7ouNAercnmXIx-LGM01FFHVCioMPxG8iYqLeOs5_kgLvJJyu0gDvttWeRFV__ZAybh8JOd_huFKMTJ2NcKRisjrgs/s4030/paint%20on%20face%20cub%20crystal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="4030" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3RHVYGxHKAPtL9J74Excs_u8qAX130VA10H6RKULQE6c4gRxqjdHZKS9909daZxfvzMN7NMflbqZ85xNCq40eTjZ6bZD5lCJzd7ouNAercnmXIx-LGM01FFHVCioMPxG8iYqLeOs5_kgLvJJyu0gDvttWeRFV__ZAybh8JOd_huFKMTJ2NcKRisjrgs/w640-h490/paint%20on%20face%20cub%20crystal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Kallu's new fashion make-up.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQERmCpCgbzzofGgoLGOpWD3wHKqsuFlAduvoTnHlvFoUZ4SuoQ3TL0L6cr8JPN9RW9Va06nmWwBJHcK-ZqvkaYI7mamK3_NhyphenhyphenHrdjs_wl0PiJrLcfUP6x8EX-4g0GMyoPWqwfRbygr1ncHzuYv-_d7ZAtzucbbPByxnEK8g1nB5i5EOc60cwT43x5p0/s3965/crtstal%20kallu%20paint.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1865" data-original-width="3965" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQERmCpCgbzzofGgoLGOpWD3wHKqsuFlAduvoTnHlvFoUZ4SuoQ3TL0L6cr8JPN9RW9Va06nmWwBJHcK-ZqvkaYI7mamK3_NhyphenhyphenHrdjs_wl0PiJrLcfUP6x8EX-4g0GMyoPWqwfRbygr1ncHzuYv-_d7ZAtzucbbPByxnEK8g1nB5i5EOc60cwT43x5p0/w640-h302/crtstal%20kallu%20paint.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Crystal and Kallu</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMNx-R4wA8mMweXJvjkAUrEkRnNzxQsGbsFqk3yaxv1okheAgAG7Q8W2dZwO0RHgKzcYY_aQescxMzGJoVOkmbJjLl-3-g6wDbfGeZvW35GgfljojkMW8sOC_O9ZgybqX5UJl2S8j6Q8IGu07xaE266FfuOW8Ticqdo-h0QhVqsrQkms76JBBMiXVkyM/s2450/kallik%20paint%20on%20face.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2295" data-original-width="2450" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMNx-R4wA8mMweXJvjkAUrEkRnNzxQsGbsFqk3yaxv1okheAgAG7Q8W2dZwO0RHgKzcYY_aQescxMzGJoVOkmbJjLl-3-g6wDbfGeZvW35GgfljojkMW8sOC_O9ZgybqX5UJl2S8j6Q8IGu07xaE266FfuOW8Ticqdo-h0QhVqsrQkms76JBBMiXVkyM/w640-h600/kallik%20paint%20on%20face.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Kallik with some fish.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TPuC_lAu8mMMiN7GWyMsHIsJ58PGe9MTasUzsMby9y_E3xikkx9y3bs_n9IQydcL3kKzjuo9zcBKOopKvaNamY4lL_ofa6OcObIMBraPgorrJZYDtOLkWv2ZGue3CLeVhyphenhyphenooK7KmrU9sofS6Jo1aGnlBl14VMHQjsSuAOTKShyphenhyphenXgFriMqpV9Or1irTM/s2355/kallu%20paint.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2355" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TPuC_lAu8mMMiN7GWyMsHIsJ58PGe9MTasUzsMby9y_E3xikkx9y3bs_n9IQydcL3kKzjuo9zcBKOopKvaNamY4lL_ofa6OcObIMBraPgorrJZYDtOLkWv2ZGue3CLeVhyphenhyphenooK7KmrU9sofS6Jo1aGnlBl14VMHQjsSuAOTKShyphenhyphenXgFriMqpV9Or1irTM/w640-h554/kallu%20paint.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kallik got the most paint on his little face.<br /> A little yellow and lots of black.<br /> It all came off after he jumped into the pool a few minutes later.<br /> Cute while it lasted.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9tMBWVZXx0FzfTZ-_vtFm-iypncLpWiksSWNH5-XmrDcRCVJZNVTQy0f2GguirW3DDa__09I_WypFFAtnY-bhNjaqhec224qokLY0OlVsR107-1SC5XTiMbIGpQRTdmOzFhz8LhreDwX7lJAVP7Nx5iLh4b9Pav3srmBEhvaEDEVBLO2YvgxeUoO0d4/s6000/cub%20spool%20kallik%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9tMBWVZXx0FzfTZ-_vtFm-iypncLpWiksSWNH5-XmrDcRCVJZNVTQy0f2GguirW3DDa__09I_WypFFAtnY-bhNjaqhec224qokLY0OlVsR107-1SC5XTiMbIGpQRTdmOzFhz8LhreDwX7lJAVP7Nx5iLh4b9Pav3srmBEhvaEDEVBLO2YvgxeUoO0d4/w640-h426/cub%20spool%20kallik%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallik likes the spool.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbkA4Titdl_hOMrGrctNkfJG_jDgGnNTCEaWvkyW4zOIiQrttWVXsSkn1ezoqxCq3oZShiT4Bj08Op6lL5ileuWHFwEOczqmSBLrPT5UBlOQ0v0cZFT5F0JoZ4F_gwpntKVZD6R6KcIKyPRUlZLGAKZ_5JJadrsenFFCaMXhLkWzRU_CcQy3QJZkvXzo/s6000/Kallu%20with%20spool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbkA4Titdl_hOMrGrctNkfJG_jDgGnNTCEaWvkyW4zOIiQrttWVXsSkn1ezoqxCq3oZShiT4Bj08Op6lL5ileuWHFwEOczqmSBLrPT5UBlOQ0v0cZFT5F0JoZ4F_gwpntKVZD6R6KcIKyPRUlZLGAKZ_5JJadrsenFFCaMXhLkWzRU_CcQy3QJZkvXzo/w640-h426/Kallu%20with%20spool.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu with the spool. See the black stripe on his tail?</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcauX_Bd-VXeo6KRIpiRPxqoOdQaT7vHICSm67DfRTBRXntTm7s9ICmh3Ngz6BEgLnYoSjtQVivHYA3pJCYfDUVGEDmBh7m7oYjdADbULr6M_vnHwyQTB0peJ3B3Bl7H8twrxQAFJkUtmEXsLaOTqeXSaRynO8_tiWeKC317HI15VX1v1G-kjmh6GmieY/s6000/kallu%20arctic%20bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcauX_Bd-VXeo6KRIpiRPxqoOdQaT7vHICSm67DfRTBRXntTm7s9ICmh3Ngz6BEgLnYoSjtQVivHYA3pJCYfDUVGEDmBh7m7oYjdADbULr6M_vnHwyQTB0peJ3B3Bl7H8twrxQAFJkUtmEXsLaOTqeXSaRynO8_tiWeKC317HI15VX1v1G-kjmh6GmieY/w640-h426/kallu%20arctic%20bear.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Happy First Birthday to our little Arctic cubs. This is Kallu.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And another surprise is coming this week, a belated birthday gift. They will surely adore playing with their new giant pickles, sent by their fans in Polar Pals. </span></div></div></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-55977979004250340042023-10-26T14:53:00.001-07:002023-10-26T14:53:15.920-07:00Farewell to Payton<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYnA7tIt004CiVlsbho0DU05LS2HZfQiuHPekQ5uJp7bpKDCK0GAuiPMpTnWCigcVeKJKXZlooahcCX_hussP387ubZViVo0zQ4oG1mjQWTF5RWyNnU8qO5l77V77f7_N_wgpNWTp1IwW0RfEqd32r1YZzTTo-yeDFkAiyyockxr0AUrhyphenhyphenR1IZkySKL0/s1466/paytonlook.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1074" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYnA7tIt004CiVlsbho0DU05LS2HZfQiuHPekQ5uJp7bpKDCK0GAuiPMpTnWCigcVeKJKXZlooahcCX_hussP387ubZViVo0zQ4oG1mjQWTF5RWyNnU8qO5l77V77f7_N_wgpNWTp1IwW0RfEqd32r1YZzTTo-yeDFkAiyyockxr0AUrhyphenhyphenR1IZkySKL0/w469-h640/paytonlook.jpg" width="469" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton in Memphis in 2012.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We heard today of the sudden passing of Payton, son of Arki and Aussie. He had been living in the North Carolina Zoo with Aurora and Yukon's daughter Anana since January of 2021. He died two hours into a transport to the Louisville Zoo yesterday, October 25. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2Q2stsmJ_-YtXLKSJRvElRMH-VVwvmFECt5TAPsBbxHoP6KZu4nzhDhLcvaLg245-7liy7NlCaTRGQuO4anWx1yGFGAqJOkVkMedZHXo5NnLEo3gWixmhNjyQcFar64K-GFsLroKmLtSbbNqRr8uYirsuKzM_t5bgXme-9qRpWrEyb484AohL6WNyyk/s2592/Peyton.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2Q2stsmJ_-YtXLKSJRvElRMH-VVwvmFECt5TAPsBbxHoP6KZu4nzhDhLcvaLg245-7liy7NlCaTRGQuO4anWx1yGFGAqJOkVkMedZHXo5NnLEo3gWixmhNjyQcFar64K-GFsLroKmLtSbbNqRr8uYirsuKzM_t5bgXme-9qRpWrEyb484AohL6WNyyk/w640-h480/Peyton.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton in 2012</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He would have been 20 years old on November 8. Payton was named for NFL running back Walter Payton. </span></p><p><br /></p></div><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDhyUWyrIGGlBhN3TpbG9H8M28YYVMH_OqDJ8-hkVBFWm09xnbQbMYUqNbnOf78V-p4wFqdq1NgFD91o732gJna5BI_n8iMSbhGXzf4yL82J0fE7XOgyKg8WALfFOadwwDjIdZy9WOmHTQuW3oylrP8M0Avq_8TrsKyrDDcU1S4O0YvB5b1K-M1ey6hE/s2592/Payton%20face.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDhyUWyrIGGlBhN3TpbG9H8M28YYVMH_OqDJ8-hkVBFWm09xnbQbMYUqNbnOf78V-p4wFqdq1NgFD91o732gJna5BI_n8iMSbhGXzf4yL82J0fE7XOgyKg8WALfFOadwwDjIdZy9WOmHTQuW3oylrP8M0Avq_8TrsKyrDDcU1S4O0YvB5b1K-M1ey6hE/w640-h480/Payton%20face.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I visited him in October of 2012, when he was living in Memphis with Haley. He had moved to the Memphis Zoo with Aurora and Yukon's daughter Haley, who had come to Chicago from the Seneca Park Zoo in New York to get to know him. The two moved together from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in January of 2006. There were never any offspring from these two.</span></p></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpf_d9FFXF4KtUz48IA2G-9s7LCLXXXNzMwqgHOlpXP8bSWsRU5q7A7ExVglUyHnc7CiE697exSZoTG6k71zVEr9FaQkAm0NrSN3QgDKa9hB2GSQ5ivPuI5Su3ZRpq9TY-HaXpXfmjqslcRpcNb0m8KZQ9IzQaq2cLg5INfeMIYE8y5nAdYnPgUR2aSc/s1896/paytondance.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1896" data-original-width="1826" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpf_d9FFXF4KtUz48IA2G-9s7LCLXXXNzMwqgHOlpXP8bSWsRU5q7A7ExVglUyHnc7CiE697exSZoTG6k71zVEr9FaQkAm0NrSN3QgDKa9hB2GSQ5ivPuI5Su3ZRpq9TY-HaXpXfmjqslcRpcNb0m8KZQ9IzQaq2cLg5INfeMIYE8y5nAdYnPgUR2aSc/w616-h640/paytondance.jpg" width="616" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton with the kids</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Arki and Aussie were the parents of five cubs. Marty, who was born in 1996, moved to Toledo and went on to father many cubs there, all but one with Crystal. Marty died in Toledo in 2021. Arki and Aussi's daughter Tiguak, who was hand raised, went to Canada and died in 2011 while undergoing a procedure under anesthetic. Kinepak, born in 2000, died in Buffalo in 2007. Payton was born in 2003 and Hudson, the only offspring still alive, was born in 2006 in Brookfield. </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Payton was well loved in Memphis, and also in North Carolina, a cooperative and laid back bear who always had a good relationship with his keepers.</span></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTEWOmIXkf7IiZDV_M82rwYybmH8SColcg-LVkqzNGqQz8uSVLJlxEE-QMb8DILBH4CGdP44QRbOFBRGbcfHrlqNJv9g6wRAK5nmZtitnNWJJSA2v4MElnUk93x6qXIoS_O_a9aaKOyPp4K3tsQ9iYrrXhOn8gf43QLx5PiXOyXZoqrxEGaL3R66wDUg/s2474/paytonmelon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="2474" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTEWOmIXkf7IiZDV_M82rwYybmH8SColcg-LVkqzNGqQz8uSVLJlxEE-QMb8DILBH4CGdP44QRbOFBRGbcfHrlqNJv9g6wRAK5nmZtitnNWJJSA2v4MElnUk93x6qXIoS_O_a9aaKOyPp4K3tsQ9iYrrXhOn8gf43QLx5PiXOyXZoqrxEGaL3R66wDUg/w640-h436/paytonmelon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton was a playful boy.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I only visited him once, but noticed he had the same kind of dance as his mother Arki, only in the water. He seemed to enjoy interacting with the youngsters who visited him.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbF4i2FJmyoZ7jyU_BWBNMTnhaDlxHhSS56XtSxFBzGKWp2MTQASnPaFlgXMokQumwO1EbRNitr9e8eZGl_X45tliVxEJDqZ1QNTU1EQwfAwaCd-kh_WxTDSOcZ1j8e9QO0184Ohfsl7iIUEvPr2ldKpsE6Wljt9Bfquj0mfwBs4PV8xjN4r9KPxeXq2M/s2104/Paytonswim.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="2104" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbF4i2FJmyoZ7jyU_BWBNMTnhaDlxHhSS56XtSxFBzGKWp2MTQASnPaFlgXMokQumwO1EbRNitr9e8eZGl_X45tliVxEJDqZ1QNTU1EQwfAwaCd-kh_WxTDSOcZ1j8e9QO0184Ohfsl7iIUEvPr2ldKpsE6Wljt9Bfquj0mfwBs4PV8xjN4r9KPxeXq2M/w640-h534/Paytonswim.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton interacting with the visitors in Memphis</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUcQVWLlteNOytV30VtXjdxOg4zgzp3VrdThZdEWD4kte2brl3vhsGtwWjkiPDNf4S5j0RTk_UZoEk3-DShI446l-G9CtC2gBp_HQCVyiyx8b_D53LQ0issGKo7EmRixt61-pgybV5qoYkdD5uv_-BeOlySaFRMhLYJsj7L9gzl8YSB6niYsBzpBaruE/s1588/paytonwater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1266" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUcQVWLlteNOytV30VtXjdxOg4zgzp3VrdThZdEWD4kte2brl3vhsGtwWjkiPDNf4S5j0RTk_UZoEk3-DShI446l-G9CtC2gBp_HQCVyiyx8b_D53LQ0issGKo7EmRixt61-pgybV5qoYkdD5uv_-BeOlySaFRMhLYJsj7L9gzl8YSB6niYsBzpBaruE/w510-h640/paytonwater.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton did the reverse dance, like his mom Arki.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15j-tfC0FugltAR1kgsR5C-6ZHPvX-csvb5ik95MEE_2b4ghhgunf_aWo3XQakuB10h2B48rMNDMLdSOXWD-8vm_cqo3SnfRHCeOfHuJOoNytBXM_jYeRStXoL3npzsHJjhHxou-VxvjJf7di0d5wFBFtsPDAVsyyKJ07eelKABH1s0TklY0f6FosIoM/s1506/paytonwindow2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15j-tfC0FugltAR1kgsR5C-6ZHPvX-csvb5ik95MEE_2b4ghhgunf_aWo3XQakuB10h2B48rMNDMLdSOXWD-8vm_cqo3SnfRHCeOfHuJOoNytBXM_jYeRStXoL3npzsHJjhHxou-VxvjJf7di0d5wFBFtsPDAVsyyKJ07eelKABH1s0TklY0f6FosIoM/w348-h640/paytonwindow2.jpg" width="348" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton loved to see the kids at the window</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEPkkteZkzkz35iHXb3Hv1C7BHi1EmtW9aRj1GpwB5Kjspa2TeNaBQ_CHF2cLz5MchdTemt0grwLXn9axqjTtpuCZSygXTBXWTeeOIVo8Bie6FmPYjoQdoBONE1l685ynTqNWrgE0jKB9Sf-udKz0TRhzHiPoYWvaEi4t9Jp2BEg8KxZPerNeXb_mWDM/s2235/paytonwindow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2235" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEPkkteZkzkz35iHXb3Hv1C7BHi1EmtW9aRj1GpwB5Kjspa2TeNaBQ_CHF2cLz5MchdTemt0grwLXn9axqjTtpuCZSygXTBXWTeeOIVo8Bie6FmPYjoQdoBONE1l685ynTqNWrgE0jKB9Sf-udKz0TRhzHiPoYWvaEi4t9Jp2BEg8KxZPerNeXb_mWDM/w344-h640/paytonwindow.jpg" width="344" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton at the window in Memphis</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MPrTKCwDhAm6BmG5g43eOQoW46wuUmqHp8U-keCtknYLY3MF6XzSbjL5BK4StOnhMzXSZbuUHzcxw4HwvE7401WZDb07ZHr71Vaiy0tF8iH-y_jS2yEDKz3yQbggYtLGdRnqfBNw094BV6YCdqnttnrE0owOTCEYFhPZFqXcf2Xx7CBiA_VBZYuOf0E/s2592/paytonfish2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MPrTKCwDhAm6BmG5g43eOQoW46wuUmqHp8U-keCtknYLY3MF6XzSbjL5BK4StOnhMzXSZbuUHzcxw4HwvE7401WZDb07ZHr71Vaiy0tF8iH-y_jS2yEDKz3yQbggYtLGdRnqfBNw094BV6YCdqnttnrE0owOTCEYFhPZFqXcf2Xx7CBiA_VBZYuOf0E/w480-h640/paytonfish2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This leaves only 39 polar bears in US zoos, and there is a law preventing the import of polar bears from outside the US.</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9qXtZ68w8tWA6cjBQPEq6NzxmmAaHQD556-MlaWO6jzuW4XywNtMPCkvjsahCynqucmVyI3GABxPfsLPQMTgUybHLT4iTTDMAVfbmkPqgUoI-3u7fyu-dy4i8Q2RYIAbSD2k9kNSa6yNbvP6OBU7spOo62kx39iZdpzScWv5deEPsjyQuc6Mqf899tg/s2030/paytontall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="2030" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9qXtZ68w8tWA6cjBQPEq6NzxmmAaHQD556-MlaWO6jzuW4XywNtMPCkvjsahCynqucmVyI3GABxPfsLPQMTgUybHLT4iTTDMAVfbmkPqgUoI-3u7fyu-dy4i8Q2RYIAbSD2k9kNSa6yNbvP6OBU7spOo62kx39iZdpzScWv5deEPsjyQuc6Mqf899tg/w640-h604/paytontall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Payton was destined for the Louisville Zoo, where wildborn Qannik lives, but she is property of Fish and Wildlife, and cannot be part of the breeding program.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e9uTmZPdKSlwybDxvKBuNm0Sus6rIKurd2U1PD6sPDQ5InKM2mueVNYB3zXjDuePAKd-aNN8Mm99bAZl3g0xoQ7IcT3H_pQKtuBVHjnMUjuuwA9feko86OkoP71P9vFFsBTf6n0z9H9ePmi4HbOCcdeKdzavzUhO-Ac8MnNecWPs2DU4dW-JlecyW0U/s1540/paytonend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="1486" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e9uTmZPdKSlwybDxvKBuNm0Sus6rIKurd2U1PD6sPDQ5InKM2mueVNYB3zXjDuePAKd-aNN8Mm99bAZl3g0xoQ7IcT3H_pQKtuBVHjnMUjuuwA9feko86OkoP71P9vFFsBTf6n0z9H9ePmi4HbOCcdeKdzavzUhO-Ac8MnNecWPs2DU4dW-JlecyW0U/w618-h640/paytonend.jpg" width="618" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Farewell, Payton. You were such a good bear.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-2859774014139442032023-07-31T09:34:00.001-07:002023-07-31T10:13:59.794-07:00Fritz the Hippo's first year<p><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Photos and story by Molly Merrow (of course)</span></i></b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjSvExGsTPkbVp5HdLi0_bNWR3dboWwS9EREcLl_aFimL5329pDOld9DDxxMdDEOVRq1AZdS-ecQWgxBWJSlYhA8SAavCWlsjAK3HWLCuE1AnCtVOAhu3tOGAczo2Q85narONZRmgasNn19CPZn2FmWXwxHx1zm4KQTkLEoAIdGwPZwkYmeO80sF-9Wo/s3332/fritz%20head%20on.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3332" data-original-width="2303" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjSvExGsTPkbVp5HdLi0_bNWR3dboWwS9EREcLl_aFimL5329pDOld9DDxxMdDEOVRq1AZdS-ecQWgxBWJSlYhA8SAavCWlsjAK3HWLCuE1AnCtVOAhu3tOGAczo2Q85narONZRmgasNn19CPZn2FmWXwxHx1zm4KQTkLEoAIdGwPZwkYmeO80sF-9Wo/w442-h640/fritz%20head%20on.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here comes Fritz (age 3 months)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Welcome to Fritz's birthday week! The Cincinnati Zoo will have special treats for all the animals on Thursday, in honor of Fritz's first birthday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How hard is it to be the little brother of the most famous hippo in the world? You would have to be very brave and bold, not to mention sassy, but Baby Fritz certainly can hold his own in this hippo family at Hippo Cove at the Cincinnati Zoo. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He was born on August 3 of 2022, accompanied by much anticipation and excitement. The fans of the famous Fiona were following Bibi's pregnancy day by day, anxious to meet the new family member. Would it be a girl or a boy? Would it be full term? How would Fiona react? How long until the whole family could be seen together in the pool? And a name for the little one, to go with Fiona?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He arrived right on time, healthy and weighing what a normal baby hippo should weigh. Big sister Fiona, now six years old, had come prematurely and weighed only 29 pounds, while a normal baby hippo would weight 50 to 100 pounds. Fiona made history by her upbringing by human keepers, who even brought in some vascular experts from the nearby Children's Hospital when Fiona needed IV's. Fiona's precarious journey was shared day by day by the zoo on social media, and Fiona became a worldwide sensation. She was eventually able to rejoin her mother Bibi and father Henry. Sadly, Henry passed away a few months after the bloat was reunited, but at least she got to know her daddy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bibi and her calf remained behind the scenes for several weeks, bonding. The zoo announced the baby's name when he was two weeks old. He was dubbed Fritz.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">After a few weeks, Bibi and Fritz started to spend a little time in the outdoor habitat, away from Fiona and Fritz's dad Tucker. </span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlhHMmfFPIHv_1nMJ9wjdfgE_da8jCM1iUgPStCPfCL0ZlgQXlH9ks8MUNIGTXZHj_DNg63OWodkHdFVNE2R87Tj1GjMd4HZm4mg4QvpnMUIaUsNKSmx0l4V6wOBnG-4qbJIfVGjVpY_M576JRYyvOosTCY2nGtjY0EDgsVPDSu4hZskqQyo6CwBhI9k/s3388/Fritz%20and%20mama%20bib.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="3388" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlhHMmfFPIHv_1nMJ9wjdfgE_da8jCM1iUgPStCPfCL0ZlgQXlH9ks8MUNIGTXZHj_DNg63OWodkHdFVNE2R87Tj1GjMd4HZm4mg4QvpnMUIaUsNKSmx0l4V6wOBnG-4qbJIfVGjVpY_M576JRYyvOosTCY2nGtjY0EDgsVPDSu4hZskqQyo6CwBhI9k/w640-h340/Fritz%20and%20mama%20bib.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz at 3 weeks, with his mom Bibi.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteaxqNSaFvWctVgGEZchHXORNN5AjHfczEVluEczK3XPvkgkfKIm_1xRTGK9K9uFVuyVSQ-WfoY7ji16de0rn85MMf6HuxaNFq-iMT7SVKB-1UMokkLNBgId6VuEuePWm24DUDQKsHP9PiEw_zQShBE5D40FMkDO4XkYQwEJUTZzhCOJX8b-5G3rSXbM/s3241/Fritz%20wall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="3241" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteaxqNSaFvWctVgGEZchHXORNN5AjHfczEVluEczK3XPvkgkfKIm_1xRTGK9K9uFVuyVSQ-WfoY7ji16de0rn85MMf6HuxaNFq-iMT7SVKB-1UMokkLNBgId6VuEuePWm24DUDQKsHP9PiEw_zQShBE5D40FMkDO4XkYQwEJUTZzhCOJX8b-5G3rSXbM/w640-h498/Fritz%20wall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz at 3 weeks, quite well protected by his mom.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3C-iBNVirJoYDj7q3AardI-rQSwrkhmwNRknv3sFL52xI5-XxyyJ8HEWJKFv0YSJYKmEMs28HWiFwwiTsl1GLFeGFmKyIIXAhgbs9kmSIILBXW-mRNrmvTKGxpB57TzJOa--6NVHpawMjqksuICILeC4o0cKAjqoeCz4baMx2JcZUBI_JSZyyNxxPYE/s2198/Fritz%20float.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="2198" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3C-iBNVirJoYDj7q3AardI-rQSwrkhmwNRknv3sFL52xI5-XxyyJ8HEWJKFv0YSJYKmEMs28HWiFwwiTsl1GLFeGFmKyIIXAhgbs9kmSIILBXW-mRNrmvTKGxpB57TzJOa--6NVHpawMjqksuICILeC4o0cKAjqoeCz4baMx2JcZUBI_JSZyyNxxPYE/w640-h438/Fritz%20float.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Tiny Fritz, 3 weeks old.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Eg6hpEAxNGPDA_Nl6rudZgIuRlC9-3-G8g69E-d6sqDdHtYyTTNwbWupYPgAZ2MfvNfrZwOBTXnAg0t7TE0sh72NldjCWQ9AD-Vrui7lgcMrjRvHV3jEwIIk3CaZf8feyfb_skt3PvyXcALM9RHHI3ghERqb0FIWHALUxbk1Z_MEOyGUGPhNtcJORc/s3465/Fritz%20bibi%20window.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2478" data-original-width="3465" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Eg6hpEAxNGPDA_Nl6rudZgIuRlC9-3-G8g69E-d6sqDdHtYyTTNwbWupYPgAZ2MfvNfrZwOBTXnAg0t7TE0sh72NldjCWQ9AD-Vrui7lgcMrjRvHV3jEwIIk3CaZf8feyfb_skt3PvyXcALM9RHHI3ghERqb0FIWHALUxbk1Z_MEOyGUGPhNtcJORc/w640-h458/Fritz%20bibi%20window.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz at 3 months and Bibi at window</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Eg6hpEAxNGPDA_Nl6rudZgIuRlC9-3-G8g69E-d6sqDdHtYyTTNwbWupYPgAZ2MfvNfrZwOBTXnAg0t7TE0sh72NldjCWQ9AD-Vrui7lgcMrjRvHV3jEwIIk3CaZf8feyfb_skt3PvyXcALM9RHHI3ghERqb0FIWHALUxbk1Z_MEOyGUGPhNtcJORc/s3465/Fritz%20bibi%20window.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When Fritz was three weeks old, Fritz and Fiona met for just a few minutes. That time was increased gradually until Mother Bibi was comfortable with her two children being together. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2svyXzxfluuOO6mX38_bPgkKfYjJ3sbQYQqjClxbiUAlrh2eeZEOVNrZ1NXMZCEgXVFU9vavOgrZwLozDTN6MUfiQwLvs7q-IHCKjSfdb6urmkIfCU-ZMbqo4GV1ojX454hGJB1xOmbqXT8jD_f08_6UelGBjyixSyuV0kODDukG-54yypkGNGLfieY/s3647/fritz%20fiona%20fish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2681" data-original-width="3647" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2svyXzxfluuOO6mX38_bPgkKfYjJ3sbQYQqjClxbiUAlrh2eeZEOVNrZ1NXMZCEgXVFU9vavOgrZwLozDTN6MUfiQwLvs7q-IHCKjSfdb6urmkIfCU-ZMbqo4GV1ojX454hGJB1xOmbqXT8jD_f08_6UelGBjyixSyuV0kODDukG-54yypkGNGLfieY/w640-h470/fritz%20fiona%20fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Little Fritz with mom and big sister.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieuBKXt00Onx647rBatFiV99uux9H_f-GWQkt7mkYpN27gtmSfmYwM-W3SV76YbYD9_2OJyGN-JH6KgOLGcqg0DWibXBzfXF3XkVz4EYQBNv7O3BOYF6Njzz1tc6qDUBKjyUp4pou1mxfH8GyE0MH7S-pjlrexOP1oMTXpaF4lc1bKRSwBq_xH9mjpos/s2352/Fritz%20yells%20fiona.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1939" data-original-width="2352" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieuBKXt00Onx647rBatFiV99uux9H_f-GWQkt7mkYpN27gtmSfmYwM-W3SV76YbYD9_2OJyGN-JH6KgOLGcqg0DWibXBzfXF3XkVz4EYQBNv7O3BOYF6Njzz1tc6qDUBKjyUp4pou1mxfH8GyE0MH7S-pjlrexOP1oMTXpaF4lc1bKRSwBq_xH9mjpos/w640-h528/Fritz%20yells%20fiona.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Baby Fritz, giving some sass to big sister Fiona</span></b></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2AuIA385NuV8fNn0RR1BjSqjWAHpr6K3zAsrkxuuVWns1_N_17qPuv8vxqKr-VDZWyq1aHT8Xfs91zhZdaFxKVr83vFSbOnBHC2GRk9rDycZQVWfwH3TjYJQ7ioKJgOzbbw8qkeYPenFZpgP8rPoKaYtJo9LpUMyxv62JXnu7RlFDjxbYo6f_PLg9ME/s5184/fritz%20center.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2AuIA385NuV8fNn0RR1BjSqjWAHpr6K3zAsrkxuuVWns1_N_17qPuv8vxqKr-VDZWyq1aHT8Xfs91zhZdaFxKVr83vFSbOnBHC2GRk9rDycZQVWfwH3TjYJQ7ioKJgOzbbw8qkeYPenFZpgP8rPoKaYtJo9LpUMyxv62JXnu7RlFDjxbYo6f_PLg9ME/w640-h426/fritz%20center.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Fritz with mom and big sister.</span></b><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSGL7XgNnyeXJbVafQ6DHl03OQQcP76mQP1x4WuNviUYduO4QbD2NzLEzpcM_TUNUtHN16jt2HeqOcv4HorzBomA9aIVb-XCX4PsEmm-GN5OPNUi9CENAP19Sqjl1d4sudJ201tFqBrZ70ERlV-EeFBV41yPuxfmlZO-Xfh3eV7fS2h20MRQKQsDLIsg/s3808/Fritz%20close%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3038" data-original-width="3808" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSGL7XgNnyeXJbVafQ6DHl03OQQcP76mQP1x4WuNviUYduO4QbD2NzLEzpcM_TUNUtHN16jt2HeqOcv4HorzBomA9aIVb-XCX4PsEmm-GN5OPNUi9CENAP19Sqjl1d4sudJ201tFqBrZ70ERlV-EeFBV41yPuxfmlZO-Xfh3eV7fS2h20MRQKQsDLIsg/w640-h510/Fritz%20close%20up.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz poses for his portrait.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtY7lFXKQHmJOzz_N-Ms1qV66T31qmFBZwhvM1eFWbiungjYYLhzjgxBv5yXgkic-5RgOLMqYrsRABIAmPzMlAOdDDhBR_IG7lLZb1SX_uASSo2i77LAL4le9tkDlybkGXl3_WTjKwtVzNp8StMCkagNkSDNvLPIFMzDWKWm5lUYoFUb9po92aLVzNAI/s3416/Fritz%20kiss%20bibi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2527" data-original-width="3416" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtY7lFXKQHmJOzz_N-Ms1qV66T31qmFBZwhvM1eFWbiungjYYLhzjgxBv5yXgkic-5RgOLMqYrsRABIAmPzMlAOdDDhBR_IG7lLZb1SX_uASSo2i77LAL4le9tkDlybkGXl3_WTjKwtVzNp8StMCkagNkSDNvLPIFMzDWKWm5lUYoFUb9po92aLVzNAI/s320/Fritz%20kiss%20bibi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGjmeBJxQdKdAM7oDyfKUa5h8x-MgT_r9uc7u1ckewcTFDNQrAqHyA10i40ixbWnVVKk5AJx9qhBSLMq-6KahLYSm6RTZW5UjhrjdvOpYDdeF0Hnb5e36Y-02NHcjpN8rzWfr1f5Z3IT9_DixnB7YMZ4isl_G7tGfX-Fh4pIz1XHtoK_1gfFTVWcjENw/s4529/fritz%20corner.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3416" data-original-width="4529" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGjmeBJxQdKdAM7oDyfKUa5h8x-MgT_r9uc7u1ckewcTFDNQrAqHyA10i40ixbWnVVKk5AJx9qhBSLMq-6KahLYSm6RTZW5UjhrjdvOpYDdeF0Hnb5e36Y-02NHcjpN8rzWfr1f5Z3IT9_DixnB7YMZ4isl_G7tGfX-Fh4pIz1XHtoK_1gfFTVWcjENw/w640-h482/fritz%20corner.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fritz had no fear, even when he was tiny<br /></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">On October 13, dad Tucker was allowed to join the bloat for short periods, gradually to increase until the whole family was always out together. The following photos were taken in January, when Fritz was five months old.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOcO4WWBC1xsEj7DweEui6aA4A4ZJFut0RJHmzwEvzNqDmVcae-8186GMoZ0aLU9bqBVG_e9fKN8SGVLQvIHikskc8AJV6KZDfEgOwg9KCeePdHrqjhLNvyGnAafczrd9SvAw9rY_LyS3xM_ViGyNGl2m-SzFdoaSBlRYALol5CQg_48KQCTuRVvnRg8/s5184/tucker%20fritz%20bubbles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOcO4WWBC1xsEj7DweEui6aA4A4ZJFut0RJHmzwEvzNqDmVcae-8186GMoZ0aLU9bqBVG_e9fKN8SGVLQvIHikskc8AJV6KZDfEgOwg9KCeePdHrqjhLNvyGnAafczrd9SvAw9rY_LyS3xM_ViGyNGl2m-SzFdoaSBlRYALol5CQg_48KQCTuRVvnRg8/w640-h426/tucker%20fritz%20bubbles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Fritz blowing bubbles next to Tucker.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZiW3QIyL8RXkrGXAq6p07SDls4PRstNqFSXuwJyUMqMzBst1bJ9cVumXx_airabYZcQDQL9KQcjWCf_9bbi1awfi7FyX_LHsx9lMSuezoF77cHFfHBHWUSjpi4wMs2iY1GGJNGuxI4Hu-NBwPMQI47rH7uJysAT1As01zu1YaBFhaOjV2vApgpykp80/s4908/Tucker%20fritz%20close.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3312" data-original-width="4908" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZiW3QIyL8RXkrGXAq6p07SDls4PRstNqFSXuwJyUMqMzBst1bJ9cVumXx_airabYZcQDQL9KQcjWCf_9bbi1awfi7FyX_LHsx9lMSuezoF77cHFfHBHWUSjpi4wMs2iY1GGJNGuxI4Hu-NBwPMQI47rH7uJysAT1As01zu1YaBFhaOjV2vApgpykp80/w640-h432/Tucker%20fritz%20close.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Fritz is fascinated by Tucker's huge mouth.</span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6lNiG63OGKYXZKE6DvCqHA26OuCJNU6ME8tYmbBij7jxMwUvl2p1enWx-xmhOWsO7ut9iCftBpSbXboWhKT8EAOMiLSEepGkTE0O9H9eEVqRktN5lt3o7BqPJwh_xh69stznUsE9XLkONdYr1-tZA2e_lLFDgACGBcuudXgs0GtG1QMKk7E-MZSe7Jo/s5184/tucker%20fritz%20smile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6lNiG63OGKYXZKE6DvCqHA26OuCJNU6ME8tYmbBij7jxMwUvl2p1enWx-xmhOWsO7ut9iCftBpSbXboWhKT8EAOMiLSEepGkTE0O9H9eEVqRktN5lt3o7BqPJwh_xh69stznUsE9XLkONdYr1-tZA2e_lLFDgACGBcuudXgs0GtG1QMKk7E-MZSe7Jo/w640-h426/tucker%20fritz%20smile.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> It looks like Tucker is giving some fatherly advice to his son.</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKv7Nm_4fmhoutgnD8rdGSd9qoKm36Vqq6rJE1EZa5hiizlNBwQ5wZwfSZM_24uI1T8YGIPVZnYKMXYZfDHZUA-McbIgIYgBZ_5v1uirdA4cp-g8gmrxvIWnfHj3qNCRjICKgD-rhpQgXXowgOuM2fg1p3lJVAT6giDXLpMU9yUrqniaSpQdlWhPByHw/s5184/fritz%20tucker%20mouth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKv7Nm_4fmhoutgnD8rdGSd9qoKm36Vqq6rJE1EZa5hiizlNBwQ5wZwfSZM_24uI1T8YGIPVZnYKMXYZfDHZUA-McbIgIYgBZ_5v1uirdA4cp-g8gmrxvIWnfHj3qNCRjICKgD-rhpQgXXowgOuM2fg1p3lJVAT6giDXLpMU9yUrqniaSpQdlWhPByHw/w640-h426/fritz%20tucker%20mouth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz has kisses for Dad<br /></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8XxbDPCyhOr7bd4oRW2PkySOLPjv1GPcKTdUajFMZDW2SIY02aSg2ezjh08yNkWyHJLhWImZPPjzA7QtbuMwJmLp0m2eUSr0w7-LMri0UdS6JKv4VlOlumFMrUcjXQtRoWlUuAkTyoXne_swEZrPZFeZYCkz8w0iZ1a0dPqxav5H5OA72y9-0bCfLsc/s3576/fritz%20father%20son.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3216" data-original-width="3576" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8XxbDPCyhOr7bd4oRW2PkySOLPjv1GPcKTdUajFMZDW2SIY02aSg2ezjh08yNkWyHJLhWImZPPjzA7QtbuMwJmLp0m2eUSr0w7-LMri0UdS6JKv4VlOlumFMrUcjXQtRoWlUuAkTyoXne_swEZrPZFeZYCkz8w0iZ1a0dPqxav5H5OA72y9-0bCfLsc/w640-h576/fritz%20father%20son.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Blowing more bubbles with Dad Tucker<br /></span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYYMEV6KP8rpGLMGqpfYdW2Os1zZY3cQk3lGrV_lMyzOmFX0CzZberAEo3H060Gr5EMRWUAmYdthb2igHwCAfsf13S0ucZFZaECkSqwLDksqM0S3bZa0xOVSWJXThU1AJau0Gch1Gog6cdXlElLyqwXGMT5ysAV_jN_8hqNtSoMHhokfl8X_KmGHMs0Y/s3416/Fritz%20kiss%20bibi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2527" data-original-width="3416" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYYMEV6KP8rpGLMGqpfYdW2Os1zZY3cQk3lGrV_lMyzOmFX0CzZberAEo3H060Gr5EMRWUAmYdthb2igHwCAfsf13S0ucZFZaECkSqwLDksqM0S3bZa0xOVSWJXThU1AJau0Gch1Gog6cdXlElLyqwXGMT5ysAV_jN_8hqNtSoMHhokfl8X_KmGHMs0Y/w640-h474/Fritz%20kiss%20bibi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Bibi kisses her little son Fritz</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmg6-QPs319Tq13BuYb0ulxdZ_WS9MTeKRtzTRmvPGBs1R9fJEvqEIFQcl1q_yhZzrvJD9WLEFaUTe4boLB72GPGC9Ta3Aov6Y-1iNZ5aeCrRG8WOcSLf6UqD2ermSPSS2bSjT-dd-yTfFwDG6q2BmjgYJDz-AtXTXFvXEYwFWloOjx2ivKs7IiuJhEk/s5184/fritz%20fishies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmg6-QPs319Tq13BuYb0ulxdZ_WS9MTeKRtzTRmvPGBs1R9fJEvqEIFQcl1q_yhZzrvJD9WLEFaUTe4boLB72GPGC9Ta3Aov6Y-1iNZ5aeCrRG8WOcSLf6UqD2ermSPSS2bSjT-dd-yTfFwDG6q2BmjgYJDz-AtXTXFvXEYwFWloOjx2ivKs7IiuJhEk/w640-h426/fritz%20fishies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Baby Fritz playing with the fishies.</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbrAT4Q89IxGcdsXn5SX-s_dZmYSV8qcxwVv7y-0FEU4uKimrnU2s6wZDuZsloVK2L9eTjLVo31Kol1A8-kvcP6_zyozAFjdthyVcco3qFjIHEP2ew1W1LcWlQkkGl49YOPG4CGrQmQUwRUSydoh82-YxRaiXxvGwlQ0zgQVF1KUzYuwtGin6iY1Lmtk/s5180/Tucker%20Fiona%20Fritz%20Bibi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2639" data-original-width="5180" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbrAT4Q89IxGcdsXn5SX-s_dZmYSV8qcxwVv7y-0FEU4uKimrnU2s6wZDuZsloVK2L9eTjLVo31Kol1A8-kvcP6_zyozAFjdthyVcco3qFjIHEP2ew1W1LcWlQkkGl49YOPG4CGrQmQUwRUSydoh82-YxRaiXxvGwlQ0zgQVF1KUzYuwtGin6iY1Lmtk/w640-h326/Tucker%20Fiona%20Fritz%20Bibi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b> And here's the whole family, Tucker, Fiona, Fritz and Bibi.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6uKBFZQchcPedgrqUhdt0J4LLMl_xUmU_dP_t8xQ6592XvZ3nxQqWAUGVL9BZlgEnoZx5SGa8OMiCGhek1llUftSBbEzh4L14gegwvdDUAPqgBy3w0ciY-Z0BKTXAE_O6MHJmQCCM9ax8q791zgYzDYfVlpKntihrHgUKNhSFfqJ1TBj0dDxef9fdcA/s5184/fritz%20wires.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6uKBFZQchcPedgrqUhdt0J4LLMl_xUmU_dP_t8xQ6592XvZ3nxQqWAUGVL9BZlgEnoZx5SGa8OMiCGhek1llUftSBbEzh4L14gegwvdDUAPqgBy3w0ciY-Z0BKTXAE_O6MHJmQCCM9ax8q791zgYzDYfVlpKntihrHgUKNhSFfqJ1TBj0dDxef9fdcA/w640-h426/fritz%20wires.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Fritz is a fun loving little boy, often called Tater Tot, or just Tot. Maybe because he looked like a potato when he was little?<br /><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxR_cCdB7SYW4VGLKkzAXJj_UbMBnpplD-r-6Rj7x652fVm-FCmeT9FbdcXOyWoExsRAhLYrfBR5dfYjBu2uj2O_Bxnvlev_Eb-jXnJofzvXoUu6zYg-OgnmMlZEIozWuxBSZsyaorkRR3-770klDJxggltESy8LRC-G_MUtK7HzS5V7Uq0uEEHz17po/s3735/fritz%20fiona%20bibi%20lettuce.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="3735" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxR_cCdB7SYW4VGLKkzAXJj_UbMBnpplD-r-6Rj7x652fVm-FCmeT9FbdcXOyWoExsRAhLYrfBR5dfYjBu2uj2O_Bxnvlev_Eb-jXnJofzvXoUu6zYg-OgnmMlZEIozWuxBSZsyaorkRR3-770klDJxggltESy8LRC-G_MUtK7HzS5V7Uq0uEEHz17po/w640-h560/fritz%20fiona%20bibi%20lettuce.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br />At Bibi's birthday party in February, everyone got some treats. Here's Fritz, Bibi and Fiona at the wall with keeper Jenna.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EO_y5t6DOcD9w-Riic82eWL1yChwvRikVTd2rR3aj4tkDPoo3pYRrp6uoQcOKGNkDXMX3QhzT1QSHkS7fofB2TVAIkMKAWl5EhJKWEEtIBOQjzJkXzY2YKEtrIoEsHVnVBOZm2IXtrqmDdSOhkubCZXz8Se1DtZNmjFT-LqhGYZIulTz32TZumtDh4M/s4565/Fritz%20three.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2795" data-original-width="4565" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EO_y5t6DOcD9w-Riic82eWL1yChwvRikVTd2rR3aj4tkDPoo3pYRrp6uoQcOKGNkDXMX3QhzT1QSHkS7fofB2TVAIkMKAWl5EhJKWEEtIBOQjzJkXzY2YKEtrIoEsHVnVBOZm2IXtrqmDdSOhkubCZXz8Se1DtZNmjFT-LqhGYZIulTz32TZumtDh4M/w640-h392/Fritz%20three.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b> Bibi and the kids were at the wall begging for party treats, </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b> but Tucker was a gentleman and stayed back. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcK8PNz_ljKc_sHaLA5MDkIply6q7ZH8pItnOuz8YJGtQqRkBYJlj06rr-W_D4gKJf8dSKmSkfq4m9d96YEK9ukZCMKdsl7C_5cutT_aDjFfMVqAorATpk_vAzRkE7xrbf3x84dEVGOG_BVAcUFT99axxH2LE1X8A5mDDZkt0eR-UBYrksW0HqYzIdRI/s1225/clever%20fritz.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1225" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcK8PNz_ljKc_sHaLA5MDkIply6q7ZH8pItnOuz8YJGtQqRkBYJlj06rr-W_D4gKJf8dSKmSkfq4m9d96YEK9ukZCMKdsl7C_5cutT_aDjFfMVqAorATpk_vAzRkE7xrbf3x84dEVGOG_BVAcUFT99axxH2LE1X8A5mDDZkt0eR-UBYrksW0HqYzIdRI/w640-h560/clever%20fritz.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>Fritz in April at age 7 1/2 months. Clever and always up to something.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Fiona may be an international celebrity, and certainly people have been coming from all over the world to see her since she made her debut, but the arrival of Fritz has only energized her fan base. Fiona may not be the tiny little baby she was in those early years, but she is still very cute and now a proud big sister of this remarkable baby brother.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The fans just keep coming. Fiona is even more popular than before, sharing the love with her family: her mom Bibi, her step-father Tucker, and now baby brother Fritz.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyKjDiitlKlhB-_e4YxaCiB6AXWgiR0csWjxIaxJUuMqtcZUOEsq5ikFvsQsUiqneUq81WuASkYtYfNrJT4Qu8Xkjyjs2Wsk9F81NPsTfnliy9rEWs1ud2TKZGbMHX4xCK3TSRlItuNoLPmPp_bDYLYb1gakIn6LtK5T4VutlK3bUfvkd4DD8me1Li-E/s5184/fritz%20and%20fishies.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyKjDiitlKlhB-_e4YxaCiB6AXWgiR0csWjxIaxJUuMqtcZUOEsq5ikFvsQsUiqneUq81WuASkYtYfNrJT4Qu8Xkjyjs2Wsk9F81NPsTfnliy9rEWs1ud2TKZGbMHX4xCK3TSRlItuNoLPmPp_bDYLYb1gakIn6LtK5T4VutlK3bUfvkd4DD8me1Li-E/w640-h426/fritz%20and%20fishies.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz and the fishies in late July 2023.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusyRoZGkTLj8GXSj_1gkFympFrUSkpZGQCGcSztw6T2mQEnWsf1ejI_zefYRvpDL5ZJoZ9b_q6jdvIDEnMrNEFtS_PDhpqm4EtMcsPGscIElWfFEoJXctCm0F-of-TRh2oQxTORZq2fnk1hIUDo0GIYO62UfrOJ5lI-SnMDGU4fNmClzJS3UrrwWfa9c/s5184/fritz%20face%20tucker.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusyRoZGkTLj8GXSj_1gkFympFrUSkpZGQCGcSztw6T2mQEnWsf1ejI_zefYRvpDL5ZJoZ9b_q6jdvIDEnMrNEFtS_PDhpqm4EtMcsPGscIElWfFEoJXctCm0F-of-TRh2oQxTORZq2fnk1hIUDo0GIYO62UfrOJ5lI-SnMDGU4fNmClzJS3UrrwWfa9c/w640-h426/fritz%20face%20tucker.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz with his dad Tucker, late July 2023</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_1UBvHbWJMMhb5Vqi3X8LovMrH0C05xo4ZnhcaOW9wH7fac4Dh4fccmb1I5lPoiBZQOhGs7zr96fif-E60G1pzNXivsZXUBHLtjPO29ERYh_6P9Jp2H_MEPjsXz2GXMPDhsQ7e1piq1iPimHG8QfnUdldX-6A97GrK6UPpxmdreLZYEFBEEZgl2GY64/s3402/Fritz%20girl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="3402" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_1UBvHbWJMMhb5Vqi3X8LovMrH0C05xo4ZnhcaOW9wH7fac4Dh4fccmb1I5lPoiBZQOhGs7zr96fif-E60G1pzNXivsZXUBHLtjPO29ERYh_6P9Jp2H_MEPjsXz2GXMPDhsQ7e1piq1iPimHG8QfnUdldX-6A97GrK6UPpxmdreLZYEFBEEZgl2GY64/w640-h520/Fritz%20girl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz is popular with the kids</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmRB7KKacDlGTwPOYnbjqIbP9dffNtHCOKtqKz1haxg-fTWc-tWncBC1wnEr8k1CudRSvVSxCvlIueUp94GBZEh8gdrlg2nQX-IlvMHS4Xdkf52rt0KsYPCUXQmRVY8e-8ZHcuNdVnUQDS0Wp3J7Iymt2dJRg2bQOMXkHhwqjks5NIhw23nGTNU4YNYY/s3591/Fritz%20goes%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3220" data-original-width="3591" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmRB7KKacDlGTwPOYnbjqIbP9dffNtHCOKtqKz1haxg-fTWc-tWncBC1wnEr8k1CudRSvVSxCvlIueUp94GBZEh8gdrlg2nQX-IlvMHS4Xdkf52rt0KsYPCUXQmRVY8e-8ZHcuNdVnUQDS0Wp3J7Iymt2dJRg2bQOMXkHhwqjks5NIhw23nGTNU4YNYY/w640-h574/Fritz%20goes%20up.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz, so very cute, and almost a year old.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUObyyZiAz2m9emwjbLsmcHlkWd54aESv9EF0HRFRv6W1Qk6N_ZK7DlashjmoyxrhAsXzXIy-6naSm1AypvlsuUHnPTI-aY7hlbneHpaJ54ec9cwWjW-BaNjH1EkF2Oqz8x7cBAja72fZYpn1tVX3g_Okx9ckiYYWYLtpE_NFVBCrJiOLDekOVfBEpe0/s5184/Fritz%20hands.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUObyyZiAz2m9emwjbLsmcHlkWd54aESv9EF0HRFRv6W1Qk6N_ZK7DlashjmoyxrhAsXzXIy-6naSm1AypvlsuUHnPTI-aY7hlbneHpaJ54ec9cwWjW-BaNjH1EkF2Oqz8x7cBAja72fZYpn1tVX3g_Okx9ckiYYWYLtpE_NFVBCrJiOLDekOVfBEpe0/w640-h426/Fritz%20hands.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz and his fish friends - end of July 2023</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8274ReL3vMImhqNi4QNlq6A_KwdzG9R7FdhosuXLrSTgefUFrOjcPOHVdcYFQ4uzDoQtrsODPSrC79G5ntLzYTHOF8iPZVQY90dqXY0DtorNVBSL0fivUAPfTdOcFMV-GVoWL4NsYgtOg9pT55OQEyDCNlmaTjmMTLS6y0cS0FYKDwhGgdIDMKUFDgmc/s5184/fritz%20tucker%20in%20corner.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8274ReL3vMImhqNi4QNlq6A_KwdzG9R7FdhosuXLrSTgefUFrOjcPOHVdcYFQ4uzDoQtrsODPSrC79G5ntLzYTHOF8iPZVQY90dqXY0DtorNVBSL0fivUAPfTdOcFMV-GVoWL4NsYgtOg9pT55OQEyDCNlmaTjmMTLS6y0cS0FYKDwhGgdIDMKUFDgmc/w426-h640/fritz%20tucker%20in%20corner.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Nobody puts baby in the corner,<br /> unless baby is after a piece of lettuce.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxueBAkvKveVpgAmTPC3pzTVT0rmCN8_gd8apb4rVp9q4qha-W47PJR_nIMpqcKkacA3XRb1-QMHsQW_1LHPoVrMDop7FIKjYd3tntbqP2xtnFYNBasSEpsF0D12AkRci_l47ma8q5w_Bo1Pytf3308tY56ysCeUhYfLR5qNzgbvcBi0Kt8Zx04cOM2Us/s3773/Fritz%20fiona%20bibi%20at%20wall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2499" data-original-width="3773" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxueBAkvKveVpgAmTPC3pzTVT0rmCN8_gd8apb4rVp9q4qha-W47PJR_nIMpqcKkacA3XRb1-QMHsQW_1LHPoVrMDop7FIKjYd3tntbqP2xtnFYNBasSEpsF0D12AkRci_l47ma8q5w_Bo1Pytf3308tY56ysCeUhYfLR5qNzgbvcBi0Kt8Zx04cOM2Us/w640-h424/Fritz%20fiona%20bibi%20at%20wall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Snack time and Fritz, Fiona and Bibi line up. <br />Tucker stays back and waits for his treats to be thrown.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKl9d2pNGfJXgNhtLDI_N_UEIxclBWembMksfwz4OMwzJ91WJg5JIkPB6CR66v_XWmhTiC-57ysmaSSn4x0atUzsaUC9t-iTi50UwJ8qAqOIeCmAR0TFe9NMXb6s9Xdr0Rmj9mqz-HexTny3MOa4xVv1oGtw3mc6gZPZh0Fn5p8OuwPd3o9B_IDTf0iE/s4067/fritz%20food%20at%20wall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2597" data-original-width="4067" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKl9d2pNGfJXgNhtLDI_N_UEIxclBWembMksfwz4OMwzJ91WJg5JIkPB6CR66v_XWmhTiC-57ysmaSSn4x0atUzsaUC9t-iTi50UwJ8qAqOIeCmAR0TFe9NMXb6s9Xdr0Rmj9mqz-HexTny3MOa4xVv1oGtw3mc6gZPZh0Fn5p8OuwPd3o9B_IDTf0iE/w640-h408/fritz%20food%20at%20wall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes Fritz is a messy eater.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMM4ugDhV3UDNgUQFp_mTt4p6uqp1mbPEia8uluf6Xo76dFTqA90QiHeaIv3kkG4oWJH5whnJKXaXjVOWIAPkgJkhGEP8VKCAxXPPFjbqo5sJ8ZSH7gqeHC7stqf7fXCM69An0NrqXAy_wG-UPQpuCOOaYDC6MLiY0x9SdFI8FqKw0E_TmgvdrQPDLRw/s4165/Fritz%20tucker%20faces.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3255" data-original-width="4165" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMM4ugDhV3UDNgUQFp_mTt4p6uqp1mbPEia8uluf6Xo76dFTqA90QiHeaIv3kkG4oWJH5whnJKXaXjVOWIAPkgJkhGEP8VKCAxXPPFjbqo5sJ8ZSH7gqeHC7stqf7fXCM69An0NrqXAy_wG-UPQpuCOOaYDC6MLiY0x9SdFI8FqKw0E_TmgvdrQPDLRw/w640-h500/Fritz%20tucker%20faces.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Tucker and son.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyOQQereg7kLSCLo7pSYjtY9xraREwiFPrVKMz40g5StHkuB8nW7E8XmGJ6UMaWOERBhLF_2O9GEZO4CdGgP9VIWVmwPHOB2eLzhLlnG0IHfLAwuK6SuyNXvNq4-ThiVbZoGP48JEj-nFRr8m_vMMEdj6vvgegXVapcozBsimmlV3P9Y8KtzYdEgGG54/s5184/fritz%20stand%20underwater%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyOQQereg7kLSCLo7pSYjtY9xraREwiFPrVKMz40g5StHkuB8nW7E8XmGJ6UMaWOERBhLF_2O9GEZO4CdGgP9VIWVmwPHOB2eLzhLlnG0IHfLAwuK6SuyNXvNq4-ThiVbZoGP48JEj-nFRr8m_vMMEdj6vvgegXVapcozBsimmlV3P9Y8KtzYdEgGG54/w426-h640/fritz%20stand%20underwater%202.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">So tall...</span></b><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><br /></blockquote></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">It's been a big year in the life of a little hippo. He's learned to be an important part of the bloat. He's still nursing but he's gain some independence from mom, and bonded with dad and big sister. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There have been some not-so-fun times when Tucker pooped on Fritz's head, probably not on purpose, but at least there is a pool nearby to clean up. But mostly fun times chasing Fiona around, biting his dad on the back end, biting his sister on her ear, biting everything in sight because it is fun.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_kYrx1sV9iWavMZqS5B9zwkYFcHXuPGFhOPpLgoQBBGivYGqAp6kEaZLiRBgR5vlg0qnLMPVjp0AxeDXJY_DU9srViVxXHN2RzOjWFNOhdGNIdsgPJtq3C-_Yi2fSVKmazHIWZ_0VcZ8BrG7TYkPssqpRnvIlqLEEKNNUTiQz-wUJx7576TtP1sW-Mw/s2590/fritz%20bite%20bibi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2352" data-original-width="2590" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_kYrx1sV9iWavMZqS5B9zwkYFcHXuPGFhOPpLgoQBBGivYGqAp6kEaZLiRBgR5vlg0qnLMPVjp0AxeDXJY_DU9srViVxXHN2RzOjWFNOhdGNIdsgPJtq3C-_Yi2fSVKmazHIWZ_0VcZ8BrG7TYkPssqpRnvIlqLEEKNNUTiQz-wUJx7576TtP1sW-Mw/w640-h582/fritz%20bite%20bibi.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A typical Fritz love bite.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And learning barrel rolls, even if Tucker gets in the way....</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXb4E0QKMWXJZkgg3o-88w2ajrZ6S_eZ59bwPlplzrz1ZuSKJ9kM2AP3IlEIJZ8JKPKF9KzF3Xahj3aAvdcy0ygeEpGYy9xnD95B7JptUKqlJs88wjetTUKqaJc7u9ZL1a0GFEyQMsOjNe1m0MsNRxS90d-sU0zma7LdKyoWvCjPxcT8f9L2L_wVTfFE/s3458/Fritz%20roll%20tucker.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2919" data-original-width="3458" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXb4E0QKMWXJZkgg3o-88w2ajrZ6S_eZ59bwPlplzrz1ZuSKJ9kM2AP3IlEIJZ8JKPKF9KzF3Xahj3aAvdcy0ygeEpGYy9xnD95B7JptUKqlJs88wjetTUKqaJc7u9ZL1a0GFEyQMsOjNe1m0MsNRxS90d-sU0zma7LdKyoWvCjPxcT8f9L2L_wVTfFE/w640-h540/Fritz%20roll%20tucker.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fritz and his barrel rolls....</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It's always fun to hitch a ride on dad too.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZKNCi4Epo8H1rhGiEFs6_-babNl0FLn7tG01VdKlu27nBZhb2P7dJPh5a_lNx72X8lfeWEvC4-zYv3HLqj_113159qwrw1v7HZ3vWNOXrAFTwF4sYUpQYxiosVqSPtDtYVYk1Vd0y-IDu2ClyS2EihIInQh6WuKwESi00wFJEb4JYT5N9RojA9NY8cw/s4207/fritz%20climb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="4207" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZKNCi4Epo8H1rhGiEFs6_-babNl0FLn7tG01VdKlu27nBZhb2P7dJPh5a_lNx72X8lfeWEvC4-zYv3HLqj_113159qwrw1v7HZ3vWNOXrAFTwF4sYUpQYxiosVqSPtDtYVYk1Vd0y-IDu2ClyS2EihIInQh6WuKwESi00wFJEb4JYT5N9RojA9NY8cw/w640-h432/fritz%20climb.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Getting a free ride.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And then there were the birthday parties, where he got to have a few bites of Fiona's cake in January, and everyone got to share in Bibi's cake in February. Even if Fritz was mostly too young to eat a lot of solid food then.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUMIcOKoqJ2BKm_zQ_dvJysgK4CDugZ_VxLi8nowCTuMT89zf7wy7Ba9JsywacTYixeh5ytCgLcr4bj0aQw-rpN7SyB2yx_8U6CFeNL8VdAcYWB1hECCFol4HPMPalT_vXUh36nMYf6IoJ3vqYBTpZE4DbH-BuYGNg1YA6eEDV_q6vr6hU-ifGgr_IJE/s4172/bibi%20fritz%20jenna.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3381" data-original-width="4172" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUMIcOKoqJ2BKm_zQ_dvJysgK4CDugZ_VxLi8nowCTuMT89zf7wy7Ba9JsywacTYixeh5ytCgLcr4bj0aQw-rpN7SyB2yx_8U6CFeNL8VdAcYWB1hECCFol4HPMPalT_vXUh36nMYf6IoJ3vqYBTpZE4DbH-BuYGNg1YA6eEDV_q6vr6hU-ifGgr_IJE/w640-h518/bibi%20fritz%20jenna.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">At Bibi's party, Jenna gives Bibi some lettuce,<br /> and Fritz hangs around with Fiona.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br />It has been a big year for Fritz. And more to come in his second year. Everyone is looking forward to a big party on Thursday, August 3. </span></div><div><br /></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-42138594592997648042023-07-19T09:48:00.001-07:002023-07-19T09:48:42.539-07:00Matilda the Hippo is turning two!<p> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLYbQqC7rwsQWKR2WIs2wFpXz0svkSWkSJEwa8JLfNUnpaIYd0ise8ZhAHSmQD7FHMmCFeS0HULWOsaOtV0S34ZsNXvDfBNL9vVFeyl1i6eitbQbFpT6J2dxLTmWaTYXC8FbX1P8T53WP8NzIb5Nw5mJSjNhxi5uTVh_qKGxX6KcftG0mAGKHPvZIMbU/s3020/matilda%20vertical.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="2690" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLYbQqC7rwsQWKR2WIs2wFpXz0svkSWkSJEwa8JLfNUnpaIYd0ise8ZhAHSmQD7FHMmCFeS0HULWOsaOtV0S34ZsNXvDfBNL9vVFeyl1i6eitbQbFpT6J2dxLTmWaTYXC8FbX1P8T53WP8NzIb5Nw5mJSjNhxi5uTVh_qKGxX6KcftG0mAGKHPvZIMbU/w570-h640/matilda%20vertical.jpg" width="570" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda chases the sun.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matilda,
the Nile Hippo baby of the ABQ Biopark in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will celebrate her second birthday on July 19, 2023. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ5vQOJdQriwIDWfth4AE9ZLgqL5bvKoTzddNYV4JWQheCr87xVWVdGPF7dFWtX8em7RHOj9CcBL48kQSwtHn9RRyBK2fhAkpdIrp3MM9oSKC2O57j844Fg5NUBLkQpvB19M792aspanXUcomDSLjf3EwKec0-YB8Y7yFku3gDFX1hxS3rJ2UJY-KtsI/s5184/Matilda%20pushing%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ5vQOJdQriwIDWfth4AE9ZLgqL5bvKoTzddNYV4JWQheCr87xVWVdGPF7dFWtX8em7RHOj9CcBL48kQSwtHn9RRyBK2fhAkpdIrp3MM9oSKC2O57j844Fg5NUBLkQpvB19M792aspanXUcomDSLjf3EwKec0-YB8Y7yFku3gDFX1hxS3rJ2UJY-KtsI/w640-h426/Matilda%20pushing%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda and her glowing sun.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matilda
is the third offspring of parents Karen and Moe at the Biopark. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></span></p><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjD-z7B3Fb-zdRLwPX1iADuulC5mLN99nidoVdsqX9CJWVB6LJIFsdrPjkCmFrklsRP-75lvtPgo09C00tMxC7MfMH3bkuvCQYE2-_Vgi4uIBsgstQ079_hBd9ebGW2UfcgQB-4bB-vfvnPstPuTAWIDP_DMJ8gkkMQE5qPHXBIcZsJxvCcCaEvhLRZ8/s4368/whole%20family%20matilda%20feeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3129" data-original-width="4368" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjD-z7B3Fb-zdRLwPX1iADuulC5mLN99nidoVdsqX9CJWVB6LJIFsdrPjkCmFrklsRP-75lvtPgo09C00tMxC7MfMH3bkuvCQYE2-_Vgi4uIBsgstQ079_hBd9ebGW2UfcgQB-4bB-vfvnPstPuTAWIDP_DMJ8gkkMQE5qPHXBIcZsJxvCcCaEvhLRZ8/w640-h458/whole%20family%20matilda%20feeding.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Moe, Matilda and Karen at snack time.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Karen and
Moe's first baby was a little girl named Boopie, now going by the
name of Biopelo, who is in Dallas now and is mother of a little hippo girl named Adanna born in May of 2019, and another born October 30 2022, named Kalo.</span></span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Their second
baby, born in 2015, was named Brynn, until he moved to San Antonio
Zoo to be with Karen's mother Uma, who is his grandmother, and now he
goes by Timothy. This young hippo </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">is well known for carrying a torch for the famous little hippo girl in Cincinnati, Fiona, sending her cute facebook messages and sometimes even gifts, like fruit baskets.</span></span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Karen's late
father Tumbo (Biopelo, Matilda and Timothy's grandfather) was featured on the cover of National Geographic in
2016 as the hippo photographed at San Antonio Zoo by Joel
Santore for his well known Photo Ark. Tumbo was 41 when he was
photographed. </span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I visited Matilda, Karen and Moe at the end of June in 2022, at the ABQ Biopark, and found her
playing with her big green ball. She loved to roll it around, push it through the water, and try
to bite it. Her mom Karen played with the ball too. </span></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNn1XjKT2AGZ9mA-SAiGzLHjQu08SvXEqkxiPXdFLLG3F-miwwDPYpr8YZ7iRftWEEW0kMSn073Al5AD9GuBlMmIvh33B8IGiFct0c3Fcn-2XX20zzeGWI8fQU9SOHPfIYnTK2t7MtlVduRfVsL-aVpffx01Fl7JFW57d1t1re4-I3d0KHEfm9HVGS7Tw/s3234/Matilda%20Karen%20hippo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="3234" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNn1XjKT2AGZ9mA-SAiGzLHjQu08SvXEqkxiPXdFLLG3F-miwwDPYpr8YZ7iRftWEEW0kMSn073Al5AD9GuBlMmIvh33B8IGiFct0c3Fcn-2XX20zzeGWI8fQU9SOHPfIYnTK2t7MtlVduRfVsL-aVpffx01Fl7JFW57d1t1re4-I3d0KHEfm9HVGS7Tw/w640-h532/Matilda%20Karen%20hippo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">Matilda and her mum Karen in 2022</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had the chance to catch up with the ABQ hippo family in May of this year, and found Matilda much grown, but still loving to play with balls.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMiJiOFWNcrmhc4qRVXz3Mc57JCAHQyGs4HYK-LpN7OfLyVtwAn9RCscc7T76CnDtso7yZKsYnpl4AkicFJOzh46TuEwSuBdFKCIYSGoai3n2UdHPh12JRS0IZEiaj2krsGLI_Bp6UN3Ii_R76QEWPAe_gP6ZvjRUAw9BtEcxjDZrFQiE09_y3yo2aU0/s3297/Matilda%20kiss%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2646" data-original-width="3297" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMiJiOFWNcrmhc4qRVXz3Mc57JCAHQyGs4HYK-LpN7OfLyVtwAn9RCscc7T76CnDtso7yZKsYnpl4AkicFJOzh46TuEwSuBdFKCIYSGoai3n2UdHPh12JRS0IZEiaj2krsGLI_Bp6UN3Ii_R76QEWPAe_gP6ZvjRUAw9BtEcxjDZrFQiE09_y3yo2aU0/w640-h514/Matilda%20kiss%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMEit9JS_3tO8NkaVOHfXJ2avAYGBt2iIZ7-lTsf-Np7DNA26C24D_-eOQUMMndonH8liqslrRdwfLFn4jrgShjvjAgFa8nWL81nL1KpmiuQJG9QZ8oh0VMp3lq9dzJNK356SbjC6_eVqW6NwuetaGNpzNvQN9zRSFe3P4gpi91WZRIbjCUp20hO8EYY/s3682/Matilda%20mouth%20open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2849" data-original-width="3682" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMEit9JS_3tO8NkaVOHfXJ2avAYGBt2iIZ7-lTsf-Np7DNA26C24D_-eOQUMMndonH8liqslrRdwfLFn4jrgShjvjAgFa8nWL81nL1KpmiuQJG9QZ8oh0VMp3lq9dzJNK356SbjC6_eVqW6NwuetaGNpzNvQN9zRSFe3P4gpi91WZRIbjCUp20hO8EYY/w640-h496/Matilda%20mouth%20open.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuNsW1_i36l6NRM_J_m-WNFPpTcnYqLwPGZF3RnXHnfO55mhdr6ydK8ysEPRXlllWfEukT68Wc54qJsmCWEtzmNFbd4_U5FzDccnmbUUdxARWDr9jJ1Qh_ttIOCthQJkkc5i6Aa3ZBKQ4PxcWUM0WqouDdSEpD5TkbJnmhJzwnn9cw0lA2VbrKsc-W0E/s3248/Matilda%20ball%202%20vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3248" data-original-width="2492" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuNsW1_i36l6NRM_J_m-WNFPpTcnYqLwPGZF3RnXHnfO55mhdr6ydK8ysEPRXlllWfEukT68Wc54qJsmCWEtzmNFbd4_U5FzDccnmbUUdxARWDr9jJ1Qh_ttIOCthQJkkc5i6Aa3ZBKQ4PxcWUM0WqouDdSEpD5TkbJnmhJzwnn9cw0lA2VbrKsc-W0E/w492-h640/Matilda%20ball%202%20vert.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fQviJURvy1Fkudrst1DNou4pfDIN4T_SPA1tB8Ms2f7tLv-R6rADcbYScMjUZbSFoPB1_IBadjMPGe0JEGNLEZWveUJRR_uHOkCoGU5W7ZuvnK82iOsRuKrnSQWTmJk5h4hsugr363KaEy2xuFLCE6eGtA-0yCtjAc4rOJdI0nTqfX20BhwrYIfwWzc/s2982/matilda%20vertical%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2982" data-original-width="2681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fQviJURvy1Fkudrst1DNou4pfDIN4T_SPA1tB8Ms2f7tLv-R6rADcbYScMjUZbSFoPB1_IBadjMPGe0JEGNLEZWveUJRR_uHOkCoGU5W7ZuvnK82iOsRuKrnSQWTmJk5h4hsugr363KaEy2xuFLCE6eGtA-0yCtjAc4rOJdI0nTqfX20BhwrYIfwWzc/w576-h640/matilda%20vertical%20ball.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Matilda never gets tired of playing with her ball.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is no underwater viewing in the hippo area, but the hippos have a large pool with several beaches, and a rustic bridge to swim and hide under.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPANQKzjXCv_GDWcj2BPCY-ww_0mIx3uZ3MEAkXbQhXbwpparsFenfQ64ch2yz7RrtR7JaW5sqwqVhUfuHba313wldzJiENPoqLuxt9zUE5cmPydHJE3J4dhYxD_DSylAoQNoWv7EjJ0_klcj18cs3NHPP3LqL-E8Gl_qpZYo33k-n5ZnIGZM6nsp9F8/s5184/view%20from%20hippo%20bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPANQKzjXCv_GDWcj2BPCY-ww_0mIx3uZ3MEAkXbQhXbwpparsFenfQ64ch2yz7RrtR7JaW5sqwqVhUfuHba313wldzJiENPoqLuxt9zUE5cmPydHJE3J4dhYxD_DSylAoQNoWv7EjJ0_klcj18cs3NHPP3LqL-E8Gl_qpZYo33k-n5ZnIGZM6nsp9F8/w552-h368/view%20from%20hippo%20bridge.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> The view from the bridge. This is where Matilda lives.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGdck9LZWtbffj2BtlMyFpRFlWoLBXoYLrx2DU1nt-J9SsHXQO2x9gNMFoRUo-Le8_-_5vS4_z9rprob_WP1iWJbH5plRqjvZCxsxNRvayjY1j6XwDGeVCEKNq-tX7Y7W0ZQt29S1HwdmTF7iuEtADXUSdXUSiGs1ztQTnlvUf09edZmOqwqNf3NxElk/s4865/matilda%20karen%20bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3108" data-original-width="4865" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGdck9LZWtbffj2BtlMyFpRFlWoLBXoYLrx2DU1nt-J9SsHXQO2x9gNMFoRUo-Le8_-_5vS4_z9rprob_WP1iWJbH5plRqjvZCxsxNRvayjY1j6XwDGeVCEKNq-tX7Y7W0ZQt29S1HwdmTF7iuEtADXUSdXUSiGs1ztQTnlvUf09edZmOqwqNf3NxElk/w640-h408/matilda%20karen%20bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Karen and Matilda play with the ball under the bridge in May of 2023. The green ball is still around.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moe mostly just chills out in the water, while Matilda splashes around with her big yellow ball, and Karen likes to join in with her daughter at times.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Moe wakes up and joins the fun when it is snack time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLXAB1cTwuuIssJo7HGPyBos1baBdCi9T1GFZvkozBc8rSU4Nerm3PTuAsSW-8tEsLh5Xmptdt0P90fHEWS4-6w15Qxb3DQXLZ9ZiUUf7YIorQsiJUXcb33zSj9_gO3sX_B9ipPxOPrWJ6a3jAzCpezVPmj5BMljj_PEoKv7K04p7Nvbt2p5fZDANXB4/s4340/matilda%20happy%20feeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3451" data-original-width="4340" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLXAB1cTwuuIssJo7HGPyBos1baBdCi9T1GFZvkozBc8rSU4Nerm3PTuAsSW-8tEsLh5Xmptdt0P90fHEWS4-6w15Qxb3DQXLZ9ZiUUf7YIorQsiJUXcb33zSj9_gO3sX_B9ipPxOPrWJ6a3jAzCpezVPmj5BMljj_PEoKv7K04p7Nvbt2p5fZDANXB4/w640-h508/matilda%20happy%20feeding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Look what I just ate, says Matilda.</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHUJiGktKcwfqebx4UnBUt9_-ppiKRvccraAO5lLLizPlJ1pbPppCdTZM3bVe1z9EnDilvtl1-o_VAm72aEuzVQSslaW3vZDkbdT5G6qpuXDrPkBB-7zrVexQQDmTSf9Vm75YSxGTGFlV2krQzPxiqyo-7vabgv0ka9EjL2lrxZCWqUmat1XCg-tjb_Y/s4200/all%20feeding%20matilda%20middle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3164" data-original-width="4200" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHUJiGktKcwfqebx4UnBUt9_-ppiKRvccraAO5lLLizPlJ1pbPppCdTZM3bVe1z9EnDilvtl1-o_VAm72aEuzVQSslaW3vZDkbdT5G6qpuXDrPkBB-7zrVexQQDmTSf9Vm75YSxGTGFlV2krQzPxiqyo-7vabgv0ka9EjL2lrxZCWqUmat1XCg-tjb_Y/w640-h482/all%20feeding%20matilda%20middle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Mama Karen gets a mouthful, and Matilda waits her turn. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Papa Moe, on the left, is always ready for another bite.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Snack time is at 2 p.m. every day, and the three hippos line up for a good dose of fruits and vegetables, with Moe on the left, Karen on the right, and Matilda in between, making sure she gets her share.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZZEuR4DbXXJ7k6A4naAFD5ymJNrFbmMZpGqhDxuR0az6bTZnnaOkJ1e7G4h2NYG7aVkt6V0fT_FRPwhhQMLBFWkbnfGDkvG05a6rBcFq-T6wHbWJDT8zMZ2MpxoxkQynKnkOG_0pG9GsHgQtkU1Pb3Sa_r7N3yyL9NJ8O2lqtK3hFnQNmhj2tSmZVas/s4160/Matilda%20middle%20feed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2935" data-original-width="4160" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZZEuR4DbXXJ7k6A4naAFD5ymJNrFbmMZpGqhDxuR0az6bTZnnaOkJ1e7G4h2NYG7aVkt6V0fT_FRPwhhQMLBFWkbnfGDkvG05a6rBcFq-T6wHbWJDT8zMZ2MpxoxkQynKnkOG_0pG9GsHgQtkU1Pb3Sa_r7N3yyL9NJ8O2lqtK3hFnQNmhj2tSmZVas/w640-h452/Matilda%20middle%20feed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Matilda hoping for more.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moe keeps his mouth open most of the time, hoping for the most treats. His cavernous mouth is a pretty easy target to throw the veggies into.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAjvItu2b4A--7pUlKi42AKFTfkXxoULoUt-Lfl8uxRPYgPEu5FgtOIjdVpgiC-1JhE4E-ZxARi8lRX-VVI2q5rwMjxwbwutM0JQAN607aWSVsuiQCn3H-pDwG3zTIYgEnNZvh86XkWAY6KVckSdwNOAY1w9DwE59vagfa4fRzZnxmldOzkY4KkyNLZY/s4907/Matilda%20in%20the%20middle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2996" data-original-width="4907" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAjvItu2b4A--7pUlKi42AKFTfkXxoULoUt-Lfl8uxRPYgPEu5FgtOIjdVpgiC-1JhE4E-ZxARi8lRX-VVI2q5rwMjxwbwutM0JQAN607aWSVsuiQCn3H-pDwG3zTIYgEnNZvh86XkWAY6KVckSdwNOAY1w9DwE59vagfa4fRzZnxmldOzkY4KkyNLZY/w640-h390/Matilda%20in%20the%20middle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Matilda is in the middle, best spot.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can get very close to the hippos if you gather along the fence, but you also get a great view of the feeding from the bridge.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgrCAJ_H5zuDMiuQfDKAXq_oP_OE2f6db4F0-Z5mfZMHqBfe-vXPabJiDvpXLwQ50Cy0FFYiNHYcgQKc2FLPnWM1iHGKiFNGZ46FSmGD_OJH6KGBEXgqQs_MmyxyCwIl16D9ovFGU_XG0Plo9L2ea1tcAtT1DAMmedYZ9fiUwa_RvoFcNInd_zhXU6vE/s4380/feed%20lettuce%20matilda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4380" data-original-width="3210" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgrCAJ_H5zuDMiuQfDKAXq_oP_OE2f6db4F0-Z5mfZMHqBfe-vXPabJiDvpXLwQ50Cy0FFYiNHYcgQKc2FLPnWM1iHGKiFNGZ46FSmGD_OJH6KGBEXgqQs_MmyxyCwIl16D9ovFGU_XG0Plo9L2ea1tcAtT1DAMmedYZ9fiUwa_RvoFcNInd_zhXU6vE/w470-h640/feed%20lettuce%20matilda.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> There is plenty for Matilda too.</span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jnAe6rC8HU3maRL8ohCRahT43l0QPtQgman53cFU191PnzYrmenhmT88PGfP5UjocJ9b_JIPEdxHLLNA3HW9m7Lres2IxsUqKPMUtfJZZtWF8K7F_Ok9N-RM5lJaoZ2At_XV9dg0lAC1qotUfxc991SyTLYH154Kv8bptgM63upU4vPg1cWsd1Zsmr0/s3969/feed%20matilda%20lettuce%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3409" data-original-width="3969" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jnAe6rC8HU3maRL8ohCRahT43l0QPtQgman53cFU191PnzYrmenhmT88PGfP5UjocJ9b_JIPEdxHLLNA3HW9m7Lres2IxsUqKPMUtfJZZtWF8K7F_Ok9N-RM5lJaoZ2At_XV9dg0lAC1qotUfxc991SyTLYH154Kv8bptgM63upU4vPg1cWsd1Zsmr0/w539-h464/feed%20matilda%20lettuce%202.jpg" width="539" /></a></div> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Feeding Matilda. The keepers make sure she is not left out.</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMM7jvTLif-HHGdrOH2T_QZXqYBe1-aOmGVBpQ4NBXxkbAMHZB7wfgwQAAWNkZir5tH0HUI7WHs80fBFiLhCPeyyHgSqjFC7tVkBYV8K7CM8NiK-thZPWd3RIvxOu3rI4k_exjrYN8D4SiD6YksnzUMkXMcT8huhxJQJRajdPraTVlnHATEYuUS8UaQ4/s5184/dumping%20lettuce%20karen%20hippo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMM7jvTLif-HHGdrOH2T_QZXqYBe1-aOmGVBpQ4NBXxkbAMHZB7wfgwQAAWNkZir5tH0HUI7WHs80fBFiLhCPeyyHgSqjFC7tVkBYV8K7CM8NiK-thZPWd3RIvxOu3rI4k_exjrYN8D4SiD6YksnzUMkXMcT8huhxJQJRajdPraTVlnHATEYuUS8UaQ4/w578-h385/dumping%20lettuce%20karen%20hippo.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Last of the lettuce. The keeper dumps the rest over the hippo family. </span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLpaf_mw2_VSgRVxzjBGkB6o6PKjXWkN2WXkkA-aJ0rLYTQFI15nXeY2nSFp_V6p22At1C5Q000N3shJN750Q-Q7bDBSeE_n_2fhqZ-sLjfyZwen367JjoC0z3qOOYFrPUoujpZspPsalluV5heYvzKivByDpMROcZTBIFBipxrmy-EVWB2SGG-7x6rc/s2702/matilda%20wearing%20lettuce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="2702" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLpaf_mw2_VSgRVxzjBGkB6o6PKjXWkN2WXkkA-aJ0rLYTQFI15nXeY2nSFp_V6p22At1C5Q000N3shJN750Q-Q7bDBSeE_n_2fhqZ-sLjfyZwen367JjoC0z3qOOYFrPUoujpZspPsalluV5heYvzKivByDpMROcZTBIFBipxrmy-EVWB2SGG-7x6rc/w554-h362/matilda%20wearing%20lettuce.jpg" width="554" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Matilda wearing her lunch, after the lettuce dump.</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then it is time to play with the ball again. Matilda does not get the ball every day. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUL4OAzPdwGB3j-ipuaInvmT-3eB_WIhOpuwd_nDTr4iiD3sbMObnUqC-sHI7QV2pCYXxWFL9irQo6jibwPko3DDGgarFa40hX7Hn50a8T7RF8liO6dPm1W_VqY4QQRLaSSIiau5PiY2wpcwuqfhounK5fWu2hJvEXwsFADgNEr8Wy9TLL2v1R3pKQgc/s4991/Matilda%20ball%20all.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3157" data-original-width="4991" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUL4OAzPdwGB3j-ipuaInvmT-3eB_WIhOpuwd_nDTr4iiD3sbMObnUqC-sHI7QV2pCYXxWFL9irQo6jibwPko3DDGgarFa40hX7Hn50a8T7RF8liO6dPm1W_VqY4QQRLaSSIiau5PiY2wpcwuqfhounK5fWu2hJvEXwsFADgNEr8Wy9TLL2v1R3pKQgc/w640-h404/Matilda%20ball%20all.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Matilda is always mouthing the ball.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matilda likes to fit the ball into her mouth, often pressing it up against the bridge foundation or rocks. It isn't going to fit but it is still fun to try.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aU7gllmpKR0N0D8OLbeXD2tXvmjxCMAbzBgAVPFrw3HxXy3HEzgXapPilKm3hfMUkeOxKfJjXVmcdCmSJDcrvmQsJUc5SwldtF5AUTkVIS_QkE-cDHY1m6rCWq6_SomMcUB0r92YyT_OQAJl39FfepdzMPEnwyTPZn3Tp8we3b2bWU5M2gQuGa2H4VQ/s3227/matilda%20ball%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3227" data-original-width="3059" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aU7gllmpKR0N0D8OLbeXD2tXvmjxCMAbzBgAVPFrw3HxXy3HEzgXapPilKm3hfMUkeOxKfJjXVmcdCmSJDcrvmQsJUc5SwldtF5AUTkVIS_QkE-cDHY1m6rCWq6_SomMcUB0r92YyT_OQAJl39FfepdzMPEnwyTPZn3Tp8we3b2bWU5M2gQuGa2H4VQ/w606-h640/matilda%20ball%20crop.jpg" width="606" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Open wide. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matilda was not planned. Karen's birth control failed, just as with Bibi in Cincinnati, who is now mother of one year old Fritz, as well as the famous Fiona. The keepers say that there are no plans for Matilda to move. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISnK2TNl0sRDQv6qdZXXzlzzOrAVRzqu_3jjknfOjPbiNOIWkSmrgJCN8husXa1FBNbKnv6sCw85M9MpmVzcvPMOHLVNbAc5_VUkxD4iJVyGXAiqYDqlZfoDp3_zYX6HU3CZg6CHX4SYP1EHLRnWKPGaWyVl6R0SWAsfBu_7a29AtI8vNtGa7pJ40Kns/s5184/Matilda%20mom%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISnK2TNl0sRDQv6qdZXXzlzzOrAVRzqu_3jjknfOjPbiNOIWkSmrgJCN8husXa1FBNbKnv6sCw85M9MpmVzcvPMOHLVNbAc5_VUkxD4iJVyGXAiqYDqlZfoDp3_zYX6HU3CZg6CHX4SYP1EHLRnWKPGaWyVl6R0SWAsfBu_7a29AtI8vNtGa7pJ40Kns/w640-h426/Matilda%20mom%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Karen joins her daughter in playing ball. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmrZRVpfO4mTuNfi-KBRmG0fiMsaqlifN8BQrHJtQyv0p53F02LO1Bm79Vo7ge4k7eEqccRRndwzeyRzRDwkFN7NRC9wVeU-ECjo-f1CbZ0LGQIz_msJL3Y4CkIfns34RLst8oGUpk3xLPHGbvFmwJFIyjyEyYQWKszxg-etAhTtMOqA1XyH1nvsKjE4/s3073/matilda%20head%20stuff%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3073" data-original-width="3024" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmrZRVpfO4mTuNfi-KBRmG0fiMsaqlifN8BQrHJtQyv0p53F02LO1Bm79Vo7ge4k7eEqccRRndwzeyRzRDwkFN7NRC9wVeU-ECjo-f1CbZ0LGQIz_msJL3Y4CkIfns34RLst8oGUpk3xLPHGbvFmwJFIyjyEyYQWKszxg-etAhTtMOqA1XyH1nvsKjE4/w388-h394/matilda%20head%20stuff%202.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYCyvJvLjbKbNeZJTnNKl06ApLEM0ksJXgtKLYjI0SkgK6oAuzvDD3-sFba0DADp8JDiphAPkvzvY1MCEu4Fm2Jx2ZhTdidp21ExFXafb9Nc3AbJDuIm0l8uun-yGqdNYq2Y4wZhQ1Mwl-H9jY6NI2I2-zPjsBHE9tyAU2srT-evfszPCLOO-tREYWRc/s3059/matilda%20head%20stuff%20on%20face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3059" data-original-width="2849" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYCyvJvLjbKbNeZJTnNKl06ApLEM0ksJXgtKLYjI0SkgK6oAuzvDD3-sFba0DADp8JDiphAPkvzvY1MCEu4Fm2Jx2ZhTdidp21ExFXafb9Nc3AbJDuIm0l8uun-yGqdNYq2Y4wZhQ1Mwl-H9jY6NI2I2-zPjsBHE9tyAU2srT-evfszPCLOO-tREYWRc/w341-h366/matilda%20head%20stuff%20on%20face.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmruDx2k1ml7hHgxgGcMyStYzH5vRrX14hFF8JMxgU4CsOMlq_gnr54Yw5bfQzwvDtAuTu_fg9NDTB35_jJzYpUg83_8R0vqmtepsPKbA2MujgUz4BH8jfxLZ6jPEmWm_9Y5ualcg2abopWlX4NKJ7t44bpxUJW-_sBz7BysdXsV8Hd9Pb23Rhv8xxss/s3101/matilda%20head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2877" data-original-width="3101" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmruDx2k1ml7hHgxgGcMyStYzH5vRrX14hFF8JMxgU4CsOMlq_gnr54Yw5bfQzwvDtAuTu_fg9NDTB35_jJzYpUg83_8R0vqmtepsPKbA2MujgUz4BH8jfxLZ6jPEmWm_9Y5ualcg2abopWlX4NKJ7t44bpxUJW-_sBz7BysdXsV8Hd9Pb23Rhv8xxss/w374-h347/matilda%20head.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfpXMwq26q_dLkX5fFILBUWfYAmCwW0AKbaySB5qjzx3r33cZcqOBUl8bMctLAmnQH8WqZtLZykUgfMLIDrV4N4Jou4a2s9RpZuS2ujLDTteuYFFz4f6BoehG3HZTKgfWSUIlVBhUz6HkMwv_3F0omucVNISuOvkVrj4i2ZypWas_czqWRJvHSzVWIAI/s3563/matilda%20smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3164" data-original-width="3563" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfpXMwq26q_dLkX5fFILBUWfYAmCwW0AKbaySB5qjzx3r33cZcqOBUl8bMctLAmnQH8WqZtLZykUgfMLIDrV4N4Jou4a2s9RpZuS2ujLDTteuYFFz4f6BoehG3HZTKgfWSUIlVBhUz6HkMwv_3F0omucVNISuOvkVrj4i2ZypWas_czqWRJvHSzVWIAI/w400-h355/matilda%20smile.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Matilda making some funny faces.</span></b><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</p><br /><br />Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-74503175031428034382023-07-02T13:26:00.003-07:002023-07-02T13:27:12.592-07:00Gone too soon -- Louisville Zoo's elephant baby Fitz<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tr1eUR00U9O2BkYZ3EeHWz-NssrILN0puCOKPXRs7rGSraE7SaFILYXW0hsp7hL4vyrH_Lrh6byR-8ppw-ACy2-fU9RAv5O7WeV66u4IA4spWBx_fIBN-5J8kqrABed10wPOoR4KkJ4YfOVhMBN3klWrOSAn0ZCk7eClYx2axbVUxjjjzqLVu-thBYw/s3068/fitz%20trunk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3068" data-original-width="2708" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tr1eUR00U9O2BkYZ3EeHWz-NssrILN0puCOKPXRs7rGSraE7SaFILYXW0hsp7hL4vyrH_Lrh6byR-8ppw-ACy2-fU9RAv5O7WeV66u4IA4spWBx_fIBN-5J8kqrABed10wPOoR4KkJ4YfOVhMBN3klWrOSAn0ZCk7eClYx2axbVUxjjjzqLVu-thBYw/w564-h640/fitz%20trunk.jpg" width="564" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Two year old Fitz</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Terrible news this week, that African Elephant Baby Fitz, just short of his fourth birthday, had been diagnosed with the deadly elephant herpes virus. We all hoped that he would be one of the rare ones who pulled through, but he died Friday night. The last day of June. The last day of Fitz.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CxyhN8cdCUhDPXeJf7KElykx6LY9qcY9Q7iLPBk2tYEqofpa_GMz3gR5GzKae2xK7iOJqz_swRFuTwDOc41OGZiuSrFzjbCHofqHmxAoPUHk0NWdH0gbKqOLCpAVkleJJiVBzmk1JGt_Zet4dhqshdLEA1Zh-pPGwr9GU2dM8e8_MPOc8kngjoVIWSo/s3368/fitz%20big%20ears.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2868" data-original-width="3368" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CxyhN8cdCUhDPXeJf7KElykx6LY9qcY9Q7iLPBk2tYEqofpa_GMz3gR5GzKae2xK7iOJqz_swRFuTwDOc41OGZiuSrFzjbCHofqHmxAoPUHk0NWdH0gbKqOLCpAVkleJJiVBzmk1JGt_Zet4dhqshdLEA1Zh-pPGwr9GU2dM8e8_MPOc8kngjoVIWSo/w535-h455/fitz%20big%20ears.jpg" width="535" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fritz with the big ears. Summer of 2022</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">He would have been four years old on August 2, and I am sure the zoo was already planning what they would do to celebrate his birthday. For Fitz was a phenomenon at the Louisville Zoo, beloved by all who met him, and especially his keepers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz3rdeecjhsrQap50b93e2nTEWukqjFg29ziAB6omSXEG-FpYeuzBkO_3rGIX91zSYCS_DZCIH93BeK4IYAnTStr-eE9xzv6b7AQ4aYq0b-LEqtqJJp3ce1x_ue3A_rwa2NfDzuurWa_svvfTCaR9gojSXyifpjX87ISKJ3B7ti4skK7XuHrydC7CpGg/s5184/fitz%20and%20mikki.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz3rdeecjhsrQap50b93e2nTEWukqjFg29ziAB6omSXEG-FpYeuzBkO_3rGIX91zSYCS_DZCIH93BeK4IYAnTStr-eE9xzv6b7AQ4aYq0b-LEqtqJJp3ce1x_ue3A_rwa2NfDzuurWa_svvfTCaR9gojSXyifpjX87ISKJ3B7ti4skK7XuHrydC7CpGg/w640-h426/fitz%20and%20mikki.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Fitz following his mom Miki. - January of 2023</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fitz was part of a very unusual mixed herd: his African elephant mother Mikki and his beloved Aunt Punch, who is an Asian elephant. The two ladies have been together at Louisville almost all their lives. Mikki is 38 years old, and Punch is 53 years old.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJlz6-WL98eGE34hamnKtzi7LPR9nA1XvacyYbALNysRIeA_0V9xbwb3uwh7vE5cdOVAL7NmauGW7CpgyIwwnj-r-O3kOaguiVDjfNsCN2epkK1N108z8VJz0yqmrIEJwm8UQGkKschSsxAjAwwLCLVMtE_NsUWQ78NxRyMesgBBP_xA8lckPS8YdaI0/s2919/Fitz%20run.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="2919" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJlz6-WL98eGE34hamnKtzi7LPR9nA1XvacyYbALNysRIeA_0V9xbwb3uwh7vE5cdOVAL7NmauGW7CpgyIwwnj-r-O3kOaguiVDjfNsCN2epkK1N108z8VJz0yqmrIEJwm8UQGkKschSsxAjAwwLCLVMtE_NsUWQ78NxRyMesgBBP_xA8lckPS8YdaI0/w640-h458/Fitz%20run.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Fitz in January of 2023 - at Punch's birthday party</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fitz was conceived through artificial insemination, the donor father being Jackson, an elephant in Pennsylvania.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5CA4FoA132NngIU8gS_scaoQTd0M4xdAcST7FgXtErmQqF8VgTqgA0jZflZ4QZ0fuDNOumZ4qjSbi8TJti4Wz-0ZlnNwcv3oTmBA7oGi48jrjv_meGW2dVhQoNO5ZJShd2FUJf2rLZFfmhTRkv2qoaYczLvEJxt5e6HytR6O6okHcDXVPEyF_YOHq3s/s2870/fitz%20and%20dirt%20pile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2870" data-original-width="2390" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5CA4FoA132NngIU8gS_scaoQTd0M4xdAcST7FgXtErmQqF8VgTqgA0jZflZ4QZ0fuDNOumZ4qjSbi8TJti4Wz-0ZlnNwcv3oTmBA7oGi48jrjv_meGW2dVhQoNO5ZJShd2FUJf2rLZFfmhTRkv2qoaYczLvEJxt5e6HytR6O6okHcDXVPEyF_YOHq3s/w532-h640/fitz%20and%20dirt%20pile.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Fitz and his dirt pile - January 2023</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fitz was a joy every day of his life, for all those who worked with him, and the many visitors who grew to love him. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2e1zUyL6Sw1yZ13xjEXk7kSMKTKRX3jWLd_J7z7km0bZ6aoV_zTPcgRFWFE1udTr8flssByaV0zMdfY6sFxXNBUcdc9XzAtfdcijGPn_SO0lfnYHVA-2VYawepyScFzMcAGz2baKh3ipVm-Q3aR8_kK0GRxcdgJKDbT4WcQffDlfLoBS8VYUM8_WF1U/s3748/fitz%20wood%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3044" data-original-width="3748" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2e1zUyL6Sw1yZ13xjEXk7kSMKTKRX3jWLd_J7z7km0bZ6aoV_zTPcgRFWFE1udTr8flssByaV0zMdfY6sFxXNBUcdc9XzAtfdcijGPn_SO0lfnYHVA-2VYawepyScFzMcAGz2baKh3ipVm-Q3aR8_kK0GRxcdgJKDbT4WcQffDlfLoBS8VYUM8_WF1U/w640-h520/fitz%20wood%20up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Fitz at almost two years of age, playing with a block of wood.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Everything is a toy.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nsf8Oz4NDJwfv8-nwCnjPIiME1-dGPaI9V6U0nnBojOp7OzT68ps4buBY7QJGF4Nl1KV0ko-pFVb0rxxHX_dfRv68lLUtx0isUluba9frKYuuDiSP0tX445A3qf3oKZc0wCTF7Gbzn2Y5ryhmDG3fiskrDW8I1K5NlYTtNo62_HrGK_46JCO0cFkG9k/s3055/fitz%20trunk%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2710" data-original-width="3055" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nsf8Oz4NDJwfv8-nwCnjPIiME1-dGPaI9V6U0nnBojOp7OzT68ps4buBY7QJGF4Nl1KV0ko-pFVb0rxxHX_dfRv68lLUtx0isUluba9frKYuuDiSP0tX445A3qf3oKZc0wCTF7Gbzn2Y5ryhmDG3fiskrDW8I1K5NlYTtNo62_HrGK_46JCO0cFkG9k/w513-h455/fitz%20trunk%203.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Fitz at 11 months - playing games with his trunk</b></span></div><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">When he was little, he spent a lot of time trying to figure out how his trunk worked. That was fun. </span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7emKGHgnuCSmj6SVCO1G7Fs3eW7mHusddwZ4WKwBYDuMGk4KEJrbtr7ryoa7QBzCL_xxg7Xtq7hu6eLiJP6wrP2Dt97wzXb66AfznYUCFK2RcPvK_VKrmYKnzZ-xbPchp9FYi5ssyBfa--Udvd__51fwPKhYfWgI3-j5TFIeBNiU4WHRBNAWrN9uIAzE/s5184/fitz%20and%20log.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7emKGHgnuCSmj6SVCO1G7Fs3eW7mHusddwZ4WKwBYDuMGk4KEJrbtr7ryoa7QBzCL_xxg7Xtq7hu6eLiJP6wrP2Dt97wzXb66AfznYUCFK2RcPvK_VKrmYKnzZ-xbPchp9FYi5ssyBfa--Udvd__51fwPKhYfWgI3-j5TFIeBNiU4WHRBNAWrN9uIAzE/w640-h426/fitz%20and%20log.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Fitz in January 2023 - at Punch's birthday party</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fitz was so curious, always checking things out, running from one thing to another, enjoying what each season had to offer. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZAsqRpUhx_YhFTBuoYuu9ce-4anSvAR2QEsrsd8kO4_CKTRW1gAyIdxf-4JnFtrKfYyXpAvUGSN3LINaWBusGt1PHnZd8clfDgQycamD66J2O-M7xr5mZwzUzXCc8wpBujn1DnNu_D8gV-r-WGcXq03nuH_n2WtFl9VH1P-p4PkUc3XwYge20IoGYnQ/s4892/fitz%20get%20up%20trunk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="4892" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZAsqRpUhx_YhFTBuoYuu9ce-4anSvAR2QEsrsd8kO4_CKTRW1gAyIdxf-4JnFtrKfYyXpAvUGSN3LINaWBusGt1PHnZd8clfDgQycamD66J2O-M7xr5mZwzUzXCc8wpBujn1DnNu_D8gV-r-WGcXq03nuH_n2WtFl9VH1P-p4PkUc3XwYge20IoGYnQ/w640-h376/fitz%20get%20up%20trunk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSV5vM7BaKipvQqZTQ46PDmDyejY3wOzg7NM3JvtWVoOIDtfzbXELbFis8vbkiDq0bq-EqTPkCGQsvztMUpo71goUQoYhLk9XPsqjm0iWd91OI7yEBxu-MZAHoDI3vHoEg5-snpR4igRbgarIusHHJtuASfDwHhQWpyA9FUs8yUJlbfkwb15PxaVKLck/s4484/Fitz%20roll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2192" data-original-width="4484" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSV5vM7BaKipvQqZTQ46PDmDyejY3wOzg7NM3JvtWVoOIDtfzbXELbFis8vbkiDq0bq-EqTPkCGQsvztMUpo71goUQoYhLk9XPsqjm0iWd91OI7yEBxu-MZAHoDI3vHoEg5-snpR4igRbgarIusHHJtuASfDwHhQWpyA9FUs8yUJlbfkwb15PxaVKLck/w640-h312/Fitz%20roll.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-sGBe1Dx1EkxWDt3wozKPqsaWQszTwbvAAtFcV7tEw4GQhCBtGmMLQbJzZ5MKXepzYcFYP_tc2NNpPu3cVd0xvBjCvEGVzDXYN0eCN78tTxnJPvtxEaIw9PikE7RdYUaGY_JgqfTdWHOd0y2DiZ_okollLkbKtUAv2Eb7eXX-1z-iVdUs-OocNGI1jw/s4112/fitz%20get%20up%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="4112" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-sGBe1Dx1EkxWDt3wozKPqsaWQszTwbvAAtFcV7tEw4GQhCBtGmMLQbJzZ5MKXepzYcFYP_tc2NNpPu3cVd0xvBjCvEGVzDXYN0eCN78tTxnJPvtxEaIw9PikE7RdYUaGY_JgqfTdWHOd0y2DiZ_okollLkbKtUAv2Eb7eXX-1z-iVdUs-OocNGI1jw/w640-h434/fitz%20get%20up%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Summer of 2021, wallowing in the dirt.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijryriuCSG6KzhvqSlzPq5kz4ps1t5smMKn7936zXRGjL-uJj3Wp3rAQYKVNMRkUBuaIyAytUwoK28Gd_MNKwoZ6t9EADbVT2opmVWvqIxjZYUD-qs0gVkU2k8cw4GuqIR6fetdLRl4xVNdvN1si3VYLtcwx-XIMlZIivScSIvX7O1DhovJJ_Vo-nzEvg/s3306/Fitz%20muddy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3030" data-original-width="3306" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijryriuCSG6KzhvqSlzPq5kz4ps1t5smMKn7936zXRGjL-uJj3Wp3rAQYKVNMRkUBuaIyAytUwoK28Gd_MNKwoZ6t9EADbVT2opmVWvqIxjZYUD-qs0gVkU2k8cw4GuqIR6fetdLRl4xVNdvN1si3VYLtcwx-XIMlZIivScSIvX7O1DhovJJ_Vo-nzEvg/w560-h513/Fitz%20muddy.jpg" width="560" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> July of 2022, a year ago, Fitz rolling in the mud</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">He never met a puddle he didn't like, and relished rolling in the dirt and mud. A very messy little boy indeed. Snow was a great adventure too, even though he didn't get very many winters, only four.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQskY3A_nww6Q2HKT1zrx8WaCRbh-_1N-1paHT49YWfUvbI0mC_1bYhWbPfmGamrqpYHMv4yVRFzIG2DleOqc1AH40frb64RrD3vIVAgXhoEV9LhWA5GaA0HdMrfOBUmCdJLeBYEiJheH2j0-3qRPhpflslXG0U1ibII9qAgPjdre8aWO028r4eJgzcw/s5184/Fitz%20Mikki%20in%20winter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQskY3A_nww6Q2HKT1zrx8WaCRbh-_1N-1paHT49YWfUvbI0mC_1bYhWbPfmGamrqpYHMv4yVRFzIG2DleOqc1AH40frb64RrD3vIVAgXhoEV9LhWA5GaA0HdMrfOBUmCdJLeBYEiJheH2j0-3qRPhpflslXG0U1ibII9qAgPjdre8aWO028r4eJgzcw/w640-h426/Fitz%20Mikki%20in%20winter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fitz and his mom in January of 2023</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">His life was cut short, but it was a life filled with fun and love. He made every day count. He was a very important member of his herd and greatly loved by all the visitors. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D9M5jXXtbABNHyMEXVoKAXyKXXskYFjg3evAuMwwMEJaHcIfiIKOJrNYeSJuLSvpcbjjCV82mm2pGqh8u2JJ8SSiNwndaH_X6fmdvbi2QHmqxOGURm62rHpz61eAdv1d8EQmnD_ujxkRNvG3412VSlrYvlTBjcQfN3Bq9bKEg-REKPX9xSh6Gpb0NmY/s3312/fitz%20close.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3312" data-original-width="2528" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D9M5jXXtbABNHyMEXVoKAXyKXXskYFjg3evAuMwwMEJaHcIfiIKOJrNYeSJuLSvpcbjjCV82mm2pGqh8u2JJ8SSiNwndaH_X6fmdvbi2QHmqxOGURm62rHpz61eAdv1d8EQmnD_ujxkRNvG3412VSlrYvlTBjcQfN3Bq9bKEg-REKPX9xSh6Gpb0NmY/w488-h640/fitz%20close.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">July of 2021 - Fitz at almost 2 years old</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mikki had had a previous son, and that did not end well either. Scotty died at age 3 in 2010 of what they called complications of colic, most likely twisted bowel. Jackson was also the donor father for Scotty.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elephants have complex emotional lives, and great attachments to members of their herd. When a member of the herd dies in the wild, the other elephants hold what seems to be a "wake" where they all take their time saying goodbye to the deceased. It is an important ritual in elephant culture. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So in a zoo, the keepers allow the other members of the herd to take their time in saying goodbye. It may be especially difficult for Mikki, as she is the mother, but Auntie Punch had a good deal to do with bringing up Baby Fitz.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtq8nMyw5CwSZb3mFP0EgEh1hNDEw5dyiOCfGcyuEIpMWgSeZsx7YpTGSkfMyYiy_eBBi5Yb6JcWINNqnOWg1I5LJuFCEUM9YNYJQSdD82NwDAXxoDyChSFRMMupnDneWtE8ZU7frYA1rLnDpQGAymp4V5LAIgIPAE6LDaqkqUdsVsKBW7R1bDPhgaNwQ/s3388/baby%20fitz%20trunik.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3388" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtq8nMyw5CwSZb3mFP0EgEh1hNDEw5dyiOCfGcyuEIpMWgSeZsx7YpTGSkfMyYiy_eBBi5Yb6JcWINNqnOWg1I5LJuFCEUM9YNYJQSdD82NwDAXxoDyChSFRMMupnDneWtE8ZU7frYA1rLnDpQGAymp4V5LAIgIPAE6LDaqkqUdsVsKBW7R1bDPhgaNwQ/w566-h640/baby%20fitz%20trunik.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fitz at 6 months</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5GZhQX9BZi4i9XPAreYs8Xj1tTrYuFD2_VMSDYtEVlASL70LWnG3PIHhGr4XhX3paEvd4ST1HlMbSTVX8UMiSop3yJuD0f5XQXNG_bloYFMl3MYxKSQmWLnAUP5rNEDJ2KdBZqdHpBhEXjXAVx7gujXdJ6K-bM5TaM-NJeXHCxLuHI09wRzMoEAOZX0/s4024/baby%20fitz%20smile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5GZhQX9BZi4i9XPAreYs8Xj1tTrYuFD2_VMSDYtEVlASL70LWnG3PIHhGr4XhX3paEvd4ST1HlMbSTVX8UMiSop3yJuD0f5XQXNG_bloYFMl3MYxKSQmWLnAUP5rNEDJ2KdBZqdHpBhEXjXAVx7gujXdJ6K-bM5TaM-NJeXHCxLuHI09wRzMoEAOZX0/w640-h480/baby%20fitz%20smile.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fitz at 6 months</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrRPD-RkJkqwDFLWCrdRx12rw27dElo4iEyKKTXvPVMPdU6D_gJBf82RGd1U7zBiIXfGSV3nX0VveoG6-LD683vANpTyWTeYpUXmS8CGVUHeztyy3Qj3o-jXhvBOKlQYaHzprInh2ZT7K0EEpc5q-u_H-GeorXer3YfAY4MRU9MdvJzSA62hdq1Xi1TU/s5184/Fitz%206%20months.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrRPD-RkJkqwDFLWCrdRx12rw27dElo4iEyKKTXvPVMPdU6D_gJBf82RGd1U7zBiIXfGSV3nX0VveoG6-LD683vANpTyWTeYpUXmS8CGVUHeztyy3Qj3o-jXhvBOKlQYaHzprInh2ZT7K0EEpc5q-u_H-GeorXer3YfAY4MRU9MdvJzSA62hdq1Xi1TU/w640-h426/Fitz%206%20months.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAJmrK8yWd5_h_pZ0qJw_zZYq6Ojy_u49vzxueQrJ7uaRXAo1K1eNby6N3JKC2sDFwOzT83sR6WTELEWBSqFWuZrhYVffP9wQs_t9OcdbaH-7OsVwlw1ObgqnVKP3adbPCrkOnyuVngZWVNkO10yAxoVbpVa3qJp3T6QPqYFzkKn6tdLyRXQMnqyCP1k/s3352/fitz%20baby%20mom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2844" data-original-width="3352" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAJmrK8yWd5_h_pZ0qJw_zZYq6Ojy_u49vzxueQrJ7uaRXAo1K1eNby6N3JKC2sDFwOzT83sR6WTELEWBSqFWuZrhYVffP9wQs_t9OcdbaH-7OsVwlw1ObgqnVKP3adbPCrkOnyuVngZWVNkO10yAxoVbpVa3qJp3T6QPqYFzkKn6tdLyRXQMnqyCP1k/w640-h544/fitz%20baby%20mom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fitz at 6 months</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqMLojFnjIDBJBZPHTfVreQm-OyvZ__7y6WRLrWwQSU8VU5YkZAY47vTosNYEAWt9BOvKK_a0ErWd02pIB2U-L5oUu-EMmu3txOMm-gAHbOXP4exYn69nkxlN19QhoO8PcfrTssX1PJYexos5M-EkKLP2ATWFQPNFZ_iNMvE08b5PskFXE-6ki5R8Nn0/s3435/fitz%20elephant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3435" data-original-width="3200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqMLojFnjIDBJBZPHTfVreQm-OyvZ__7y6WRLrWwQSU8VU5YkZAY47vTosNYEAWt9BOvKK_a0ErWd02pIB2U-L5oUu-EMmu3txOMm-gAHbOXP4exYn69nkxlN19QhoO8PcfrTssX1PJYexos5M-EkKLP2ATWFQPNFZ_iNMvE08b5PskFXE-6ki5R8Nn0/w596-h640/fitz%20elephant.jpg" width="596" /></a></div><br /> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fitz at 6 months</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a difficult time for the keepers too, who had daily contact with the little guy and delighted in watching him grow up, coming up with new things to intrigue the baby as he developed. The elephant house and yard will be so quiet now. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCQYpykeOwCLWsmCUdiHyeTEc1m7vjYmiXDdYKOp14607aCdA8BwuaCD4KAHm4q_wtOXr2Ra8feiOmZMOfPoRtWqRcAQ3Dprz9yvCs8qSSN1HqFp8ARih0iAAXo_dchqjw-DcovJ2in7WQ4nK2-mQ4qPGdRXSDbUPweJBsBK_2_6T64Cwqh0Lj3wkDZY/s2504/run%20away%20fitz.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2408" data-original-width="2504" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCQYpykeOwCLWsmCUdiHyeTEc1m7vjYmiXDdYKOp14607aCdA8BwuaCD4KAHm4q_wtOXr2Ra8feiOmZMOfPoRtWqRcAQ3Dprz9yvCs8qSSN1HqFp8ARih0iAAXo_dchqjw-DcovJ2in7WQ4nK2-mQ4qPGdRXSDbUPweJBsBK_2_6T64Cwqh0Lj3wkDZY/w640-h616/run%20away%20fitz.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Good bye, little Fitz. We are glad you came, and so sorry you left so soon.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">About EEHV</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not an expert, but this is some of the information I have gathered about Elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are a number of strains of the EEHV, and they affect young elephants in the wild and zoos, more so for the Asian elephants.</span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-shadow: black 1px 1px 2px, green 0px 0px 25px, darkgreen 0px 0px 5px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">EEHV is a disease of the young. Very seldom will an elephant over the age of 10 succumb to the disease. Adult elephants carry the virus but it remains dormant. Nursing calves get immunity from their mother's milk, so rarely do they come down with the almost always fatal disease. The danger comes at weaning, and stays through adolescence.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The elephant community has been working for years to find a cure or a vaccine, but so far their results are limited. There are many new treatments, transfusion, anti-virals, and every effort is made to save a young elephant, but it is usually not enough.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtGpLzmcDv9zaWTXh1TDCHqVEbOiZa6V2Q_Hcz-GvIulvGRTpMKt1GTe0-BHRMvIjWLETP0OMhEShoynmw4cXlp2t2MuJpY0hzxWOc9BbHS_imygThNDtC4k5rpHk_oOEYzYnoPB05RiLWP6pk3uH9_8hb7DPP2uND-m5rIBHXJU5p4ndnycYRuMg6zU/s5184/Minh-Tan%20baby%20elephant%20grass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtGpLzmcDv9zaWTXh1TDCHqVEbOiZa6V2Q_Hcz-GvIulvGRTpMKt1GTe0-BHRMvIjWLETP0OMhEShoynmw4cXlp2t2MuJpY0hzxWOc9BbHS_imygThNDtC4k5rpHk_oOEYzYnoPB05RiLWP6pk3uH9_8hb7DPP2uND-m5rIBHXJU5p4ndnycYRuMg6zU/w462-h307/Minh-Tan%20baby%20elephant%20grass.jpg" width="462" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Minh-Tan and his mother Douanita in Osnabruck Germany</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">A few youngsters have recovered, but not many. I recall visiting young Asian elephant Mihn-Tan at Osnabruck Zoo in Germany when he was about a year old in 2019. He became very ill when he was about three years old. Intensive treatment resulted in his recovery after several weeks. He lives in Heidelberg now, very well and happy. A baby elephant in Chester England also survived the virus.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The list of Asian elephants who have died from EEHV is very long, but only a handful of African elephants have died this way. Four of them: Nyah and Kalina of the Indianapolis Zoo, Lucas of the Toledo Zoo, and now Fitz, are offspring of Jackson.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">African Elephant Nyah died at age 7 and her sister Kalina died at age 8, a week apart at the Indianapolis Zoo in 2019. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyJ0fVsm66ms9Nwi2ITG3rqaIIM-G6qYtXP1pZDqWM5I8XCd2m7CRCmNrQYLVZ0PV73s753P5-pkRvLL95xEXo8-6ZoWxGlAKYRjb87wOW7gPh-Tzfl084rRBvG5Hn6vKFzceM6H0B-52Mh9uXZ4tzx0fbzzrfcXH5vWGYy88ehbAJRTR_91kL493XC0/s2280/Lucas%20and%20Renee%202013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2280" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyJ0fVsm66ms9Nwi2ITG3rqaIIM-G6qYtXP1pZDqWM5I8XCd2m7CRCmNrQYLVZ0PV73s753P5-pkRvLL95xEXo8-6ZoWxGlAKYRjb87wOW7gPh-Tzfl084rRBvG5Hn6vKFzceM6H0B-52Mh9uXZ4tzx0fbzzrfcXH5vWGYy88ehbAJRTR_91kL493XC0/w417-h386/Lucas%20and%20Renee%202013.jpg" width="417" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Lucas and his mother Renee in the Toledo Zoo in 2013</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Lucas was born June 3, 2011 in the Toledo Zoo, son of Renee and the donor father Jackson. He died of EEHV in April of 2021, ten years old. Renee is now pregnant again and expected to deliver in Spring of 2024. The donor father is again Jackson.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jackson has fathered a good number of African elephant children that have grown up to be healthy adult elephants. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Some zoos seem to have avoided EEHV, while others will lose two young ones in quick succession, even though the disease is not actually transmissible. Almost all elephants have some form of the virus but it is dormant. The activation of the virus, already in the animal, seems to be brought on by stress, such as in weaning or some other change of routine. Certainly illness in the elephant house has to be a stressor, and maybe that is why the disease takes one young one after the other.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCDx75FF_DLEt-3c_EofFrE7Zq0wIMHNkcPPz4HJZ6jjvcojxU1GEzbizqlrUblq8bd6COcMjmzUsIbZLgoLpT1Q-KOAYuXK23t3Eyw0ys6pCkKGHiAF_fEyz_sddiii7bOB-PJNtH00-rwm7Uo0T2SM4u_Yt_Ad-q5lfDYp-gM_Lc_PUCtXS-ZaqhG4/s2915/baby%20elephant%20tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2915" data-original-width="2780" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCDx75FF_DLEt-3c_EofFrE7Zq0wIMHNkcPPz4HJZ6jjvcojxU1GEzbizqlrUblq8bd6COcMjmzUsIbZLgoLpT1Q-KOAYuXK23t3Eyw0ys6pCkKGHiAF_fEyz_sddiii7bOB-PJNtH00-rwm7Uo0T2SM4u_Yt_Ad-q5lfDYp-gM_Lc_PUCtXS-ZaqhG4/w406-h426/baby%20elephant%20tree.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Raj in Hagenbeck Zoo, Hamburg Germany, June of 2019</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> He died of EEHV in 2022</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Hagenbeck Zoo and Chester Zoo have been particularly unlucky. Kanja and Anjuli, Asian elephants of Hagenbeck, died one after the other in 2018, the same year their brother Raj was born. He died of EEHV in 2022. The three elephants share the same father, Gejendra, who is now in Munich and is the father of young Otto who is doing well in Munich, (also Ludwig, who is now 12 years old and in another zoo). I have to wonder if there is a genetic component, that some herds are more vulnerable to triggering of the dormant virus due to their bloodlines. Chester Zoo in England has similar sad stories with the Asian elephant children.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Rosamond Gifford Zoo, in Syracuse NY, is well known recently for the miracle birth of twin baby Asian elephant brothers Yaad and Tukada, born to Mali and Doc in October of 2022. That zoo saw tragedy in 2020 when Ajay, age 2, died on December 8, and five year old Batu died three days later. Mali and Doc are the parents of the young ones who died. I hope both the twins will continue to stay healthy.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The disease is dormant in pretty much all elephants, and the danger of it becoming activated is greatest between ages 2 and 8, although Asian elephant Beco in the Columbus Zoo was 13 years old when he died of EEHV a year ago. Lucas of the Toledo Zoo was almost 10 years old when he succumbed, at an age when a young elephant should be presumed safe from this tragedy.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The ABQ Biopark in Albuquerque also experienced the double tragedy of losing two young ones when three year old Asian elephant Thom died on Christmas Day 2021, and his 8 year old sister Jazmine died the day after New Year's.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">EEHV is the leading cause of death in young Asian elephants, while African elephants face a much lower risk, but it is still there. Zoos test all the elephants regularly to make sure the virus has not activated, and there are several strains too. But once they detect that the virus is no longer dormant, the affected elephant has but a slim chance to beat it.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The research goes on, and hopefully we will soon have a cure and/or a vaccine to keep this tragedy from recurring.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div></span></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-73152957037414050712023-06-26T09:09:00.000-07:002023-06-26T09:09:50.481-07:00The Toledo Wonder Twins - Activate!<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbnuW-OnpxGj6SABkrDGJ8iukCkz_uEFd-0PgB1LalG0vJl8Lh47h6V7QZ2HzU_SlA7Unety4IjZha7x9cI-S5afTX01s3VAqp8zgpeAbCUYrea61PjNg4ExbdhAETG_61dF6exafC2nB7F4_eLhZGDc2St18qkGeSAqocoD2J4fySS6VNlul9qu7gcQ/s2865/Kallu%20top%20Kallik%20below.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2865" data-original-width="2615" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbnuW-OnpxGj6SABkrDGJ8iukCkz_uEFd-0PgB1LalG0vJl8Lh47h6V7QZ2HzU_SlA7Unety4IjZha7x9cI-S5afTX01s3VAqp8zgpeAbCUYrea61PjNg4ExbdhAETG_61dF6exafC2nB7F4_eLhZGDc2St18qkGeSAqocoD2J4fySS6VNlul9qu7gcQ/w584-h640/Kallu%20top%20Kallik%20below.jpg" width="584" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu top, Kallik below.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRQpb4HXowMkN50qZ02a0szkjDFvaoZF3ieCTcZ_yislr6QEogTrHYW4eBIHfd9iKAylKiTprzOXl7-OGLLZYvq6mrdcnmeqn-sOCrFDsn8A5MBtL4fXC__4SI9NzP1WVRmfpzMsoPOV4UAcEpiPcuM-_FU05bRj8fDhd-0fCmiZGNHt2-lMmU6kxkLw/s3318/Kallu%20Kallik%20vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3318" data-original-width="2464" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRQpb4HXowMkN50qZ02a0szkjDFvaoZF3ieCTcZ_yislr6QEogTrHYW4eBIHfd9iKAylKiTprzOXl7-OGLLZYvq6mrdcnmeqn-sOCrFDsn8A5MBtL4fXC__4SI9NzP1WVRmfpzMsoPOV4UAcEpiPcuM-_FU05bRj8fDhd-0fCmiZGNHt2-lMmU6kxkLw/w476-h640/Kallu%20Kallik%20vertical.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu top, and Kallik below</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The star attractions at the Toledo Zoo these days are Crystal's twin boys, Kallu and Kallik, 7 month old polar bear cubs who seem to have endless energy.</span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQVNIwqzOPjNvgIy2cd8WmPmRV1oRx_isTyugun-9uc7M1PVvUY_v1RkJPmdTXLRgTkqgZqpf0nE9GtSyGSeOzA2eTbIxS6y0yi7fTRwCeROeLWI3MPlhK8FS8BWV0xe6vzDVBSOZvR-aOHovzvXlKwKV56FMOvQDZdHoMmHjNsBt1fhceN7XX9mRFFA/s3635/Kallu%20top%20Kallik%20floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2810" data-original-width="3635" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQVNIwqzOPjNvgIy2cd8WmPmRV1oRx_isTyugun-9uc7M1PVvUY_v1RkJPmdTXLRgTkqgZqpf0nE9GtSyGSeOzA2eTbIxS6y0yi7fTRwCeROeLWI3MPlhK8FS8BWV0xe6vzDVBSOZvR-aOHovzvXlKwKV56FMOvQDZdHoMmHjNsBt1fhceN7XX9mRFFA/w640-h494/Kallu%20top%20Kallik%20floor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Roly poly Kallu on top, Kallik below</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were born to experienced mother Crystal and father Nuka on November 11, 2022. Father Nuka has since returned to the Detroit Zoo, so there are only mom and cubs now in Toledo.</span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOgJ3RgOEwyZaLKm9KrUAUBEtefbyPJcBAjt3mdE3S2-bROotOSU-pU7LYEphqnuryfNrAnOqo6M5NnadD7W0U09_vaHW08-WwX8YEd_W5ykZIPFBiFbg7htX3_yrYzP61O_JEJ8l0DS-4r5VQ_GQmUp0KO5-b9EvxwLHWTuQ0iWCRYh6bPWOrGZGXXk/s3695/Crystal%20and%20two%20cubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2115" data-original-width="3695" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOgJ3RgOEwyZaLKm9KrUAUBEtefbyPJcBAjt3mdE3S2-bROotOSU-pU7LYEphqnuryfNrAnOqo6M5NnadD7W0U09_vaHW08-WwX8YEd_W5ykZIPFBiFbg7htX3_yrYzP61O_JEJ8l0DS-4r5VQ_GQmUp0KO5-b9EvxwLHWTuQ0iWCRYh6bPWOrGZGXXk/w640-h366/Crystal%20and%20two%20cubs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal and sons.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the cubs was much much smaller than the other, and some were concerned whether the smaller cub would be strong enough to survive. But both cubs thrived, and a public webcam enabled many fans to watch them grow up in the den, and then later learn to swim in the baby pool in the private area. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvsctDA8AKoL_Dszjs33ic9oLTHyDLTpYhpLhvG_ZNkwptAZIziAPOYZuK6Y4yjOMzDpXAp67lBy6-ZJeFaEXOjomB_DScEfKdkdptqIz_OrA3YKj__AnSRr50igKH3DuG7NVA-bCLmJtbczdapoYtzf87PSLN8JzfEsVBLEYQk6bMazOidjfjiLRYec/s3935/Kallik%20walk%20wet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2945" data-original-width="3935" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvsctDA8AKoL_Dszjs33ic9oLTHyDLTpYhpLhvG_ZNkwptAZIziAPOYZuK6Y4yjOMzDpXAp67lBy6-ZJeFaEXOjomB_DScEfKdkdptqIz_OrA3YKj__AnSRr50igKH3DuG7NVA-bCLmJtbczdapoYtzf87PSLN8JzfEsVBLEYQk6bMazOidjfjiLRYec/w640-h478/Kallik%20walk%20wet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Smaller Kallik is the water baby.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The smaller one turned out to be the brave and daring brother, first in the pool and seemingly showing no fear as he quickly learned to get in and out of the water and to swim. </span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR8IKMLHBeQddcHbWMOXbClHxg8kyEyOMbQi8xwF5u2QdBFpZiKIA_SWs4pXuxUA0cXqcAst0QshLGHNaAWkHNSWeEmPOyJr0ibKL4HYGk55HSPj4D9F40K5dExPJqOaaGd5FvTsZVBnO_eyfmLX5qy6AqWDLJTaSP5Cszb6SqPSm4kagiyAtslYlL8g/s2915/Kallu%20tongue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2515" data-original-width="2915" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR8IKMLHBeQddcHbWMOXbClHxg8kyEyOMbQi8xwF5u2QdBFpZiKIA_SWs4pXuxUA0cXqcAst0QshLGHNaAWkHNSWeEmPOyJr0ibKL4HYGk55HSPj4D9F40K5dExPJqOaaGd5FvTsZVBnO_eyfmLX5qy6AqWDLJTaSP5Cszb6SqPSm4kagiyAtslYlL8g/w640-h552/Kallu%20tongue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Bigger Kallu prefers to stay on dry land</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The bigger brother was quite shy of the water (and still is, to a degree). There were even times when little brother would try to push bigger brother into the pool, and Crystal tried to encourage him to swim too.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kqKMVljTgtXW5H1T9vIomout0YLwK3sDGEPdkvLtSEiex5rKjgsiInqMFfe0-bVAkaejMnBfJaMoqTYWnNIqBo8ILNcc7WEfX98-zTbsNyeH4nOCFix071xP-24NQHix6ArnJbHNiYp8JcDBIsjh-ciKfCLWZSSfGRDu4OyQBfqAe4xav-nYzZjW7Fk/s5184/Kallik%20all%20wet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kqKMVljTgtXW5H1T9vIomout0YLwK3sDGEPdkvLtSEiex5rKjgsiInqMFfe0-bVAkaejMnBfJaMoqTYWnNIqBo8ILNcc7WEfX98-zTbsNyeH4nOCFix071xP-24NQHix6ArnJbHNiYp8JcDBIsjh-ciKfCLWZSSfGRDu4OyQBfqAe4xav-nYzZjW7Fk/w640-h426/Kallik%20all%20wet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallik in the pool, Kallu not quite.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">After a week's delay from the original public debut day (it was probably the bigger brother Kallu who balked at going outside), the cubs were introduced to the world in early May. Due to popular demand, a webcam has been set up outside so everyone can watch them daily.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrvnLVjNyvEJELvcsvMKqiVHvX4qfTXOnzu4DsCj-gztoUiijNXihETiOvGpv-FODvIrsQBX3xmBj6NMDHdQGNPllCwJPUNXr2u8TBmTf7Ic9zqSBHiOVGM0BPkLwxjUTvyvV7hT46p1PhKJLtPA8KNVwgLMDXg8dpKxiPKiixhIDSrP_GPP-PGPdxEQ/s3012/Kallu%20and%20Crystal%20cave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="3012" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrvnLVjNyvEJELvcsvMKqiVHvX4qfTXOnzu4DsCj-gztoUiijNXihETiOvGpv-FODvIrsQBX3xmBj6NMDHdQGNPllCwJPUNXr2u8TBmTf7Ic9zqSBHiOVGM0BPkLwxjUTvyvV7hT46p1PhKJLtPA8KNVwgLMDXg8dpKxiPKiixhIDSrP_GPP-PGPdxEQ/w640-h480/Kallu%20and%20Crystal%20cave.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu and Crystal, in the den cave.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mother Crystal mostly watches from one of her favorite spots, while the twins entertain each other.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kallu, the bigger brother, is always running back to Mom for reassurance, and still prefers being on shore to swimming in the pool or wading in the stream. He has a round little belly.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZpoyFN4nyA0Qfi5X4s7Aga1R3QdkTskm4_Bys_8QZpL26VQS6HxbjDCVOeKTj7pOmmUFxo5FEnsj4DjAuK0UIq3Bmh19c9obm_vc6bMN1MjoURo0kca6Rnt94ghkzYSHJbKuzuu7Ji1bjqyWJUHykM17rC4jj6_WBZNKJXa-5vFcbTLVs35PMLqlIHI/s5184/Kallik%20running%20wet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZpoyFN4nyA0Qfi5X4s7Aga1R3QdkTskm4_Bys_8QZpL26VQS6HxbjDCVOeKTj7pOmmUFxo5FEnsj4DjAuK0UIq3Bmh19c9obm_vc6bMN1MjoURo0kca6Rnt94ghkzYSHJbKuzuu7Ji1bjqyWJUHykM17rC4jj6_WBZNKJXa-5vFcbTLVs35PMLqlIHI/w640-h426/Kallik%20running%20wet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallik all wet.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kallik, who is still much smaller, 30 pounds lighter, is quick on his feet, and ready for any adventure. He is inquisitive, quite the problem solver, and an enthusiastic swimmer. He comes to Mom when she calls him over for feeding time, but otherwise is pretty independent. He is built for action, more streamlined.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVbR-eZgmTYBoyOV2sR0nNJR0pMCZVyeu3evzDyr4OM95xN76v5QfKk1nv8v3ThgTyVMMYsZczbx6qN285d8Figjjf4CO5lfZaTpgH3fj5ONdGT5hxqn92E1Ks2EfAwYm6ZBeyJ56nSzJ8V7Ijer99aOcmAcL8ZinSvLIhr17tZR8LQtxYi6VZU-1gOM/s5100/cubs%20and%20kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2890" data-original-width="5100" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVbR-eZgmTYBoyOV2sR0nNJR0pMCZVyeu3evzDyr4OM95xN76v5QfKk1nv8v3ThgTyVMMYsZczbx6qN285d8Figjjf4CO5lfZaTpgH3fj5ONdGT5hxqn92E1Ks2EfAwYm6ZBeyJ56nSzJ8V7Ijer99aOcmAcL8ZinSvLIhr17tZR8LQtxYi6VZU-1gOM/w640-h362/cubs%20and%20kids.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One of the cubs at the window, delighting the children.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Both cubs love to play with the visiting children through the glass, and the kids respond with squeals of delight. It is as if the cubs knew they were in the public eye from birth, and they love their celebrity status.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RNatQ42sdTvgVtRW8CjX6thb6zelbxCgGTvUtg4VzSZj7AMWfZCygfzj6ErvI5fnijiyCf9idXerKA1btButuOYgtk5DLr25W14hwwZFTVuj1qSuseVilpSf72wV5_QMdHHrHo02CXcH2_yrzpJKmrkjO5M5C2g8lB39zRVspiqy09CbAx_bJ97M9CI/s3180/Crystal%20face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3180" data-original-width="2725" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RNatQ42sdTvgVtRW8CjX6thb6zelbxCgGTvUtg4VzSZj7AMWfZCygfzj6ErvI5fnijiyCf9idXerKA1btButuOYgtk5DLr25W14hwwZFTVuj1qSuseVilpSf72wV5_QMdHHrHo02CXcH2_yrzpJKmrkjO5M5C2g8lB39zRVspiqy09CbAx_bJ97M9CI/w548-h640/Crystal%20face.jpg" width="548" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal was born in Belgium, and still has a sister, Blanche, living there.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Belgium born Crystal, at age 24, is probably happy they can be playmates for each other. Her last two cubs, Hope (born in 2015) and Borealis (born in 2018), were singles, and she made great effort the play with each of them. Of course she was a little younger then.</span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyuq2ppHLmFFCcKJ2wQGNwL0qAhCD-mpXZibFMUcG0nNtU6uXo3lPBs-WqdCIB2TKQK_6q2FvwMAkRQ0k2Spe7Rmb8OnE0oS0mvFqvlqamk27gGSxNvhe8FAJLkcLFn2acuAg-tSFoo_VTJKNuFQFsMjJ4jOov5_FRSFGOJ8a0ZxGVSJO99f8pWnuprU/s5184/Crystal%20profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyuq2ppHLmFFCcKJ2wQGNwL0qAhCD-mpXZibFMUcG0nNtU6uXo3lPBs-WqdCIB2TKQK_6q2FvwMAkRQ0k2Spe7Rmb8OnE0oS0mvFqvlqamk27gGSxNvhe8FAJLkcLFn2acuAg-tSFoo_VTJKNuFQFsMjJ4jOov5_FRSFGOJ8a0ZxGVSJO99f8pWnuprU/w640-h426/Crystal%20profile.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal in the play yard.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">She is also mother to twins Aurora and the late Anana (born in 2006), Siku (born in 2009), and twins Suka and Sakari (born in 2012). I remember seeing her play with Suka and Sakari in the water. On the day I visited, she did not engage with the boys, but rather just watched them.</span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eSShuQecOMyGpajUXn_CZQdFq5gkQQcBLJNlDPd2N69WyPVybBl9_eP1R2CNI6tfDtg8z8fnHZHcoJR56pwjV6Oxuk9A39aec3uck7NZnCAwqgsz7yuBPh0sxtmm1mxyvNAS-vQG57LKRZDk3f7u710x0T8ctvk8BtxfuxwQHg18BovOulzzGKoyW1M/s3035/Crystal%20Kallu%20same%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2225" data-original-width="3035" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eSShuQecOMyGpajUXn_CZQdFq5gkQQcBLJNlDPd2N69WyPVybBl9_eP1R2CNI6tfDtg8z8fnHZHcoJR56pwjV6Oxuk9A39aec3uck7NZnCAwqgsz7yuBPh0sxtmm1mxyvNAS-vQG57LKRZDk3f7u710x0T8ctvk8BtxfuxwQHg18BovOulzzGKoyW1M/w640-h470/Crystal%20Kallu%20same%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal with Kallu</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal is grandmother to Nora, Nuniq, Neva, Amelia Gray and Kulu. The only other female polar bears we have in the US who are producing cubs are Crystal's daughters Aurora and Suka. Since Lee has returned to Columbus, there are hopes for cubs this year there. And Nuka has returned to Suka in Detroit, so this fertile pair may produce another cub or two this year. Their 2 year old twins Laerke and Astra just left Detroit to move to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFkX3CfF8DyZhqMIJFVT2CmBUHf65Rr9dBtvREwRG8_gHRb2mxlPVZrGgYNvQ75VPErIGidI75cMbRCIudqs3QLXK9v_buMGzFaHmKejEIBDPiy34QNwbO2ZNXgGJsqGiNgqCLG7W-IN-LfSMO2zhVGhP8XEyK-hea-Y141CK8YX-Yc2ZSAAhk6WHUNo/s5184/Crystal%20leaves%20cave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFkX3CfF8DyZhqMIJFVT2CmBUHf65Rr9dBtvREwRG8_gHRb2mxlPVZrGgYNvQ75VPErIGidI75cMbRCIudqs3QLXK9v_buMGzFaHmKejEIBDPiy34QNwbO2ZNXgGJsqGiNgqCLG7W-IN-LfSMO2zhVGhP8XEyK-hea-Y141CK8YX-Yc2ZSAAhk6WHUNo/w640-h426/Crystal%20leaves%20cave.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal finally gets up, after watching the boys play for several hours.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Even though the demands of being a playmate are much less for a mother with twins, she has to produce twice as much milk for the growing boys. Polar bear cubs might nurse for two years, so she is not done yet. However, Crystal seems tired, listless, and these two will probably be her last cubs. I am sure she is getting all the right food to make that rich fatty polar bear milk, but it has to be draining for an older lady.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomAru4ZkL8dwNDhcYhui5_gAUGS0kArbmZ7gk9PPgMEnJY-If6NbQBO2rEKae_eIOKrfnFf_nP0wGuxGub6bKA-QBAJiAgrsRVHkTdeSbI1s7GY6rCgcNL5NMhKcm1ALFZlC-vpgn3oUPb-dRmznMziGx-LqTjcxX2L6KRbIa9MofZj-Ez0dXxZlKHkE/s5184/play%20area%20kallu%20kallik%20crystal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomAru4ZkL8dwNDhcYhui5_gAUGS0kArbmZ7gk9PPgMEnJY-If6NbQBO2rEKae_eIOKrfnFf_nP0wGuxGub6bKA-QBAJiAgrsRVHkTdeSbI1s7GY6rCgcNL5NMhKcm1ALFZlC-vpgn3oUPb-dRmznMziGx-LqTjcxX2L6KRbIa9MofZj-Ez0dXxZlKHkE/w640-h426/play%20area%20kallu%20kallik%20crystal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A view of the play area, with the den cave in the center back. The cubs have a freshwater stream, and there is a dirt dig pit to the left.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">We watched the boys play for several hours, and they do know how to have fun. Kallik had jammed a blue cube under a rock, and was working to get it out. He figured it out at last. </span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxnc1dRz3pAfSAnbAhAQX8g2fdd6US4qiRfjKaZEcOJtBJWsr0ahwdxLJHZKxka5lDOHraseqEYVP3I6Vap_SDz1C0dfdjH3eu1M-dMSYaNoudux3mpJcLY0z83_XZ8AbqNhOYONtSJ_2yGLVglB11Gm88SiaxpHpcLqUx0L730ts8jreREIbD5K40n8/s5184/kallu%20blue%20box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxnc1dRz3pAfSAnbAhAQX8g2fdd6US4qiRfjKaZEcOJtBJWsr0ahwdxLJHZKxka5lDOHraseqEYVP3I6Vap_SDz1C0dfdjH3eu1M-dMSYaNoudux3mpJcLY0z83_XZ8AbqNhOYONtSJ_2yGLVglB11Gm88SiaxpHpcLqUx0L730ts8jreREIbD5K40n8/w640-h426/kallu%20blue%20box.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu watches as Kallik tries to free the blue box.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Kallik took time out from this chore to run and play, and seemed to take delight in finding bits of bark to chew on. He also likes to chase his bigger slower brother around.</span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFGpjxRTtQpVnnamJVUjRuh-9QNouG-sMJRpCt0jpBOtqqKkISZ0czRVk3WlnbKemxPLAfLi8rxldAzXs56SeNAIBA6D45Y1a8TrjfOXK_s2jC2GU_nebtytS6BD0nc4-bt79BKCp85KpsOAgGoxJQ7XGJNu5a4vqLg18FQ5PaoYGsQsHtPtzuRgkfDU/s5184/Kallik%20chases%20Kallu%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFGpjxRTtQpVnnamJVUjRuh-9QNouG-sMJRpCt0jpBOtqqKkISZ0czRVk3WlnbKemxPLAfLi8rxldAzXs56SeNAIBA6D45Y1a8TrjfOXK_s2jC2GU_nebtytS6BD0nc4-bt79BKCp85KpsOAgGoxJQ7XGJNu5a4vqLg18FQ5PaoYGsQsHtPtzuRgkfDU/w640-h426/Kallik%20chases%20Kallu%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The chase is on.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kallu, the bigger bear with the smaller name, finds other ways to amuse himself. He likes playing with the big ball, with the ball floating in the water, and him safe on shore.</span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN43oqlFQ20RlLIJjTEkAwvH7e8nkH2f9ppMdPRYu5XLJqKvqoCIKtkE4xz2sEHLZNaMsJhU9zeH8J4UH5vzhHJbT_3SmyjDIl8GfvT7afNQSOmIwOzrMMdpP6Bj4dm0Ykis6v8eJZhI3kUmUpBGTvG6Uy41OPcqXVNCE0jwLklWmgN784mCLNx8HSPdk/s3305/Kallu%20ball%20and%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2805" data-original-width="3305" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN43oqlFQ20RlLIJjTEkAwvH7e8nkH2f9ppMdPRYu5XLJqKvqoCIKtkE4xz2sEHLZNaMsJhU9zeH8J4UH5vzhHJbT_3SmyjDIl8GfvT7afNQSOmIwOzrMMdpP6Bj4dm0Ykis6v8eJZhI3kUmUpBGTvG6Uy41OPcqXVNCE0jwLklWmgN784mCLNx8HSPdk/w640-h544/Kallu%20ball%20and%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Which is rounder? The ball or Kallu's bottom?</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kallu does sometimes wade into the water, but would rather not. And he runs back to Mama quite often. </span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibC2PrmR4oetuwZkXWIMepP95YTXlBw07qGkhCkctZdjN8fk-uLRIsKHkzRJGBVyCKCI4AR-G51w7mhEwE-1b-k6SWfc4Ymqu7mDFx3aacicM7tyGQjqXfJq2xcFzUYV_24zPLdRug4MLmx40WEt_MABpvEnh04SZGPuSsuo4bfAsOm2Mw7qFwx178w2Q/s3925/Kallu%20ball%20Crystal%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2385" data-original-width="3925" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibC2PrmR4oetuwZkXWIMepP95YTXlBw07qGkhCkctZdjN8fk-uLRIsKHkzRJGBVyCKCI4AR-G51w7mhEwE-1b-k6SWfc4Ymqu7mDFx3aacicM7tyGQjqXfJq2xcFzUYV_24zPLdRug4MLmx40WEt_MABpvEnh04SZGPuSsuo4bfAsOm2Mw7qFwx178w2Q/w640-h388/Kallu%20ball%20Crystal%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu brings the ball to Mama Crystal.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The boys do play together, it is often a chase game.</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0JoSwq2tK2ojYj3HGwIp_ePpIWhsc_Ztu4ZkbacQYwHcpVYYRsaNj5Z02Qs0rvcumalZ388i7xX2_jjn_3i-8xKr1Oy6YnbIHCWZjGMEiYpFYfSCyXSS7PUJ0iTtIqV3-wCkYpBVZAm32n5gg6t97sycTW0JZiiOsosa0xCQGW6GeTP97egP-UD7R2k/s3715/Kallik%20with%20bark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2845" data-original-width="3715" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0JoSwq2tK2ojYj3HGwIp_ePpIWhsc_Ztu4ZkbacQYwHcpVYYRsaNj5Z02Qs0rvcumalZ388i7xX2_jjn_3i-8xKr1Oy6YnbIHCWZjGMEiYpFYfSCyXSS7PUJ0iTtIqV3-wCkYpBVZAm32n5gg6t97sycTW0JZiiOsosa0xCQGW6GeTP97egP-UD7R2k/w640-h490/Kallik%20with%20bark.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallik with bark.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When Crystal calls to lead them to a nursing spot, Kallu follows right away. Kallik hangs back, always wanting to play just a bit more, but then he runs to catch up.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_7Zq0BHbwUQTqyC8D_prPKxIoMoGH_tujnb6ZWxDyGSUNpXsZqFHueGn_fwsiPKEq5hagOrVSdXKscWxsRzpdzKT0AThGAk_gLgKZGSFlAhqY1ClGwSllsyR_TzWOhGkldkiGoB_VD-Zz4IKAlgs4e7f96x0zPJw-anwLA7K2iiSnktu7dZpgRqPIRA/s4175/cubs%20and%20Crystal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2915" data-original-width="4175" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_7Zq0BHbwUQTqyC8D_prPKxIoMoGH_tujnb6ZWxDyGSUNpXsZqFHueGn_fwsiPKEq5hagOrVSdXKscWxsRzpdzKT0AThGAk_gLgKZGSFlAhqY1ClGwSllsyR_TzWOhGkldkiGoB_VD-Zz4IKAlgs4e7f96x0zPJw-anwLA7K2iiSnktu7dZpgRqPIRA/w640-h446/cubs%20and%20Crystal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal and her playful sons.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiWPD5B_CBCnTcY1cQDFiZwEubEOrHGvChx5ZiYKprEDDDFW9-FB6fHJr3iXdriIc4tc3TIPLEoluVsB1p1Kt6Xe_DUIsJD--qnZtf8htQj_cEZzJALzQrbemp0QOdFpk7HoJJHFGrqDilWLoCB38n3-vVdfEH61Bio6a4G3nLvd6UJY0KSeI-Up2Kus/s5184/crystal%20climb%20kallu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiWPD5B_CBCnTcY1cQDFiZwEubEOrHGvChx5ZiYKprEDDDFW9-FB6fHJr3iXdriIc4tc3TIPLEoluVsB1p1Kt6Xe_DUIsJD--qnZtf8htQj_cEZzJALzQrbemp0QOdFpk7HoJJHFGrqDilWLoCB38n3-vVdfEH61Bio6a4G3nLvd6UJY0KSeI-Up2Kus/w640-h426/crystal%20climb%20kallu.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal leads Kallu away, and Kallik will follow eventually.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal often nurses them in a very public area, the air conditioned den cave, the walls of which are mostly windows, so the public can get a close up view of this cozy family, and it almost feels like we are in the den with her. But they don't seem to mind. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRPysOhTjoISjrF167xyH2D9BDmUB5gobgYGEUN6recW56UowxUdU9a3w8CF0_0ClkQz8vyfEk7thJpmFaf4TRFGhfe3ArJwoFKrJssCT4MSh4Bt352DLlCznFwEenFffbmqVrGPp1EXM_vEvoA4y95nKJzcTWxdWEDDXSqFnIYNNkLxz7b7irakfDqI/s3145/crystal%20nursing%20cubs%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2890" data-original-width="3145" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRPysOhTjoISjrF167xyH2D9BDmUB5gobgYGEUN6recW56UowxUdU9a3w8CF0_0ClkQz8vyfEk7thJpmFaf4TRFGhfe3ArJwoFKrJssCT4MSh4Bt352DLlCznFwEenFffbmqVrGPp1EXM_vEvoA4y95nKJzcTWxdWEDDXSqFnIYNNkLxz7b7irakfDqI/w640-h588/crystal%20nursing%20cubs%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The cubs rest a bit, and nurse in the den cave.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Twins Kallu and Kallik are the only only polar bear cubs born in a zoo in the US this year. There is an unnamed girl cub in Hamburg Germany, still behind the scenes, daughter of Victoria and Kap. And Gerda and Kai had twins in Novosibirsk, Siberia as well, two girls just now named Belka and Strelka.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">While Europe and Russia have put the brakes on polar bear breeding because they have been so successful, the polar bear population in US zoos is dwindling. We only have 39 polar bears now, and all of the young bears under ten years of age are either Crystal's cubs, or her grandchildren. It will be hard to find mates who aren't closely related for these two boys, unless the ridiculous federal law banning polar bears from coming into the country is changed.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><b>Polar bears with names that start with K</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I have been struck by how popular it is in the US to name boy cubs with names beginning with the letter K. This occurred to me as I was in the ABQ Biopark in Albuquerque in mid-May, just before we lost one of the elderly twin brothers there, Koluk. I am usually very good at keeping the polar bears straight, but even I get confused, with so many names so similar, and how to spell them properly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Before we lost one of the ABQ brothers, we had twin brothers Kiska and Koluk in ABQ, wildborn Kali in St. Louis, older wildborn Kalluk in San Diego, three year old Kulu in St. Paul Minnesota, Nuka's twin brother Koda in Memphis, and the new twins Kallu and Kallik in Toledo. That is eight bears out of the 18 male bears we had as of a month ago, bearing names that start with K, often with one or two "L's" in the middle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And now, the girl cub (yes, it is a girl, as I suspected), born last season and recently rescued in Alaska, has been named Kova. Another K name! She will probably remain at the Alaska Zoo.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A few more fun photos from our day at the Toledo Zoo:</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjhilhxYMsepWNuJ1nRINe14dTuGFtKCxF-KmdHMOUZQpLIYAenPQ7Rt_oR53nCV3hReGdOK1Y953NwETWYoVavDM_GDmlYpPJM3rDzd83Kq3qePibkOPXfgmMMntVYJ80A7cG-IgcA1ClX3SlODbCPpFHohf1Wsr5GW6TFqqJWdVj7_L5cy-CYNl2AQ/s5184/cub%20battle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjhilhxYMsepWNuJ1nRINe14dTuGFtKCxF-KmdHMOUZQpLIYAenPQ7Rt_oR53nCV3hReGdOK1Y953NwETWYoVavDM_GDmlYpPJM3rDzd83Kq3qePibkOPXfgmMMntVYJ80A7cG-IgcA1ClX3SlODbCPpFHohf1Wsr5GW6TFqqJWdVj7_L5cy-CYNl2AQ/w640-h426/cub%20battle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The boys wrestle ...</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6x3fUEROGvjZVuopCzQQFAMGhQssnwXIygJXxGIZ3F6kwyJ9N6i2KugsdqbGXAhm93XI4o6sppcDM7KkPebGjIxIvtPMdW2AJ_oQlm5cf-IfYuzfgBZpY5FYzIoVln7_JITUabntHxz0HgVlDiUjZksJA4mF8VCEjQuepD9kDCDseoa5UyElDscVPl8/s4315/two%20cubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3400" data-original-width="4315" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6x3fUEROGvjZVuopCzQQFAMGhQssnwXIygJXxGIZ3F6kwyJ9N6i2KugsdqbGXAhm93XI4o6sppcDM7KkPebGjIxIvtPMdW2AJ_oQlm5cf-IfYuzfgBZpY5FYzIoVln7_JITUabntHxz0HgVlDiUjZksJA4mF8VCEjQuepD9kDCDseoa5UyElDscVPl8/w640-h504/two%20cubs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">...and chase.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSOgfg8OHlOseGfwxjmAczudNZbcw_zVe7iakuNeSes7jlx6bNyHixqzmC2IuG5_kq-AsrN_3ACEmcTBzGvqFLiXfyTzSFRdlrQcix71EEstXQKaExskz_weIxgqVSUdoPrNneMWg3N37a3dxbZoTNxl3H2i8GqzXsMTC7EftOC0GAOAKmrRx9IJwqnE/s4560/cub%20underwater%20battle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2385" data-original-width="4560" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSOgfg8OHlOseGfwxjmAczudNZbcw_zVe7iakuNeSes7jlx6bNyHixqzmC2IuG5_kq-AsrN_3ACEmcTBzGvqFLiXfyTzSFRdlrQcix71EEstXQKaExskz_weIxgqVSUdoPrNneMWg3N37a3dxbZoTNxl3H2i8GqzXsMTC7EftOC0GAOAKmrRx9IJwqnE/w640-h334/cub%20underwater%20battle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Water play</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46DjBXe5m34vmnTyPumqIoqOZk-Z1eW6OwWynGpr5ECM-1IiaEh8_FNE5fdFwq3DGQRbn4f4mo28iuAq1_1LowdMQsQeui9k_EUAxuc0SZ7UTu-Sl3Jl1U2e178h9TeQge13Kw435ZkixHKbaTPmrF-B13LJbpXnRZYoAcm2P2IX2kQzYSAj7c0fiL4k/s3850/cubs%20underwater%20battle%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2365" data-original-width="3850" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46DjBXe5m34vmnTyPumqIoqOZk-Z1eW6OwWynGpr5ECM-1IiaEh8_FNE5fdFwq3DGQRbn4f4mo28iuAq1_1LowdMQsQeui9k_EUAxuc0SZ7UTu-Sl3Jl1U2e178h9TeQge13Kw435ZkixHKbaTPmrF-B13LJbpXnRZYoAcm2P2IX2kQzYSAj7c0fiL4k/w640-h394/cubs%20underwater%20battle%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu shows Kallik how to have fun in the water.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rbmlCNsGlF9E-1h9hu2uwBYZjCOeucOHXffgGshKeI3pDRBbz-a29SLZM_0_dSlWx5L4GAgPmtpHSdHJMp6y5isrxeYkx32wvSg8ZIB4sDh8F53JlabeMUmRshBzxTIYqfoyQTyqj_z4z9YEOLVK-6d1FL6YuWpXJ6QBtLvPPCItk6eg3xqU-nkVcP0/s3695/Kallik%20and%20boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3040" data-original-width="3695" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rbmlCNsGlF9E-1h9hu2uwBYZjCOeucOHXffgGshKeI3pDRBbz-a29SLZM_0_dSlWx5L4GAgPmtpHSdHJMp6y5isrxeYkx32wvSg8ZIB4sDh8F53JlabeMUmRshBzxTIYqfoyQTyqj_z4z9YEOLVK-6d1FL6YuWpXJ6QBtLvPPCItk6eg3xqU-nkVcP0/w640-h526/Kallik%20and%20boy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In the den, Kallik meets one of the young visitors.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKFvm212Y5d45cAayX_DSvRdjU5hhTBkfs70adioRsN3X-lKwVCpNuXtkWniy6ZyGwjWvDEBBd9_Lpul-AGaCACQV5LOuUYDLu3funQNv6tZQzvtXOVX8JM_Ga8ZkfnT17S9MGADzQYSgislJiOCrNZnAjLjVp2KrpkdlImJB0PtrJMJvlVDTj964duY/s5184/underwater%20cub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKFvm212Y5d45cAayX_DSvRdjU5hhTBkfs70adioRsN3X-lKwVCpNuXtkWniy6ZyGwjWvDEBBd9_Lpul-AGaCACQV5LOuUYDLu3funQNv6tZQzvtXOVX8JM_Ga8ZkfnT17S9MGADzQYSgislJiOCrNZnAjLjVp2KrpkdlImJB0PtrJMJvlVDTj964duY/w640-h426/underwater%20cub.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxsqhQU4QPSrezA5uEEonk7H1cJ0hkCFSGYuUEMyYYTO5cRHHkfnEh_PZ-1Y1_6XqxcytM5BUeZOnA_JSWwxzy6xlbmaUWhKiBExJHa9JaZBmDjqNM-0M-lUGIQhL_ZjXoREYcfVOWzLN6Yhxq140I4xK85DYEvU5uH7yVhxxRcIQXLqVahT22W6NpuA/s5184/underwater%20cub%20bubbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxsqhQU4QPSrezA5uEEonk7H1cJ0hkCFSGYuUEMyYYTO5cRHHkfnEh_PZ-1Y1_6XqxcytM5BUeZOnA_JSWwxzy6xlbmaUWhKiBExJHa9JaZBmDjqNM-0M-lUGIQhL_ZjXoREYcfVOWzLN6Yhxq140I4xK85DYEvU5uH7yVhxxRcIQXLqVahT22W6NpuA/w640-h426/underwater%20cub%20bubbles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Cub underwater.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_vF0ehmTNySo_FZcnrcgfUCZKAgl_n8CfgHGei3Nn4jCzFd4pCur5zIkTY1eRw5TsALxXYfV_LhldZCzatMsTob54j-0M-3SsibvL52aXOit_iCaEgSGntvvaHVJRjPgjHrj8AVNkZl28jiUWknIZEew8mbdArlNXe1auje8DCIWUCCIXKL9JcUawU0/s4490/twin%20cubs%20against%20glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="4490" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_vF0ehmTNySo_FZcnrcgfUCZKAgl_n8CfgHGei3Nn4jCzFd4pCur5zIkTY1eRw5TsALxXYfV_LhldZCzatMsTob54j-0M-3SsibvL52aXOit_iCaEgSGntvvaHVJRjPgjHrj8AVNkZl28jiUWknIZEew8mbdArlNXe1auje8DCIWUCCIXKL9JcUawU0/w640-h224/twin%20cubs%20against%20glass.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Napping in the den. Love that footprint.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-88393342182598507272023-06-04T10:24:00.002-07:002023-06-04T10:24:18.937-07:00Polar bears Kiska and Koluk in the desert<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-JwT3pAu8nouzf8QlImKwx4z-5lxZZOH16ghkmLuqqx05QPWXaKpcXyNlsJ-sNWd62LZzE_jAk9-iDuvrsZK9T_B7GVavhztAvYlZWDwWdJKfNlB2gb2PaEnXuW9dyLPdebpdxVmkV5hxL_F72C43OIfchKEbrd4YkBuGH_uPmavEXeEf83F9Drh/s3170/Kiska%20front%20Koluk%20sleep.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3170" data-original-width="3125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-JwT3pAu8nouzf8QlImKwx4z-5lxZZOH16ghkmLuqqx05QPWXaKpcXyNlsJ-sNWd62LZzE_jAk9-iDuvrsZK9T_B7GVavhztAvYlZWDwWdJKfNlB2gb2PaEnXuW9dyLPdebpdxVmkV5hxL_F72C43OIfchKEbrd4YkBuGH_uPmavEXeEf83F9Drh/w630-h640/Kiska%20front%20Koluk%20sleep.jpg" width="630" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska in front, Koluk sleeping in back.<br /> I took these photos about two weeks before Koluk died.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Some people may wonder how polar bears do in a desert environment as in the ABQ Biopark in Albuquerque NM. Twin brothers Kiska and Koluk have lived there for a quarter of a century in good spirits most of the time. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBKHvgMqVvSHt5-5w6iT-fUb0P7it2c-IyW_MgyNrBvYsmZOp-SGXXyN9YJvCAxySwtY4c8zqr4UTCvXIkmsp7uf7q3JBKBo8twOYAlx5xNdf4VnxiiI5HudafVYxXWQeqmPhJ3yFJehibP2cVMCYRqkVH7dhNHN6jCymvvhieUVRQpix1gpM29lM/s5184/Kiska%20Koluk%20wide%20shot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBKHvgMqVvSHt5-5w6iT-fUb0P7it2c-IyW_MgyNrBvYsmZOp-SGXXyN9YJvCAxySwtY4c8zqr4UTCvXIkmsp7uf7q3JBKBo8twOYAlx5xNdf4VnxiiI5HudafVYxXWQeqmPhJ3yFJehibP2cVMCYRqkVH7dhNHN6jCymvvhieUVRQpix1gpM29lM/w640-h426/Kiska%20Koluk%20wide%20shot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk standing atop the basin, Kiska in front.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Sad to say, Koluk died of liver and kidney failure, common illnesses in polar bears of advanced age, a little more than a week after my visit. He was 26 years old. His twin brother Kiska carries on by himself now, and seems to be in robust health. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I visited the brothers last summer, and they were both active and playful. This visit, Kiska was his old self, but Koluk was barely there, coming out rarely, never swimming, very slow of movements. I could tell he was not doing well. His twin brother Kiska knew this as well, I am sure, and left his ailing brother alone.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYfw1mWlO0U-2xBIKG9VqzLULYFdizphaPl4h0vEOReja-JYPNMP769ao4Ri8dU917eVcIKifJqbOI63ELsKp884tpdsASgyyz4Nj-TWunMAUzm4erHdq_GLwjDBlfZP4nIUt4ZYR7xf61tPAAbUOp6tno-iWRNFrxqAT_7qz8wcxcu6qr1PvXHka/s5184/kiska%20koluk%20breakfast.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYfw1mWlO0U-2xBIKG9VqzLULYFdizphaPl4h0vEOReja-JYPNMP769ao4Ri8dU917eVcIKifJqbOI63ELsKp884tpdsASgyyz4Nj-TWunMAUzm4erHdq_GLwjDBlfZP4nIUt4ZYR7xf61tPAAbUOp6tno-iWRNFrxqAT_7qz8wcxcu6qr1PvXHka/w640-h426/kiska%20koluk%20breakfast.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska and Koluk having breakfast together in the cave area.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It seemed to me that Kiska had already moved on, that he knew his brother was dying and it was best to just let him be alone. The boys usually nibbled on their breakfast together down in the cave area, the Koluk went inside while Kiska roamed around the enclosure, doing his own thing. Kiska carried on with the business of being a polar bear, swimming and playing and pacing and sleeping. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Koluk would occasionally come out into the lower area, and a few times he climbed to the upper area, then dozed on his favorite rock, while Kiska roam and played.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">On my last day there of my four days at the zoo, I finally found a polar bear keeper and conveyed my worries about Koluk. Yes, he was slowing down, I was told, but I was assured he should be fine again. By the end of the week, the vets had done an exam of Koluk and found liver and kidney failure. It progressed rapidly and he was gone a week later.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMl2ii_8YGbe9T4Oq8PDk2GChnhmD5Oc9GGUoAnCoy5Jk6kJZYUTP9mT34z1K_SRHtG0QPXsI_aarf6bYbxIxKTlbm3-Atnf3nmxkd-bYj6GQK700Rz7VnX31VtZY_UAafUv9fw-vEvmodOhgODXB9OLfMDts-gCafbFx_6PCdLC7FeJg6QB4Td-Z/s3983/clouds%20kiska%20front%20Koluk%20back.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3983" data-original-width="3073" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMl2ii_8YGbe9T4Oq8PDk2GChnhmD5Oc9GGUoAnCoy5Jk6kJZYUTP9mT34z1K_SRHtG0QPXsI_aarf6bYbxIxKTlbm3-Atnf3nmxkd-bYj6GQK700Rz7VnX31VtZY_UAafUv9fw-vEvmodOhgODXB9OLfMDts-gCafbFx_6PCdLC7FeJg6QB4Td-Z/w494-h640/clouds%20kiska%20front%20Koluk%20back.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska front, Koluk back</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgESQHOIwa8lJpZVPMlWEGz0rbmnPG1rVIeREkbep3DT98vIsd6Qi0tbbiN4UlZl7ltcD8Ny4mdqx_t_6ORgMSLKOnTqKjIkQXHSgzTtHrNUSl3JY0qKir1qeUF3PlBwjY82Av98U1VeMOPb6UVU7jKg7_veBXk3HfgDrFhH5U8WcTcDoFmuU08_Y5/s5184/Koluk%20chin%20rest%20kiska.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgESQHOIwa8lJpZVPMlWEGz0rbmnPG1rVIeREkbep3DT98vIsd6Qi0tbbiN4UlZl7ltcD8Ny4mdqx_t_6ORgMSLKOnTqKjIkQXHSgzTtHrNUSl3JY0qKir1qeUF3PlBwjY82Av98U1VeMOPb6UVU7jKg7_veBXk3HfgDrFhH5U8WcTcDoFmuU08_Y5/w640-h426/Koluk%20chin%20rest%20kiska.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk resting his chin on a rock.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And now it is just Kiska.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC7C5P-YGon5-IO97hoNR3_-l4x8-QlxE7tT1E5wPDyDZz2sf8YfI-VNUcjWmtFwPq4tDlrL36X0jhD_uk5ABo7Fx104EiOFNWuU0MDPnt-gzJ-DHMZCZXIhw_v1BlSFaXBkUzFhCakZ4uG1pdX3beYVp43Df09fAv7GdQZD2Tef1rS4l4XctIwup/s4360/kiska%20barrel%20long%20shot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3250" data-original-width="4360" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC7C5P-YGon5-IO97hoNR3_-l4x8-QlxE7tT1E5wPDyDZz2sf8YfI-VNUcjWmtFwPq4tDlrL36X0jhD_uk5ABo7Fx104EiOFNWuU0MDPnt-gzJ-DHMZCZXIhw_v1BlSFaXBkUzFhCakZ4uG1pdX3beYVp43Df09fAv7GdQZD2Tef1rS4l4XctIwup/w640-h478/kiska%20barrel%20long%20shot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska killing the barrel.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you look hard enough, over by the wolves, you can find the old small outmoded polar bear enclosure which was been abandoned when the new habitat was built a quarter of a century ago, but is still there behind a fence. The newer enclosure was finished just before Kiska and Koluk arrived in 1997. The bears have three waterfalls, a lower pool and a deep diving pool, a slide with running water (which they have been known to climb up), and air conditioned bedrooms. There is also an inside pool.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To address Kiska's pacing problem, some changes were made recently. Kiska had gotten into the habit of pacing atop the rim of the upper pool, repeating the same seven steps in one direction, then reversing and doing seven steps back. Always in the same spot. Some polar bears pace, some swim laps repetitively. It is a calming mechanism, and has been shown to lower their cortisol levels.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaCZ2U2UtD-kLXm8ZaO3lDleFFFsqbCdTBwFhSosMtB4gEWpf24f_7Z3QAH9VItfsefy8Pivp19sObZUagGcn-6dYXc1KfRTRsoayYwO5Y6R1KCm2Um-K_jBc9yOXk5f-wX5LV296FN1jrC2kLEMZ_dG7OQeMGiFxV8M7AEQZP1d3lLl-fpsGWCSs/s5184/Kiska%20pacing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaCZ2U2UtD-kLXm8ZaO3lDleFFFsqbCdTBwFhSosMtB4gEWpf24f_7Z3QAH9VItfsefy8Pivp19sObZUagGcn-6dYXc1KfRTRsoayYwO5Y6R1KCm2Um-K_jBc9yOXk5f-wX5LV296FN1jrC2kLEMZ_dG7OQeMGiFxV8M7AEQZP1d3lLl-fpsGWCSs/w640-h426/Kiska%20pacing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska in his pacing routine, which is now less frequent than it was.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A plan was devised to give the polar bear brothers access to more inside space which had previously been closed off to them, and when Kiska has been pacing for a bit, a keeper will call him inside to disrupt the pattern. When he returns to the outside, Kiska usually finds something else to do. These measures have reduced his pacing considerably, but he will probably always want to do his little dance. He sometimes will stop pacing on his own to take a dip in the pool, or play with the many toys. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Treat time, which is when the keeper brings in a bucket of rainbow trout to throw, will vary so Kiska won't be as likely to anticipate it. Anything to break up the usual routine. Sometimes they get salmon, but their favorite is squid.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7to1312u8Arlmwjxh4PrDVHgcbO1IM-KMnHwj_sH0wjXlNCCD749O_i0I6Iy04zqPx-JPtQgrfALMdgnC3eUi5QUPxbZ93vJ7_33L1tcbLA9C_zo41xDnRheyCLA2fXxWkBizjA5T-5hIMpmqYlmqMamzhUnmdRDVuHHfU3gKItS8P9-7pe9iKGKD/s5184/koluk%20fish%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7to1312u8Arlmwjxh4PrDVHgcbO1IM-KMnHwj_sH0wjXlNCCD749O_i0I6Iy04zqPx-JPtQgrfALMdgnC3eUi5QUPxbZ93vJ7_33L1tcbLA9C_zo41xDnRheyCLA2fXxWkBizjA5T-5hIMpmqYlmqMamzhUnmdRDVuHHfU3gKItS8P9-7pe9iKGKD/w426-h640/koluk%20fish%202.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk with his fish. Although he was always an avid swimmer, Koluk wanted the fish thrown to him on dry land so he didn't have to get his paws wet, during his illness in his last few weeks.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Koluk was diagnosed with a heart murmur in 2019 and after that, the keepers made sure Koluk got his fish without diving for it. In his last few weeks, Koluk didn't want to put his paws in the water, even to get fish. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kiska is still quite the diver.</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireRiwLgqdxPiCTAPXsrzY3hxMFUyMue66dLhNlDEW7N7ztUiV0I6hEwI2rHgIlQfdhSh7fPI2P81JSLrBPuVKlwk0UOQOtxnTMhtFLS7w2vryCeY_LCTRL1uD7kCRz7wLnPZu5ngxTWKZ2r6TyXw-aXCDzXYAfCmJ2uJzNR1Q6aGHYx8pwRiO98f_/s3530/kiska%20dive.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3095" data-original-width="3530" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireRiwLgqdxPiCTAPXsrzY3hxMFUyMue66dLhNlDEW7N7ztUiV0I6hEwI2rHgIlQfdhSh7fPI2P81JSLrBPuVKlwk0UOQOtxnTMhtFLS7w2vryCeY_LCTRL1uD7kCRz7wLnPZu5ngxTWKZ2r6TyXw-aXCDzXYAfCmJ2uJzNR1Q6aGHYx8pwRiO98f_/w640-h562/kiska%20dive.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska dives for the trout.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The zoo is in the middle of some major building projects right now, the Australian area and the new elephant habitat, but there is also a tentative plan down the road to improve the polar bear enclosure. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Since the lions Kenya and Dixie left for Abilene in March of 2023, that grassy habitat adjoining the polar bear home has been empty. It was too small for lions, but it would be quite easy to attach it to Inukshuk Bay, which is what the polar bear area is called. I don't know if the death of Koluk will affect this, or how solid is this plan.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDzJTPel1TeBPH-vEeCirJ_GtJfN4wNHZqfqEi77iLnM1bF6YkM9hMaW0R5yc-raoJODqDlEz8ro_KK07Kzse1I0QnhpwON8klMhoXqaModRtJnmajhPLa6weox3LwffM20MkERyUmaonZDDmtRssL49t9KqV3tge4yUpsXFchv9kxrqE0QdxyHNV/s5184/IMG_9217.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDzJTPel1TeBPH-vEeCirJ_GtJfN4wNHZqfqEi77iLnM1bF6YkM9hMaW0R5yc-raoJODqDlEz8ro_KK07Kzse1I0QnhpwON8klMhoXqaModRtJnmajhPLa6weox3LwffM20MkERyUmaonZDDmtRssL49t9KqV3tge4yUpsXFchv9kxrqE0QdxyHNV/w640-h426/IMG_9217.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Welcome to Inukshuk Bay.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Connecting to the old lion enclosure would greatly improve the polar bear habitat, giving the bear (or bears) more variety, a much bigger area, and grass. From talking to the docents, I got the idea that when both these bears are gone, the zoo plans to stop keeping polar bears, but this clever change might bring it up to current standards.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg4AnvsJ1TtffS_VOtIMuGcIzAEfkgwtJBF147iSACkegb6QSfckPY2G8ej_jzgZgqVjpvub4o9RcPG-63AVZZKZN0rk_jQGsrIchDRQbGPsgCpYtlpZ_WB-ZsLUGxMlcxTW7Y45Fr3bnLc4p9FbN9OpxXQTEKD7Eb5EjK1GOzgRJorgyDSilbAPN/s5184/lion%20platform.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg4AnvsJ1TtffS_VOtIMuGcIzAEfkgwtJBF147iSACkegb6QSfckPY2G8ej_jzgZgqVjpvub4o9RcPG-63AVZZKZN0rk_jQGsrIchDRQbGPsgCpYtlpZ_WB-ZsLUGxMlcxTW7Y45Fr3bnLc4p9FbN9OpxXQTEKD7Eb5EjK1GOzgRJorgyDSilbAPN/w400-h266/lion%20platform.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The old lion habitat is fronted by a moat.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqEQwETHA_unwaXxGzqJ2FaVCOwvVXYrjTd2kzEG4DwDn4tD0xUVBeuytq_tWJ458en1TaooTaZYNyQI_dRjvNv-iJAYQGbFmYuxs_Fo2BBbmJFYlWa5o19OOr_dgIwqf5iywHo-I7drYYuelL82vNSmlkur9r2VDtiWmDk_Zf_RwLBmiebLUDwUP/s5184/lion%20walk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqEQwETHA_unwaXxGzqJ2FaVCOwvVXYrjTd2kzEG4DwDn4tD0xUVBeuytq_tWJ458en1TaooTaZYNyQI_dRjvNv-iJAYQGbFmYuxs_Fo2BBbmJFYlWa5o19OOr_dgIwqf5iywHo-I7drYYuelL82vNSmlkur9r2VDtiWmDk_Zf_RwLBmiebLUDwUP/w400-h266/lion%20walk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Edge of polar bear habit (left) adjoins the old lion habitat.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHCpeCXx-p-iltqMSztPidNJQB4far_HBYwWMebeEEsBYqsvkocmRoC_xejtK_mV7l1_iH-bduK60u6ekD4NV94S4IRABmm3PFeEek6Y-f_FzeeOvtT2--rntXl-iMK7V92J2fzeojJtddLIizFFv7EM-TtZBZeYWjGM-oSDGRnTHu5EoGB1FSQnG/s5184/lions%20place.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHCpeCXx-p-iltqMSztPidNJQB4far_HBYwWMebeEEsBYqsvkocmRoC_xejtK_mV7l1_iH-bduK60u6ekD4NV94S4IRABmm3PFeEek6Y-f_FzeeOvtT2--rntXl-iMK7V92J2fzeojJtddLIizFFv7EM-TtZBZeYWjGM-oSDGRnTHu5EoGB1FSQnG/w400-h266/lions%20place.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The edge of the old lion habit, empty now.<br /> You can see the walls of the polar bear habitat behind.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Of course with the death of Koluk, we now have only 39 polar bears in US zoos, so it is not a sure bet that polar bears will be available. On the bright side, Crystal and Nuka's twin boys in Toledo were added to the population, and they are only six months old.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1_tyNZuusbSTyMx09SbIoiN_zDKP0HiptpQPDq2VZ_lAuIY_qDoEQJ4e1UH7oyNtGqa7LNfM6p6XYr8cX7Thqvzrc7_lUmMooPoaoX5Mw6vScmCXTsmxwl_TZShPXR-NyZ5VNoY6uGya_KBOkGh2aW8m4msNHW4QcaWEn5ZJNqYn8AqaezSb25KC/s3560/Kiska%20barrel%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3270" data-original-width="3560" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1_tyNZuusbSTyMx09SbIoiN_zDKP0HiptpQPDq2VZ_lAuIY_qDoEQJ4e1UH7oyNtGqa7LNfM6p6XYr8cX7Thqvzrc7_lUmMooPoaoX5Mw6vScmCXTsmxwl_TZShPXR-NyZ5VNoY6uGya_KBOkGh2aW8m4msNHW4QcaWEn5ZJNqYn8AqaezSb25KC/w640-h588/Kiska%20barrel%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska having fun with a big barrel.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiqjAUjWRlMBd2lyZIfMClgWjSD_2PG0mmXcDv4c8rvsleG5p_yxZNjsf3CA7NvCUlmLnkPwgstHweczgrL27Vcj6pbod9CgELjbZdHGgumDNLvO22bVbJyyZ3fAHDyBNoRiTDVhLFTBf-qPVQq-OWf68l2Y9ViLL7P5PapLngraBPO63lllCEMr_/s3475/Kiska%20lift%20barrel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3370" data-original-width="3475" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiqjAUjWRlMBd2lyZIfMClgWjSD_2PG0mmXcDv4c8rvsleG5p_yxZNjsf3CA7NvCUlmLnkPwgstHweczgrL27Vcj6pbod9CgELjbZdHGgumDNLvO22bVbJyyZ3fAHDyBNoRiTDVhLFTBf-qPVQq-OWf68l2Y9ViLL7P5PapLngraBPO63lllCEMr_/w640-h620/Kiska%20lift%20barrel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska is pretty playful for a 26 year old bear.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did see Kiska playing with a big barrel for a long time. Even though he is 26, he is very playful. </span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBL9GlJC948DCeacNEkAAlvLCS7YVFiER3bDJyXqhf6MPGe012-8N_2vQ_IZ3ZnQBW5zZ7RfwfiGwSu_DEHGGu2ZdX_rN7MDCZ_KxUDQ1X0owSgfA2hB6yCjZCyb5g54Du5PBp4PlVbDxEw9BNKKYz6SuSCyZQmyKZZkAVoT5QkToyEEyIhWKIGwu/s5184/kiska%20under%20water.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBL9GlJC948DCeacNEkAAlvLCS7YVFiER3bDJyXqhf6MPGe012-8N_2vQ_IZ3ZnQBW5zZ7RfwfiGwSu_DEHGGu2ZdX_rN7MDCZ_KxUDQ1X0owSgfA2hB6yCjZCyb5g54Du5PBp4PlVbDxEw9BNKKYz6SuSCyZQmyKZZkAVoT5QkToyEEyIhWKIGwu/w640-h426/kiska%20under%20water.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska doesn't swim for long periods, <br />but he often takes quick dips in the chilled deep dive pool.<br />There is a lovely huge underwater viewing window.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He also likes to take short swims in the deep dive pool, which gives visitors a chance to see a polar bear underwater up close.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0z1lD0SBzaQ6WYeS5rZdbFKd8DSvyvmOiH5d7RkirgZi43hKxBhrNIawZOXvIeobeQMacgqcsL7tP8c5g3x7UIOJkJg7UG0hcVXGLb2oBDDqSxOxPUiLLT0wOlkbuth0liu3cpjcAr8l1EjjSY9RupLw0gmvMGExk0yx70z_2CJVyqReQl9rG9Lx/s5184/Kiska%20in%20pool.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0z1lD0SBzaQ6WYeS5rZdbFKd8DSvyvmOiH5d7RkirgZi43hKxBhrNIawZOXvIeobeQMacgqcsL7tP8c5g3x7UIOJkJg7UG0hcVXGLb2oBDDqSxOxPUiLLT0wOlkbuth0liu3cpjcAr8l1EjjSY9RupLw0gmvMGExk0yx70z_2CJVyqReQl9rG9Lx/w640-h426/Kiska%20in%20pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska in the swim. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiConcVoBpyxZo9dPFU0yWdaL02DLAHlTe4GYmE27LXTIzeTgp_X-LFtc9iFcEk7jcR18DPNEGRaBYqWFK_SeLBduNn14zN4Yu_kR6bjl8r_NYIVwbz6ovEi_7hA66Lzlzft8htMXghQs2qvzjD1kRGF4HU6mD1KkUyZnIIV882Yk0WJU5bCnlx_3H4/s5184/wide%20view%20kiska%20and%20koluk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiConcVoBpyxZo9dPFU0yWdaL02DLAHlTe4GYmE27LXTIzeTgp_X-LFtc9iFcEk7jcR18DPNEGRaBYqWFK_SeLBduNn14zN4Yu_kR6bjl8r_NYIVwbz6ovEi_7hA66Lzlzft8htMXghQs2qvzjD1kRGF4HU6mD1KkUyZnIIV882Yk0WJU5bCnlx_3H4/w640-h426/wide%20view%20kiska%20and%20koluk.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>A wider view of the polar bear enclosure, with a lower pool and an upper deep dive pool, a waterslide, and three waterfalls. <br />That is Koluk on the top.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kiska and Koluk were born in Salt Lake City in November of 1996 to Chinook and Andy. Their half brother Denali lives in Sapporo, Japan and is the father of eight cubs. Anana (mother of Buffalo Luna) of Brookfield, Cincinnati, Buffalo and Detroit was also their younger sister, and they had a half sister, Aurora of Rochester, mother of Lee (father of Kulu), Haley, Peyton and Anoki. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And here are their cousins around the world! Their grandfather was Bruno of Memphis, who was also the father of CW and Elvis who went to Europe. Elvis was the father of the famous Chocolate Bears, or Hybrid bears, Tips and Taps. CW was the mother of Nuuk-Nordman, father of Freedom; Ilka, mother of Danish Siku, Nanu and Nuno; Manasse, father of Ranzo and Sisu; Baffin of Japan (mother of Momo-Peach), and the late Yukihime of Japan. So their cousins include Ranzo of Vienna Austria, Sisu of YWP in the UK, Kulu of Como Zoo Minnesota, Sprinter of Hanover Germany, Sesi of Mulhouse France, Taiko-Siku of La Fleche in France, Akiak of Amneville France, cubs Kaja and Skadi of Rostock Germany, and Sura of Ouwehands the Netherlands. Not to mention all of Denali's cubs and grandchildren in Japan. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I will be watching to see what the future holds for the polar bears in the ABQ Biopark. Kiska seems to be in good health, and may live for quite some time. Maybe the expansion plan involving the lion habitat will happen. Even though some may think the desert is not a good home for these bears, Kiska and Koluk have thrived here for 25 years. I hope Kiska continues to be well and enjoy his desert paradise.</span></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-80975198126973781762023-05-27T12:21:00.001-07:002023-05-27T12:21:18.727-07:00The last days of Koluk <p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0nxUXg9-WgqZIGcqb-70KB26ishmXEU5sfLV0PMoLjFjevAsMRMfSrMCOAVb8qtmTbkwljz1Sox2DUeLoRBlFznXaxnz3BVQiPdUoPJ-VVkTeijEFS1cp899WPJlhlEsAbZjSzI6qthH31RECJQdbmggSfQsWIwSu8b4RVr0FpSAm-jIcqFb5whM/s3370/Koluk%20pose%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3255" data-original-width="3370" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0nxUXg9-WgqZIGcqb-70KB26ishmXEU5sfLV0PMoLjFjevAsMRMfSrMCOAVb8qtmTbkwljz1Sox2DUeLoRBlFznXaxnz3BVQiPdUoPJ-VVkTeijEFS1cp899WPJlhlEsAbZjSzI6qthH31RECJQdbmggSfQsWIwSu8b4RVr0FpSAm-jIcqFb5whM/w640-h618/Koluk%20pose%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk two weeks ago</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When visitors enter ABQ Biopark in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the first thing they see is a huge marquee photo of polar bear brothers Kiska and Koluk above the entrance gate.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3Sw_FgaKXPNigb4rQvziq3cjMP7VqeL34sCFqSjA0e_6UHZR6nz1KzzvMaFpBVg-Q0ZcKs2BhgMQ7QKYOGkMuiwzEwZyNZM5kyRdJlcPMQMzhaqv81GbMSxEdIqh3BK_b6_yMSAe5il3i6v1u5jFHj_E3xkTQVHC2Tp7kXyMtxI_6maogyQL1BFR/s2048/kiska%20koluk%20markee%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="2048" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3Sw_FgaKXPNigb4rQvziq3cjMP7VqeL34sCFqSjA0e_6UHZR6nz1KzzvMaFpBVg-Q0ZcKs2BhgMQ7QKYOGkMuiwzEwZyNZM5kyRdJlcPMQMzhaqv81GbMSxEdIqh3BK_b6_yMSAe5il3i6v1u5jFHj_E3xkTQVHC2Tp7kXyMtxI_6maogyQL1BFR/w640-h310/kiska%20koluk%20markee%20photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Above the ticket taking booths at ABQ Zoo, the polar bears greet you.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now news has come that one of those gorgeous bears, Koluk, has passed away.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I visited ABQ Biopark in Albuquerque two weeks ago, I couldn't guess that one of the twin brother bears I had come to see would be gone so soon.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had planned to wrote a piece on my visit to the bear brothers in the desert, and I still will do that, but sadly, I must write a farewell to Koluk, the most handsome of polar bears. </span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh76fmkABE2oEan727mB7xRWHJXIn51B31u98h_HsUYBjnrYGW41SXBzU2vf_03msbFZcWJw0MwmIP7cKrdAIOJd0jUQ7N-_A5tZebLM7dLTajay1nRIVzHknqJz8tCpb2t3i22ZpWKzMaueV1K2UTBDKLlqLT9CDCbsQwguvzB-oyS7rWJvCCtrxG/s5184/kiska%20koluk%20stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh76fmkABE2oEan727mB7xRWHJXIn51B31u98h_HsUYBjnrYGW41SXBzU2vf_03msbFZcWJw0MwmIP7cKrdAIOJd0jUQ7N-_A5tZebLM7dLTajay1nRIVzHknqJz8tCpb2t3i22ZpWKzMaueV1K2UTBDKLlqLT9CDCbsQwguvzB-oyS7rWJvCCtrxG/w426-h640/kiska%20koluk%20stand.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kiska is front, Koluk in back</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Koluk and Kiska were born in Salt Lake City in November of 1996, so they were both getting up there in years, but both of them looked pretty hefty and healthy for male bears of 26 years. However, I could tell that something was up with Koluk, for his fur, usually green with algae from all his swimming, was white. He hadn't been in the water for quite awhile. His movements were slower. He kept to himself. He was just not his fun-loving self.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC7WjPvav0IaeAm12n6oGP_xKVAj_YdPFPxpn35erZGoJNRllM_HcOQ2QTdh2kndMlpq1Eyw_a9R_aW03-Z1pxAbToz9klMZoP-mXCeirupm4Ch0StdncEe0u2SfhNXIq3I7dJ7WzwngwBDWm9uqJwY0KOLlmVBRKXPe6m4w9pt1p4-S90vEVrmox/s3300/koluk%20stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3025" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC7WjPvav0IaeAm12n6oGP_xKVAj_YdPFPxpn35erZGoJNRllM_HcOQ2QTdh2kndMlpq1Eyw_a9R_aW03-Z1pxAbToz9klMZoP-mXCeirupm4Ch0StdncEe0u2SfhNXIq3I7dJ7WzwngwBDWm9uqJwY0KOLlmVBRKXPe6m4w9pt1p4-S90vEVrmox/w586-h640/koluk%20stand.jpg" width="586" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk's fur was white, not its usual algae green.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Koluk spent much more time behind the scenes than his twin brother. While Kiska was out and about and having fun, Koluk had hidden himself away much of the time. Even when the keeper threw the special daily treat of Rainbow Trout into the water, Koluk didn't want to wade in to retrieve it. But wade in he did, with a complaining look, and got the fish.</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAsgiIoS4v5mFs18eAyi9LLYK6nvwSH4pojGMYA6xT-XODMrl4mw1jTrlRzWQbaOpSRuecyE-Eq0m4dblikn4Ma7xs-e3b0OaIhhKY7D1rrNuTCGPl_24swYkb53_fQBhL3wNKeaZbryZzzLAokjXprD99TjX-9AyokgUIiPMozYX--3-5XXJygqZ/s5184/koluk%20fish%20water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAsgiIoS4v5mFs18eAyi9LLYK6nvwSH4pojGMYA6xT-XODMrl4mw1jTrlRzWQbaOpSRuecyE-Eq0m4dblikn4Ma7xs-e3b0OaIhhKY7D1rrNuTCGPl_24swYkb53_fQBhL3wNKeaZbryZzzLAokjXprD99TjX-9AyokgUIiPMozYX--3-5XXJygqZ/w640-h426/koluk%20fish%20water.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk did wade in a bit to get the rainbow trout.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OgPhx4Sf9bLBe_s8uloCJfhw1JZGlMH-V9jpKVpVlk0ttNSgEdFGmsXOc743wEKWyPNxhgcMf-mkVKsnV3_xo0ea1L6eSSDP7Ko1m_MHC23rjIM9s9E9-xdkw1UUq2hDeeTIgb08rKSsbflAQRXImhs4YPUiZKWfOLm34TMJ9KC4UJceB7G1WB6a/s3275/koluk%20fish%20shake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3275" data-original-width="2520" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OgPhx4Sf9bLBe_s8uloCJfhw1JZGlMH-V9jpKVpVlk0ttNSgEdFGmsXOc743wEKWyPNxhgcMf-mkVKsnV3_xo0ea1L6eSSDP7Ko1m_MHC23rjIM9s9E9-xdkw1UUq2hDeeTIgb08rKSsbflAQRXImhs4YPUiZKWfOLm34TMJ9KC4UJceB7G1WB6a/w492-h640/koluk%20fish%20shake.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk then retreated onto dry land to shake off and eat his prize.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jauWvjYaJ01aF-gY_uKP2KIsyBRAm03VW6etcEnh50RM7NbfOXV8LA16ZwpiG5sVrUm9gDn-ojejwHRod8fPw207vii942PwKeUC5h7wlJc3pSwEiIG6RlZ7EyvhwPqhXBFOyLIYDPaKAjEL8StoXf0KvVOHXRjqhzjuu6i6R8FhF6DHaGjWllRv/s5184/koluk%20shore%20kiska%20fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jauWvjYaJ01aF-gY_uKP2KIsyBRAm03VW6etcEnh50RM7NbfOXV8LA16ZwpiG5sVrUm9gDn-ojejwHRod8fPw207vii942PwKeUC5h7wlJc3pSwEiIG6RlZ7EyvhwPqhXBFOyLIYDPaKAjEL8StoXf0KvVOHXRjqhzjuu6i6R8FhF6DHaGjWllRv/w640-h426/koluk%20shore%20kiska%20fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk, always the swimmer, would rather remain on shore during his final weeks. Kiska still dives right in.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I spent four days at the zoo, and on Monday, May 15, I waved goodbye to the the polar bear brothers, wondering if this would be the last time I would see Koluk, for I suspected he wasn't well.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9VlruoYjRm9hjM7Op2h0FHemSHi3FNvBnXs7dgkJOXIQ8BFHXkPvk1e4rgEiBDaGG9Sk_R-erOpZJnAfQZCbn9T7WKvNGu_Y8FSrFzDbtUKfsELHrs89lYsp3ByDK179JawxCXAdm40xQv7-ZvZ56Jn4zV1YEbrHDl3UCzJLwKmciwDn_DZ9Yd9r/s5184/kiska%20koluk%20sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9VlruoYjRm9hjM7Op2h0FHemSHi3FNvBnXs7dgkJOXIQ8BFHXkPvk1e4rgEiBDaGG9Sk_R-erOpZJnAfQZCbn9T7WKvNGu_Y8FSrFzDbtUKfsELHrs89lYsp3ByDK179JawxCXAdm40xQv7-ZvZ56Jn4zV1YEbrHDl3UCzJLwKmciwDn_DZ9Yd9r/w640-h426/kiska%20koluk%20sky.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The brothers on Mother's Day, under a brilliant sky. Koluk on the left.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I told the keeper, whom I had met last year, that I was worried about Koluk. He had slowed down so much, was staying out of sight mostly, and hadn't been in the water at all, which was not like him. She said that Koluk had shown some behavior changes for the past couple of weeks, but the changes were pretty recent and hopefully he should get back to normal and be fine. </span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1BdH1AoXWIAni08aJm-ESWYvtBsdEmE8bhrTUoO_WyQ01fEzsTbVpxYP09dkr1qXfWHfT5ncW1ud3Qqu33Yxg7cQnkeJcIemPwEs5LnrcO_MUbzC9w9UiEhMNoDYCL6KsHzXcDWRUj9aLX_zaaWle0HvXyOloGR4Do9iH2trSYSTkj4ySoi9VesU/s4315/Koluk%20close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3455" data-original-width="4315" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1BdH1AoXWIAni08aJm-ESWYvtBsdEmE8bhrTUoO_WyQ01fEzsTbVpxYP09dkr1qXfWHfT5ncW1ud3Qqu33Yxg7cQnkeJcIemPwEs5LnrcO_MUbzC9w9UiEhMNoDYCL6KsHzXcDWRUj9aLX_zaaWle0HvXyOloGR4Do9iH2trSYSTkj4ySoi9VesU/w640-h512/Koluk%20close.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But on Friday, May 19, Koluk underwent an examination while under anesthesia, and the vets found that he had advanced liver and kidney failure. During the next week, they did what they could, but his health declined faster than expected, and he was released from this life on Friday, May 26.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">He and his twin brother came from the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City to Albuquerque when they were just ten months old, so they have lived in the zoo in the desert for a quarter of a century.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their mother was Chinook, descended from Bruno and Hilda of the Memphis Zoo, and as such they are related to a good number of European bears descended from CW, daughter of Bruno, her daughter Ilka, and Freedom, her granddaughter. Kiska and Koluk's father was Andy, descended from Becky and Herman Jr. of the Buffalo Zoo. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The ABQ Biopark Zoo (then the Rio Grande Zoo) enclosure was new when they came, has a lower pool and upper pool, as well as a waterfall and slide, which the bears would sometimes climb up.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zkQSXLEPv7HN-N6T9mVfJSvazocG-URDySPEVVDVqkw9JWqSet4H-6nDvbYLpBFRpoXm_TezLYD6DxfIGIhauJufGwPQk1cPYHYwQ3Ech5xHMxFWwWLGLtiDFuVg45z6bDLUAXBtoqLc1zPEqZA32wRcYYFo2T0RJWOJPWbyTGLAbUfx4wQbV6A4/s3294/Koluk%20portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="3294" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zkQSXLEPv7HN-N6T9mVfJSvazocG-URDySPEVVDVqkw9JWqSet4H-6nDvbYLpBFRpoXm_TezLYD6DxfIGIhauJufGwPQk1cPYHYwQ3Ech5xHMxFWwWLGLtiDFuVg45z6bDLUAXBtoqLc1zPEqZA32wRcYYFo2T0RJWOJPWbyTGLAbUfx4wQbV6A4/w640-h616/Koluk%20portrait.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk in the water, as was his usual habit, last summer.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNrIwLZi7fVlv0Cu2CBaLATQNW-5w9ANHgE6TXpsQrTCpIaP0AMwXJtLExpm3BjEh81M68tFlUPFi9pp_v_Gnz6YObi5AhPFgpuWLAcSq7gKR5Bl2YvM7rxY2ug9fW_F1GWaDCWIkcINBarsgTVJH-Z01wTf6t-gRQ0jIDMasHXB7bg8RWBR0KUFB/s4329/Koluk%20Kiska%20together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4329" data-original-width="3015" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNrIwLZi7fVlv0Cu2CBaLATQNW-5w9ANHgE6TXpsQrTCpIaP0AMwXJtLExpm3BjEh81M68tFlUPFi9pp_v_Gnz6YObi5AhPFgpuWLAcSq7gKR5Bl2YvM7rxY2ug9fW_F1GWaDCWIkcINBarsgTVJH-Z01wTf6t-gRQ0jIDMasHXB7bg8RWBR0KUFB/w446-h640/Koluk%20Kiska%20together.jpg" width="446" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The brothers swimming together in June of 2022.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">In their early days in ABQ, their young niece Anoki, daughter of their sister Aurora, came to live with them for awhile too. She is now living in Rochester NY, where she was born.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgnuELI9k6kXLMBfZNbjtbydh4Rjnva2XW7W6kfFyG6Ps9bHmAAaGscmn6lWFmYJs7YyH3UwjMbJWORgOU3SwCyYqEu1Up2580IjvTGwWKUrUZJGSYcdhNSBl3nnc-fhfiNfQ3tKEyn7dqG28tmJFjVmorsx14nJaqlgWV5h6P2NlAB_ETMKIQq1E/s2988/koluk%20water%20kiska%20above.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="2928" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgnuELI9k6kXLMBfZNbjtbydh4Rjnva2XW7W6kfFyG6Ps9bHmAAaGscmn6lWFmYJs7YyH3UwjMbJWORgOU3SwCyYqEu1Up2580IjvTGwWKUrUZJGSYcdhNSBl3nnc-fhfiNfQ3tKEyn7dqG28tmJFjVmorsx14nJaqlgWV5h6P2NlAB_ETMKIQq1E/w628-h640/koluk%20water%20kiska%20above.jpg" width="628" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Koluk in the water, Kiska on shore, in June of 2022.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Koluk and Kiska were brothers of the late Anana of Buffalo, Brookfield, Cincinnati and Detroit, and half brothers of the late Aurora, and also Denali who lives in Japan and is father of eight cubs there. They were uncles of Luna of the Buffalo Zoo (daughter of Anana), and also Lee, Anoki, Peyton and Haley, children of Aurora.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Koluk was a handsome bear, with a magnificent head. He was chosen by Joel Sartore for his photographic Animal Ark, featured in National Geographic. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He was playful all his life, and even sometimes threw balls and other toys over the fence to the visitors.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymPqSQv7iT-ja8EljuMcCz8deBB-mWN-6PxEEKkWbo0Vc2cOuxsCl4OL8bbIIGi_6XV-3miHVODYq5C3dCTW7QWTQGwMuJsy7wrkcQSJUwTBZ7zM2RRYsqrmJiSoq2Iy5N8dIuFtEeaNB7cQqzfy19Hyxd_YOB4-4EmnufpiIAk1c8_kLbWGx6PSO/s2358/koluk%20red%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2148" data-original-width="2358" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymPqSQv7iT-ja8EljuMcCz8deBB-mWN-6PxEEKkWbo0Vc2cOuxsCl4OL8bbIIGi_6XV-3miHVODYq5C3dCTW7QWTQGwMuJsy7wrkcQSJUwTBZ7zM2RRYsqrmJiSoq2Iy5N8dIuFtEeaNB7cQqzfy19Hyxd_YOB4-4EmnufpiIAk1c8_kLbWGx6PSO/w640-h584/koluk%20red%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Koluk playing with balls, last summer.<br /> He was always one to have fun with his toys.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In 2019 he was diagnosed with a heart murmur. After that, when it was fish throwing time, the keepers would invite Kiska to do his cliff dive, but Koluk was restricted to getting his fish at ground level.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHbkKaZdKJWzvggAKaEgqA_EIREDHrTWTcjPtlI3-keULmAfZB97Jkenvg7dfYjunC7Ci5UbjXN2y9ffGkm3AqfRJ-Z6szzmGP1MLOhyHcXFGwbsxwslGhtcTUI5Z4IWm4y3TItwObSaazmKFUTj50nm__C_clxEIbYQJLu6zF8aMNACzfNCVgV_I/s5184/kiska%20look%20koluk%20fish%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHbkKaZdKJWzvggAKaEgqA_EIREDHrTWTcjPtlI3-keULmAfZB97Jkenvg7dfYjunC7Ci5UbjXN2y9ffGkm3AqfRJ-Z6szzmGP1MLOhyHcXFGwbsxwslGhtcTUI5Z4IWm4y3TItwObSaazmKFUTj50nm__C_clxEIbYQJLu6zF8aMNACzfNCVgV_I/w426-h640/kiska%20look%20koluk%20fish%202.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The last photo I took of Koluk (in back) on May 15. Eleven days later he was gone. Right after the fish throw, Koluk retreated into the bedroom area, all worn out. That's Kiska in front, ready for more adventures.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kiska and Koluk are much like that other pair of twin brothers, Neil and Buzz in Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota, about a year older than Kiska and Koluk, together all their lives. When Buzz died a few years ago, Neil was alone, but before too long, an older lady bear named Nan moved in, and then three year old Kulu came along, and Neil was not alone any longer. Maybe a companion can be found for Kiska. If not, Kiska will be just fine on his own.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">During my four days at the zoo, I noticed that Kiska had, in a sense, already moved on and was behaving independently. He did take note of his brother, and they spent some time together, mostly in the front cave area in the morning, eating breakfast together, enjoying the polar bear chow spread out for them with extra fruits and vegetables. But Kiska spent his days in fun activities, tossing and destroying a barrel, swimming in the deep pool, doing his seven step pacing dance on the ledge (although not as much as he used to). Koluk sometimes came out to watch, but mostly stayed inside.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The polar bear brothers have been a big part of the ABQ Biopark Zoo for a quarter century, and Koluk will surely be missed by his many fans and friends, and especially by his keepers, who loved him dearly. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Rest in Peace, big guy.</span></p><p><br /></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-29562710774704100832023-05-09T14:28:00.001-07:002023-05-09T18:53:43.755-07:00Happy Mother's Day to Crystal, Gerda and Victoria<p> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Of course all polar bear mothers deserve appreciation, especially on Mother's Day. But this story will focus on the new moms who gave birth last November and December, even though we didn't hear about Victoria's secret surprise until just a few weeks ago. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIwgi2m18RIes7P1B-JRKCE66T93ccE5oGZnJz49HwKOmygF__iAmZZVlZ6zaHOO89myVi-EbNYKuoKKd2Pp5B9uQhXCE1TTZmVjBVnjKXCouZUcvKsfTw-NYNvL6_i-XnVUNrqOG2z43MiqUOvRmOsatk63np0O0CGiJsQKsMMCwXxK6bS0QKZ0J/s1080/Toledo%20cubs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIwgi2m18RIes7P1B-JRKCE66T93ccE5oGZnJz49HwKOmygF__iAmZZVlZ6zaHOO89myVi-EbNYKuoKKd2Pp5B9uQhXCE1TTZmVjBVnjKXCouZUcvKsfTw-NYNvL6_i-XnVUNrqOG2z43MiqUOvRmOsatk63np0O0CGiJsQKsMMCwXxK6bS0QKZ0J/w640-h640/Toledo%20cubs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kallu and Kallik - photo by the Toledo Zoo.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Crystal</b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In December news came of the birth of twins in the Toledo Zoo, to veteran mother Crystal and her companion Nuka. The cubs were born on November 11, but kept secret for a few weeks, announced on December 1. For a time, it seemed like those might be the only cubs born worldwide in a zoo this year. And there was a public dencam so we could watch the babies grow. Interestingly enough, one of the cubs was much larger than the other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We later learned that the twins are boys, given the names Kallik and Kallu (Thunder and Lightning). Little Kallik has recently caught up and now is almost as big as his brother. It has been observed that the little one has grown into the bolder and braver brother, the first to take to the pool inside, and willing to wander away from mother for longer periods. Kallu, the bigger brother, was quite hesitant to step into the kiddie pool, and his little brother kept trying to persuade him, maybe even giving him a little push sometimes. Now, both brothers seem comfortable in the water.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Toledo Twins were make their public debut on Friday, April 28, and everyone was so excited. However, when the big day came, the boys were intimidated by the bigger space outside, and wanted to play with their toys in the familiar areas of the dig yard and inside pool room. The interior dencam was turned back on, so the fans could see that the cubs were fine. Their public debut was rescheduled for the following Friday, May 5, and this time the cubs were ready and raring to go.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczhoSxq8f98KjUvq2uTV4mg7batQViWpaUm23tsJG36yeuxUYPxTBr-ZKQ4EFmCXrcs7nh46b-bGzc2ROVR0D3eRX0-N2KRwLV6d9PRTUjXz0eikYiRL3xaI7rn8QWpMnksIzBZW0WGxMJoOdOEuYvDiAXL4nq6Q6hxL32AaoSs6zqMeoalOAxdcS/s1080/crystal%20and%20cubs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczhoSxq8f98KjUvq2uTV4mg7batQViWpaUm23tsJG36yeuxUYPxTBr-ZKQ4EFmCXrcs7nh46b-bGzc2ROVR0D3eRX0-N2KRwLV6d9PRTUjXz0eikYiRL3xaI7rn8QWpMnksIzBZW0WGxMJoOdOEuYvDiAXL4nq6Q6hxL32AaoSs6zqMeoalOAxdcS/w640-h640/crystal%20and%20cubs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal and her cubs - Photo by the Toledo Zoo.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal is already the mother of twins Aurora and the late Anana, son Siku, twins Suka and Sakari, daughter Hope and son Borealis, all with the late Marty as the father. Crystal is also the grandmother of seven cubs.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaQnlw7QQr4RKuASdB0LkZoGKkxz8KYPAY_6_yS63xDBRUoYE37YMVs4vXY8egKtqXvmshrJN6JwstVqLXy3c6OTkWqeL_gornHebuVsrdLNUPXij3nzpNFpoaMk6-bU22EG1DpUa8juZqK8ovDLSZmrBXvGWI27FmpcRz59GIgx63b4HR6cdoehs/s3066/crystal%20twins.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2611" data-original-width="3066" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaQnlw7QQr4RKuASdB0LkZoGKkxz8KYPAY_6_yS63xDBRUoYE37YMVs4vXY8egKtqXvmshrJN6JwstVqLXy3c6OTkWqeL_gornHebuVsrdLNUPXij3nzpNFpoaMk6-bU22EG1DpUa8juZqK8ovDLSZmrBXvGWI27FmpcRz59GIgx63b4HR6cdoehs/w640-h546/crystal%20twins.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal with her cubs in the den, dencam photo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The father of Kallik and Kallu is Nuka, who is also the father of 2 year old twin girls in Detroit, with the mother being Crystal's grown daughter Suka. Papa Nuka is now back in Detroit.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5dG-VNj7Y9BAlGipzoBHLLFPs2_VffnHoly2o77Om0JVBe59PNmjfwM7NPCN_3JSc3e4ty2YWgdhJC61B4gzAmhHPoynSgjpi1bbeAlAVilpxkSTOUzroTCOYeR6QWlcF4cYUKzSCF4tcy-HD5AMLPTz35lUNeBItmyU9pg4wUTEp-Uy5rwepHNS/s1740/Nuka%20smile.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1740" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5dG-VNj7Y9BAlGipzoBHLLFPs2_VffnHoly2o77Om0JVBe59PNmjfwM7NPCN_3JSc3e4ty2YWgdhJC61B4gzAmhHPoynSgjpi1bbeAlAVilpxkSTOUzroTCOYeR6QWlcF4cYUKzSCF4tcy-HD5AMLPTz35lUNeBItmyU9pg4wUTEp-Uy5rwepHNS/w640-h600/Nuka%20smile.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nuka (my photo)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For several months, we all thought that Crystal's twins might be the only cubs born in a zoo worldwide. But there were two other mothers who were denned up with little ones after having secretly given birth in December. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EA2UAmuAJ66_mn0g1acNcL-bdiKvk4grS3srPndj-33vkCTcOLWVxXk-TNzPa1cUL3MHDKY3momcmK4ilNWquQvPM3yNljEOKCrOLDpH0ZRy1ttRlBkjEjH5y8IVsUaj5ySB_UL4UJN1gwH2aQquKiW-QYqkUgbHxZwxd7NXPGBzlq0UHmSp-b9O/s1280/%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%20gerda%20cubs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EA2UAmuAJ66_mn0g1acNcL-bdiKvk4grS3srPndj-33vkCTcOLWVxXk-TNzPa1cUL3MHDKY3momcmK4ilNWquQvPM3yNljEOKCrOLDpH0ZRy1ttRlBkjEjH5y8IVsUaj5ySB_UL4UJN1gwH2aQquKiW-QYqkUgbHxZwxd7NXPGBzlq0UHmSp-b9O/w640-h426/%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%20gerda%20cubs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Gerda and her daughters. (photo by оксана калинина)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Gerda</b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In early February, we learned that Gerda in Novosibirsk in Siberia, Russia had given birth to twins on December 16. These cubs made their public debut in the middle of March, with much snow still on the ground. We have learned that these twins are girls, but no names have been announced yet. There is a naming contest. The father is Kraisin, better known to his friends as Kai.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Gerda is an experienced mother, having raised Shilka (who now lives in Japan), Rostik (who was sent to China), and twins Shauna and Nordi, a girl and a boy, who are now about four years old and living somewhere behind the scenes in the Novosibirsk Zoo. Gerda is a grandmother, since Shilka has a two year old daughter Ho-chan.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Gerda was born in Moscow in 2007 to Simona and Wrangel. She is sister to Vera, mother of the famous Flocke, Gerda's grandmother was Uslada of St. Petersburg, who was the mother of 16 cubs so there are many cousins throughout Europe and Russia.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw18I60GYB4sKND6f2M5etqsoIzhrEOJ8cM3rMyxZVOC77h5mpXQY5zE-YOULnR3STpuXxdii_AtQBZhZ4xglMeo-FGq4XyIbf0CT5p7iYhJT9omKzHiR1CZAAily_QVz8akVNtalCI4VXgkwNifwfi6XKrSqzAvXw5MAWMpVbYv0OWzo-QTwdeQNq/s1080/Victoria%20cub.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw18I60GYB4sKND6f2M5etqsoIzhrEOJ8cM3rMyxZVOC77h5mpXQY5zE-YOULnR3STpuXxdii_AtQBZhZ4xglMeo-FGq4XyIbf0CT5p7iYhJT9omKzHiR1CZAAily_QVz8akVNtalCI4VXgkwNifwfi6XKrSqzAvXw5MAWMpVbYv0OWzo-QTwdeQNq/w640-h640/Victoria%20cub.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Victoria's cub - Photo by Hagenbeck Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Victoria</b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Because the European polar bear breeding program has been a little too successful, and there is a shortage of suitable zoo homes, there has been a halt to breeding, with many of the bears moved to all girl or all boy groups. So we expected there would be no cubs in Europe this season.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But at the very end of April, we had a surprise. Victoria and Kap of Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg Germany produced a mysterious secret cub born December 19. This cub still has no name, we don't know if it is a boy or girl yet, and the cub is still not in the public eye.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0WvNlD5jjBG34UqKZ6SgiLB-3eTOztrk0b3v7UtyQNfiAH2lhTto0WJT6TF6ufHRmhaXq4eUd6FUtZ40ABS4eeQIxQYZy8yhmZlcpmZNNgf9QXHFap2AZFCbAmAgiFsMOk2kX8KCrgE6TQJdiXMtmgv-LUeGDYwL5uUDw5oBUbFy104Z1jSKHpnS/s2298/Victoria%20and%20blizzard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1998" data-original-width="2298" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0WvNlD5jjBG34UqKZ6SgiLB-3eTOztrk0b3v7UtyQNfiAH2lhTto0WJT6TF6ufHRmhaXq4eUd6FUtZ40ABS4eeQIxQYZy8yhmZlcpmZNNgf9QXHFap2AZFCbAmAgiFsMOk2kX8KCrgE6TQJdiXMtmgv-LUeGDYwL5uUDw5oBUbFy104Z1jSKHpnS/w640-h556/Victoria%20and%20blizzard.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Victoria in 2014 (with Blizzard)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">At 20 years of age, Victoria is an older lady who had never given birth up until now, so of course everyone thought that a cub was out of the question. Older lady bears can become mothers, of course, but almost always they have had cubs before. Victoria had been for many years with Blizzard, who was later found to be sterile. Then Kap arrived in the spring of 2020, but still no cubs, until now. This is a first cub for Kap too, who has spent much of his life alone in Neumünster, then a short time in Karlsruhe, where I finally met him. Kap is half brother of Raspi, and several other bears. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF9MM671If7u33Q31VCK7_fE8DP19IvHxs4-i7DyZCEj9MELVqDGPddCdhe1Mw1HV3ydpRXSVyhN5M4qXLkfIHvXj2lvf_5Bg90oFKRAwAS0IdEVZm8srk5asalECjuZxPIk85YN2Wzbn3I1T5E5vssXrcdtjsfMrJgQeEU1elrbiaQ8UJR_tSPge/s1944/Kap%20smile%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="1860" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF9MM671If7u33Q31VCK7_fE8DP19IvHxs4-i7DyZCEj9MELVqDGPddCdhe1Mw1HV3ydpRXSVyhN5M4qXLkfIHvXj2lvf_5Bg90oFKRAwAS0IdEVZm8srk5asalECjuZxPIk85YN2Wzbn3I1T5E5vssXrcdtjsfMrJgQeEU1elrbiaQ8UJR_tSPge/w612-h640/Kap%20smile%202.jpg" width="612" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kap when I visited him in Karlsruhe in 2017</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Victoria's genes are especially valuable since she isn't related to other bears. Her mother Fanny gave birth to Victoria in Hagenbeck, and Victoria lived there most of her life except for a short stay in Zoo am Meer in Bremerhaven, while the zoo was building the new walrus-polar bear-penguin complex.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Fanny did have another cub, Victoria's older brother named Charly, who lived out his life in SeaWorld San Diego, and died in 2012. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Victoria is the product of several generations of inbreeding, as zoos were not so careful in those days. One again, it is a miracle that she had this cub.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">European polar bear cubs usually start appearing in public in mid-March. So why is the Hagenbeck cub still behind the scenes? My theory is that the enclosure, while fairly new, was not designed with young cubs in mind, being rocky and sort of steep. There is limited space for visitors who want to see the bears. The complex, made for polar bears, penguins and walruses, gave much more emphasis to the walruses, and most polar bear fans are disappointed in the new enclosure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Mother Victoria and the keepers may be waiting for the cub to mature a bit more before letting it wander around the rocky habitat. There seems to be a pool accessible to the cub at the top, for there is a video with the cub swimming in the background, and I believe there is a flat area up there, but it is out of sight from visitors. The cub is about five months old, so hopefully he or she will make a public debut before too long, and we will learn a bit more.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d5WMtKLMiFNNwY1fooLTxIOrworYcfo5LFN6ooD7sjhJER0gxFJI_qVlrdL3Fg6nYdCGHnRD9RBkka1AHqLf8yU9NLwUHBG2iVl3DmXJB_Tzz3vR_NP8muVbf6Xxjftc3v-eUH12y66cEtD7En6PJtSmoIsDsjSSztqRaWx4gApA0CL7pu81ogD_/s5184/hagenbeck%20polar%20enclosure%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d5WMtKLMiFNNwY1fooLTxIOrworYcfo5LFN6ooD7sjhJER0gxFJI_qVlrdL3Fg6nYdCGHnRD9RBkka1AHqLf8yU9NLwUHBG2iVl3DmXJB_Tzz3vR_NP8muVbf6Xxjftc3v-eUH12y66cEtD7En6PJtSmoIsDsjSSztqRaWx4gApA0CL7pu81ogD_/w640-h426/hagenbeck%20polar%20enclosure%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Hagenbeck polar bear enclosure. - my photo<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Mother's Day to all the polar bear mothers. I hope to visit Crystal and her little family one day very soon, and maybe make a trip to Hamburg to see Victoria and her offspring too.</span><p></p><p><br /></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-29226255344739220392023-03-31T13:24:00.002-07:002023-04-06T06:59:42.129-07:00Two polar bear tragedies, more heartbreak<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">March is the month for hope. Spring is coming, flowers are starting to bloom and the future looks bright. But also, Beware the Ides of March. And really -- all of March.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This year in March, we lost two bears with big personalities, young girl bears that made us smile and had so much promise for bright futures. And now they are gone, Imaq in Denmark and Milk in Japan.<br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIPUU8gYLuX0ZpGjmUY_TwUx1Eq3RcRvoUdbWwIRysscnv6ccUK4DFdJvIE2JND6J9AH6UvDLlRSkyPsSTJRPGhcwgDzXmwpToyAVdIvWvtpP8PsFbakO0Kk5nB36zHglWaDM1fkc2bfxcha5S7aFn4LRK9WKIMdYS43nUTSA3rBxU_7EHrYVr8NB/s5184/Imaq%20bars%20close.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIPUU8gYLuX0ZpGjmUY_TwUx1Eq3RcRvoUdbWwIRysscnv6ccUK4DFdJvIE2JND6J9AH6UvDLlRSkyPsSTJRPGhcwgDzXmwpToyAVdIvWvtpP8PsFbakO0Kk5nB36zHglWaDM1fkc2bfxcha5S7aFn4LRK9WKIMdYS43nUTSA3rBxU_7EHrYVr8NB/w266-h400/Imaq%20bars%20close.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Imaq of Copenhagen, died this month.<br />She was only four years old</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I don't know why the month of March has become a time for losing beloved bears before their time. For whatever reason, mating season, cubs emerge from the den, change in seasons, the stars aligning badly, we have seen too many tragedies in March.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>The Nuremburg Four</i></b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKAfaJJUL97eddFduOgqlZsigAKfJf5-r51HvKkq4qgRp2Ug1ZmoS7Fo1uV8V_M3nU8xXaKdj_ESsot28Ou_nQnp_gD1dJK4gK7H5UXTinEE0hCJcrmSfx4Xs_JHUNiNAbI4YkXiRNfXAW3Pfx3pecURhRIQaA-bFO5k5TWT4-KcWp9LlpEMLWA0T/s2592/nuremburg%20zoo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKAfaJJUL97eddFduOgqlZsigAKfJf5-r51HvKkq4qgRp2Ug1ZmoS7Fo1uV8V_M3nU8xXaKdj_ESsot28Ou_nQnp_gD1dJK4gK7H5UXTinEE0hCJcrmSfx4Xs_JHUNiNAbI4YkXiRNfXAW3Pfx3pecURhRIQaA-bFO5k5TWT4-KcWp9LlpEMLWA0T/w400-h300/nuremburg%20zoo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The polar bear double enclosure at Tiergarten Nuremburg.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">March 30, 2000, four female polar bears visiting Tiergarten Nuremburg temporarily from Zoo Karlsruhe were let out by some intruder, and were wandering about in the woods. To protect the public, the zoo decided they had no choice but to shoot them after attempts to tranquilize failed. Nadine, Silke, and two other bears were killed. Nadine was the mother of Katjuscha and Antonia. Silke was the mother of Anton, grandmother of Wilbaer. The four lady bears were visiting Nuremburg while the bear habitat in Karlsruhe was being rebuilt. They never got the chance to return home. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Swimmer</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In 2009, tiny Swimmer, emerged from the den with his mother Huggies and his twin brother Walker on that sunny spring day in Ouwehands Zoo in the Netherlands, and died within the week on March 23, having drowned after blood vessels burst in his chest. In a short time, the world had become enchanted with the videos of little Swimmer and his normal sized brother Walker. Swimmer was about a third the size of his brother, but seemed perfectly healthy. The brothers frolicked at the side of the pool, and Swimmer was just so cute.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Walker and Swimmer were destined for fame, as their birth and early weeks were filmed in the den for David Attenborough's "The Frozen Planet." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Here is a link to a story with photos about their first day out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthpicturegalleries/5006671/Polar-bear-twins-cubs-born-at-the-Ouwehands-animal-park-in-Rhenen-the-Netherlands.html">Huggies with Swimmer and Walker first day ou</a><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthpicturegalleries/5006671/Polar-bear-twins-cubs-born-at-the-Ouwehands-animal-park-in-Rhenen-the-Netherlands.html">t</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Then on that Monday, in front of so many visitors, Swimmer was in the pool, went under and did not come up. His mother dove in and brought his body to the shore, and everyone watched while Huggies and Walker grieved for the lost baby. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Huggies still lives in Ouwehands. Walker lives in Highlands Wildlife Park in Scotland.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>Knut</i></b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qYg5Qqjh2_Qrg1YsF9KdVECA-63iG6pU-fFk5ryuKQLTBGPPE8-LL_V97T4gftnEOQp2W_ZDG1UcTNU_R3UDNVy3MbTmYjVkn-VCyzUy3sJGUlsC2OHDBmRP3p_AKdCJA8nw421oGq-0OplkfZ9LZGfcR9oyb3Ta-OAFdZUv80ENEbFmWoTTRduX/s3264/Knut%20sculpture.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qYg5Qqjh2_Qrg1YsF9KdVECA-63iG6pU-fFk5ryuKQLTBGPPE8-LL_V97T4gftnEOQp2W_ZDG1UcTNU_R3UDNVy3MbTmYjVkn-VCyzUy3sJGUlsC2OHDBmRP3p_AKdCJA8nw421oGq-0OplkfZ9LZGfcR9oyb3Ta-OAFdZUv80ENEbFmWoTTRduX/w400-h300/Knut%20sculpture.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Knut the Dreamer, commemorative sculpture in Zoo Berlin, <br />by Josef Tabachnyk</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Knut, famous cub of the Berlin Zoo who was only 4 years old, died March 19, 2011, after brain incident, then collapsing into the pool and drowning. It was later found to be encephalitis. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Knut and his twin brother were born December 6, 2006, to retired circus bear Tosca and father Lars. Tosca abandoned the cubs immediately, and the keepers rushed to save them. The brother died, but Knut rose to worldwide fame with photos and videos of his early life with keeper Thomas </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;">Dörflein.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4d5156;">Knut was immensely popular, quite a draw for the zoo. He lived with his keeper, then alone for a time. He was happy when young Giovanna came to live with him, but she left and went back to Munich. Knut then moved in with his mother Tosca and two other lady bears, Nancy and Katjuscha, where he was not terrible happy. On that fateful Saturday, in front an crowds of fans, he started walking in circles while on a rock in the middle of the pool, and then fell in. That was the end of him. An autopsy showed it was an inflammation of the brain, caused by encephalitis.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4d5156;">Now there are no polar bears at the Berlin Zoo. Lars, Tosca, Nancy, Katjuscha and Knut are all gone. But the lovely bronze sculpture of Knut the Dreamer continues to keep watch over the polar bear area.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4d5156;">And Knut continues to be a touchstone for all polar bear lovers, and inspired a community of fans and bloggers that continues to this day. </span></span></span></p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-large;"><i>Fritz</i></b><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RvHzGcA6Z6g9_rdBkO5iviUIp3Wj4m-Ji5mvXITe01HvthfYvkdyWNhm40S8rXa-f30NL8nis85vm7S1C-96fjt5ZNg5HiQvG6dmjgj05OCMfEVu5HaLt47F_zthjc4E3X9V_F4qJqa3NFUdEYnJzKkwcm2ur3ZTYvdo5qjqwQApIB2YHL6910W-/s855/Fritz.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="855" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RvHzGcA6Z6g9_rdBkO5iviUIp3Wj4m-Ji5mvXITe01HvthfYvkdyWNhm40S8rXa-f30NL8nis85vm7S1C-96fjt5ZNg5HiQvG6dmjgj05OCMfEVu5HaLt47F_zthjc4E3X9V_F4qJqa3NFUdEYnJzKkwcm2ur3ZTYvdo5qjqwQApIB2YHL6910W-/w400-h266/Fritz.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fritz, photo by Tierpark Berlin</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In Tierpark Berlin, f</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">our month old Fritz, son of Tonja and Wolodja, became very ill and died of liver inflammation on March 7, 2017, breaking many hearts who had seen his adorable photos from the zoo. He seemed perfectly well for most of his short life, and we watched and waited for him to emerge from the den, but after a short illness, he died before he had the chance to venture into the world. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 2018, Tonja gave birth to Hertha, named after the Berlin Soccer team. Father Wolodja moved to Rotterdam, but Tonja and Hertha continue to live in Tierpark. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-large;"><i>Tips the Chocolate Bear</i></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGnPXotZguPA22Hgic4hcz3Ht6a6WQeNZXm-d4lWoQ3X2UYwlPBRIRgU4eRuQDujrU69pPompIVI2VMgB0C6bMXjSvehc8ESL0ZnNNYkQ0oCRdhqYhD_Rv-Y83a1wZ1KndUnoQxqfVyGB92GqDmxRj4scO42Pf1fSJOBsTfj8T9OOpKGUMm73rldr/s1388/tipswater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1142" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGnPXotZguPA22Hgic4hcz3Ht6a6WQeNZXm-d4lWoQ3X2UYwlPBRIRgU4eRuQDujrU69pPompIVI2VMgB0C6bMXjSvehc8ESL0ZnNNYkQ0oCRdhqYhD_Rv-Y83a1wZ1KndUnoQxqfVyGB92GqDmxRj4scO42Pf1fSJOBsTfj8T9OOpKGUMm73rldr/w526-h640/tipswater.jpg" width="526" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Tips of </span>Osnabrück</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">March 11, 2017, we lost Tips, the beloved chocolate bear of Osnabruck Germany, leaving behind her twin brother Taps to carry on alone. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Tips and Taps were born in Zoo <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Osnabrück</span>, Germany to European Brown Bear mother Susi and Polar Bear father Elvis, who was American born. It was a surprise, as it was thought at the time that polar bears and brown bears could not breed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The brother and sister, sometimes called the Chocolate Bears, or Hybrid Bears, were a mix of the two parents. The Brown Bear part of Tips wanted to hibernate, unlike polar bears. She spent the winter of 2016-17 denned up, and emerged in early March, hungry, much thinner and able to squeeze through a crack between the bear enclosure and the silver foxes right next door, a crack which seemed impossible. But squeeze through she did, and finding herself outside the enclosure, didn't know what to do. She headed uphill, towards a path leading to the crowded zoo entrance, and the heartbroken keepers felt it was their only choice to shoot her to protect the public.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And now it is just brother Taps who lives in </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Osnabrück,</span> alone with the silver foxes.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhbeZCzKbZFeYOvcJKJ4lOHyxiCFga_FbXR8UH6UE2fDzCg4HYFfhULThg3wpN4peTypxbZ7LyMdhsckvsV0lKXtC6l-srEycoX_Gu5jYpUNld92AIIVx7L3PHgqCtdVq0DQZ4FtK4N2c3dDuk57MkhqfkNiCHzeIFdEJdKJ0j0MgVKKOSgIrvD0H/s2310/Tips%20taps%20both2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2310" data-original-width="1725" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhbeZCzKbZFeYOvcJKJ4lOHyxiCFga_FbXR8UH6UE2fDzCg4HYFfhULThg3wpN4peTypxbZ7LyMdhsckvsV0lKXtC6l-srEycoX_Gu5jYpUNld92AIIVx7L3PHgqCtdVq0DQZ4FtK4N2c3dDuk57MkhqfkNiCHzeIFdEJdKJ0j0MgVKKOSgIrvD0H/w478-h640/Tips%20taps%20both2.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Tips (top) and Taps in 2012.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> Little One and Anana</span></i></b><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pGSoPK5a3nAQDRuSvvq8UuT_o1yjwnR276QWbMi1g2AIBr41KYZ1W9cw-y_Wwmd9b26ZAk58YF7NmFKLMgDQve_GnGAl-AzwfA-C4TYBsPfy8dHqvGdZU5mwkcOCCzLj5f_Od4WGlJgNhH0VxPeiDw2Bv7fwlDm5MhoXwqR-V4SQC2rtnCYp918w/s2373/Little%20One%20Anana%20love.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2373" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pGSoPK5a3nAQDRuSvvq8UuT_o1yjwnR276QWbMi1g2AIBr41KYZ1W9cw-y_Wwmd9b26ZAk58YF7NmFKLMgDQve_GnGAl-AzwfA-C4TYBsPfy8dHqvGdZU5mwkcOCCzLj5f_Od4WGlJgNhH0VxPeiDw2Bv7fwlDm5MhoXwqR-V4SQC2rtnCYp918w/w640-h442/Little%20One%20Anana%20love.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Little One with Anana</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Little One, the oldest male bear in the US at the time, died of old age on March 21, 2021, he was 31 years old. His death was not unexpected, but came on the heels of the news of the death of his beloved mate Anana in Detroit, just weeks before. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SjOMaSOVmPsykfwBzMgj62s6dUaq225pQPdrWhpaIs59FHNEvA6-z-SnBCkwMEd5tAnreGylrJNOoJtmYUYAsYptUd78_Wvt14LFQADkxCujOkhty31huh4LPPkkWs5vzAg7Agq9qWu1F04OD6zin0rugutQZl0kEcf79UKl8gBgn1-LwoeeGyfp/s3445/anana%20pumpkin%20fires.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3445" data-original-width="3145" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SjOMaSOVmPsykfwBzMgj62s6dUaq225pQPdrWhpaIs59FHNEvA6-z-SnBCkwMEd5tAnreGylrJNOoJtmYUYAsYptUd78_Wvt14LFQADkxCujOkhty31huh4LPPkkWs5vzAg7Agq9qWu1F04OD6zin0rugutQZl0kEcf79UKl8gBgn1-LwoeeGyfp/w365-h400/anana%20pumpkin%20fires.jpg" width="365" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anana, who was born in the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on December 12, 2000, led a life very much like a soap opera. She moved around quite a bit, experienced some romance, and her life was tinged with drama.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Young Anana moved from Salt Lake City to Buffalo in 2002. A mate, the handsome wildborn Nanuq, arrived in Buffalo in 2009, but Anana was very reluctant to warm up to him. She finally decided he was okay, and gave birth to cub in December of 2012 but showed no interest in her baby (Luna, still living in Buffalo). Father Nanuq had left Buffalo before the birth, and Anana left right afterwards, moving to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in early 2013.The Buffalo Zoo kept Luna's birth a secret as the keepers raised the little one, and announced it at a dramatic press conference in the spring. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">At Brookfield Zoo, Anana was alternately paired with old Aussie and his son Hudson. No cubs ever resulted from those meetings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In 2016 Anana returned to the Buffalo Zoo, where her daughter Luna was now mostly grown, but of course she did not know her daughter. Still, Buffalo Zoo fans were delighted to see Anana again. In Anana's absence, the old bear pits she had known had been demolished, and there was a beautiful new double polar bear habitat, spacious and grassy, so she probably didn't even know she was back in Buffalo.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And then in 2016 Anana she was moved to Cincinnati, where hopes were high that she and a fine older male bear named Little One might have cubs. At first, things were off to a rocky start, as they couldn't stand each other. And then one day, after about a year, in a light bulb moment, Anana discovered that she adored Little One, and from then on they couldn't get enough of each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Sadly, no cubs resulted from this pairing, however Anana and Little One did have a fulfilling relationship during their three years together.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But Little One was elderly, and it was feared that yet another breeding season would be too hard on him, so Anana said goodbye to her paramour and went to north to Detroit, where gentle Nuka was waiting. And more drama.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She came to Detroit in early 2020, and had a good relationship with Nuka. Then, on that horrible day in February of 2022, she collapsed from previously unknown heart failure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The two bears were on the ice pack when Anana collapsed, and Nuka tried to wake her by grabbing her head in his mouth, leaving some superficial wounds. Because of this and the blood, it was first thought that Nuka might have killed her in mating attempts. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Several months later, the autopsy revealed that Anana had died of heart failure, and Nuka was exonerated. But this further news was not well publicized, and most people continued to believe that Nuka was guilty in Anana's death.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The real story was sent out to Detroit Zoo members, and I published that story, that Nuka was innocent, in my blog. The truth was not published anywhere else, so the original story was still what most people believed, even though it was wrong.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Nuka moved to Toledo, his reputation preceded him, and people were concerned for their mother bear Crystal, but the truth was finally getting out there. Nuka and Crystal had a successful breeding season, and Crystal gave birth to twins.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The gentle Nuka, once falsely accused, has been exonerated. He has since returned to Detroit.</span></span></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Milk</span></i></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCoHHsetM-OR2UnbCUSn-vbZfphm4aIpB3XwGa6y_cQ11IvL1ty4ytwDYUd7bDrH5zBu9-ml32caGuTNQAM5xL4KNNg9KLq1ZvHvjlIYS_iczzJ2vuQ8ltsoL5ln4qHcmQvfDDYC4FvAxy2Fo-0GtBUElZxn7K8PWDL9_oCpPwic2lnzJD24QkNyA/s604/Milk%20polar%20bear.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="437" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCoHHsetM-OR2UnbCUSn-vbZfphm4aIpB3XwGa6y_cQ11IvL1ty4ytwDYUd7bDrH5zBu9-ml32caGuTNQAM5xL4KNNg9KLq1ZvHvjlIYS_iczzJ2vuQ8ltsoL5ln4qHcmQvfDDYC4FvAxy2Fo-0GtBUElZxn7K8PWDL9_oCpPwic2lnzJD24QkNyA/w290-h400/Milk%20polar%20bear.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Milk (Photo by </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yasuko Hatano<span>)</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Milk, the silly clown of a bear in Japan, was killed in a mating incident at Kushiro Zoo on March 1, 2023.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ten year old Milk had been getting along just fine with the male, 14 year old Kiruro. On that day, an argument broke out between the two, and escalated. Keepers tried to distract them, using a fire hose. Somehow, Milk's neck was broken. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Milk was born in Oga Aquarium in 2012, and was a favorite bear of the Japanese public, for she liked to clown around in silly hats, playing with toys in amusing ways, and often standing up like a little person. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Milk's mother was Kurumi, and her father was Gota, son of Murma and Untai in Moscow. Milk had some well-known uncles, for Gota is the brother of Rasputin of Tallinn, Kap of Hamburg, and Boris of Skandinavisk Dyrepark. Gota is also the father of two year old Fubuki.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Kushiro City Zoo where Milk died was inundated with hundreds of bouquets of flowers from the many who mourned the loss of Milk, a very special girl indeed, and the flower tributes continued to pour in all month.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Imaq of Copenhagen</span></i></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRunU3yPtHu-o2Rvjgix4rGdoQDJafwMXFR9askRTtmjpJs4NlA0tGHnWdG_YtpliGzQZgKG1AvlJvylzGQL1I436HlXkeslJ3kyIorAZSns25xcgra0vH57Ub3pUtpnq_Kr2YvFYeBsp1V7_6kSKe4xTPWoHtX6mYV1VwWGNCJfw91xXXn73wtPB/s3700/rocking%20and%20rolling%20Imaq.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2905" data-original-width="3700" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRunU3yPtHu-o2Rvjgix4rGdoQDJafwMXFR9askRTtmjpJs4NlA0tGHnWdG_YtpliGzQZgKG1AvlJvylzGQL1I436HlXkeslJ3kyIorAZSns25xcgra0vH57Ub3pUtpnq_Kr2YvFYeBsp1V7_6kSKe4xTPWoHtX6mYV1VwWGNCJfw91xXXn73wtPB/w640-h502/rocking%20and%20rolling%20Imaq.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Imaq as a cub in Copenhagen Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now we have lost four year old Imaq, the delightful cub I met in 2019 in Copenhagen. She was the daughter of Lynn and Nord. In her curiosity in the afternoon of March 8, she broke through a steel gate and found an electrical installation, where she was electrocuted when she chewed on some wires. It was a freak accident, so tragic, and she was so young.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Copenhagen Zoo is still has Imaq's mother Lynn, as well as Noel and her three year old daughter Inuvik, Imaq's half sister. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Mother Lynn is the twin sister of Luka of Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Imaq's maternal grandparents are Huggies and the late Victor. Imaq's father Nord (North) was the son of Simona and Wrangel of Moscow. Nord, who died in Finland in 2021, was the father of Nissan, formerly of YWP and now in France, as well as cubs Imaq and Inuk in Aalborg, Beely and Sery of Paira Daiza in Belgium, and the two girls in Copenhagen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Imaq's death was a freak accident, a sad event that will haunt many of us for a long time. She was a sweet, fun-loving girl. Rest in Peace, angel.</span></p></div></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-34310348216091098862023-02-27T10:59:00.003-08:002023-03-03T06:43:00.211-08:0040 polar bears in 2023 in U.S. zoos<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span><span> </span></span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R2OSUawXM4JhMLKHtaHSrW--YKgylDPGnA1p1_jDe01TX-ovOoj6xiDfS7qYQ6YWUukaI5njiDqsbcZJyXL3XqQaOS8HjrC6xF7HTzdM397gVitpTTVWEk_p9JEHD7cXM7YdzyY4vApjDju3Fzb1T2TCjYuxnwNIFVzXpScO7jfQY71vAxFzZ8NQ/s3036/Crystal%20cubs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2022" data-original-width="3036" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R2OSUawXM4JhMLKHtaHSrW--YKgylDPGnA1p1_jDe01TX-ovOoj6xiDfS7qYQ6YWUukaI5njiDqsbcZJyXL3XqQaOS8HjrC6xF7HTzdM397gVitpTTVWEk_p9JEHD7cXM7YdzyY4vApjDju3Fzb1T2TCjYuxnwNIFVzXpScO7jfQY71vAxFzZ8NQ/w400-h266/Crystal%20cubs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal and her cubs in the den in Toledo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">In commemoration of International Polar Bear Day on February 27, 2023, here's an update of the polar bears in zoos in the USA.</span></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few bears have moved, we have lost some precious polars, and there are some young ones. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We now have 20 zoos holding 40 polar bears - 21 females and 19 males (updated).</span><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><i>Sad losses</i></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">33 year old Berlin, the oldest US zoo polar bear at the time of her death, died January 11, 2023 in the Kansas City Zoo. She and her twin brother the late Yukon were born in 1989 in the Cincinnati Zoo. She lived much of her life in the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth Minnesota until it was flooded in 2012. She escaped but was recovered and spent some time in the Como Zoo before going to Kansas City.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxXI1-AA9xbHk2mACCzvu12d6r8dIsQ5VYccBlgNcGPWFfWuY1zOQ6azEUa83ZZVsytqVi4_XXqLB1k-UbTvOZryJf5y9hQt8UAj7TsdwcizxxD-PBspXIHRAA6EUn5OMOawy2hlwXVWQyyMTQjAyQ0WYwW08CrKuOO5WIxvNo86RLbEZevUv621k/s307/Berlincute.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxXI1-AA9xbHk2mACCzvu12d6r8dIsQ5VYccBlgNcGPWFfWuY1zOQ6azEUa83ZZVsytqVi4_XXqLB1k-UbTvOZryJf5y9hQt8UAj7TsdwcizxxD-PBspXIHRAA6EUn5OMOawy2hlwXVWQyyMTQjAyQ0WYwW08CrKuOO5WIxvNo86RLbEZevUv621k/w292-h400/Berlincute.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Berlin during her time at the Como Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table> (photo by my daughter Corinna Troth)<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">15 year old Anana, daughter of Crystal and the late Marty, and twin sister of Aurora, died in the Columbus Zoo October 12, 2022. She had been born in Toledo, and was the mother of Amelia Gray.</span></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJ3XS6U2-ZtkLo3_9IDPN2hRsHp3p8e1lCsfNSxy9Uny-lZhtoL2kgmaUNQDn2o4llWD-Ty0kSGAj15u6jHPTyodE7xCn2CAr-RaV5ttm_N3SGtHxY66fj27J9h3piMTCyQeqFW6M7KJTqtkIl0t7UkutVKpH1W6ozmMFpRrwLQfuji99hfyToewy/s2661/Amelia%20Anana%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="2661" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJ3XS6U2-ZtkLo3_9IDPN2hRsHp3p8e1lCsfNSxy9Uny-lZhtoL2kgmaUNQDn2o4llWD-Ty0kSGAj15u6jHPTyodE7xCn2CAr-RaV5ttm_N3SGtHxY66fj27J9h3piMTCyQeqFW6M7KJTqtkIl0t7UkutVKpH1W6ozmMFpRrwLQfuji99hfyToewy/w400-h365/Amelia%20Anana%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana with daughter Amelia Gray <br />in 2017 in the Columbus Zoo.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blizzard, a wildborn rescued cub, died at age 26 in May of 2022, at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington, after a battle with cancer. He shared much of his life with Boris, the rescued circus bear.</span></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9gq9o60MUWUZg2Rohdmcc-l-FdSx750ipNJFQpydGL0sxBJjnmLK4pLDWdDD5RAdfm4ByRrHEkX344zzQ-e4kVL8oCIn8Q3G45KVLLjFwF1q9U56qPbNNqnuHw64j_LcGu7TpRv8PGaM0_KEdPERkl-YdJEp6BYrWc_UMpcUP2nj5bBiJYMUsnkH/s2440/Martyhello.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2440" data-original-width="1970" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9gq9o60MUWUZg2Rohdmcc-l-FdSx750ipNJFQpydGL0sxBJjnmLK4pLDWdDD5RAdfm4ByRrHEkX344zzQ-e4kVL8oCIn8Q3G45KVLLjFwF1q9U56qPbNNqnuHw64j_LcGu7TpRv8PGaM0_KEdPERkl-YdJEp6BYrWc_UMpcUP2nj5bBiJYMUsnkH/w323-h400/Martyhello.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Marty of the Toledo Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marty, father and grandfather of almost all the younger generation of bears, died in the Toledo Zoo on November 4, 2021, just short of his 25th birthday. He had been born in the Brookfield Zoo.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYVI_gifDBkvUqHnbtN2tv9RP6vGEpnpuPS90dyZV3zHDiJLWSCBXw9zgMX-wBaeJ13UOrr2j37h_3Nf7b8DXMkOKl-GJ7toVDXyMuah_qsAm-LE5dXhcTmCGdQgvI4wi5IpNREhYk0T7GYvhGSyqTqCbGPVxcZnkOKaIP6r5yCCO6wcC9M_eozMS/s1476/snow%20lily%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1215" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYVI_gifDBkvUqHnbtN2tv9RP6vGEpnpuPS90dyZV3zHDiJLWSCBXw9zgMX-wBaeJ13UOrr2j37h_3Nf7b8DXMkOKl-GJ7toVDXyMuah_qsAm-LE5dXhcTmCGdQgvI4wi5IpNREhYk0T7GYvhGSyqTqCbGPVxcZnkOKaIP6r5yCCO6wcC9M_eozMS/w329-h400/snow%20lily%20ball.jpg" width="329" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Snow Lily in 2013 at the Milwaukee County Zoo.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: large;">37 year old Snow Lily died September 24, 2021, at the Milwaukee County Zoo. She was the oldest of our bears at the time. The Milwaukee County Zoo now has no polar bears. </span></div></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBMed4Nc1VHRw4l6lLDDY_mHkT2WMqcqq0wZXsHYpkpCjAj2i7XGEsSCN5UyIjWdk21xzTuRDOUoc-Xx6Yt2XrKlvUP6R-zxQpWdWMTdBBwPj3hOUrDwQP1WBpxyeH5-Zr-xz6vrEWavg-kCDCydnn5gpYI-p2vbB7-I4xjoSXJ7hCccnrjAKE5nD/s1755/Anana%20meat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="1755" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBMed4Nc1VHRw4l6lLDDY_mHkT2WMqcqq0wZXsHYpkpCjAj2i7XGEsSCN5UyIjWdk21xzTuRDOUoc-Xx6Yt2XrKlvUP6R-zxQpWdWMTdBBwPj3hOUrDwQP1WBpxyeH5-Zr-xz6vrEWavg-kCDCydnn5gpYI-p2vbB7-I4xjoSXJ7hCccnrjAKE5nD/w400-h386/Anana%20meat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Anana, front, died in February of 2021 at the Detroit Zoo. Little One, behind Anana, died a month later in Cincinnati.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Anana, born in Salt Lake City, died February 8, 2021, in another tragic loss. Luna's mother Anana had moved from Cincinnati to Detroit in early 2020, and on February 8, 2021, was found dead of heart failure. She was so young at just 20 years. At first it was thought that gentle Nuka was responsible, for Anana had some bloody wounds around her head and neck, but an autopsy confirmed that the wounds were superficial, and Nuka was just trying to awaken his dead princess. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Little One died March 21, 2021, at age 31 the oldest male polar bear at the time. The Cincinnati Zoo now has no polar bears. The area is being rebuilt as a North American habitat with black bears expected to be in residence. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp66Bu7p_KrY01liK5MUUjJ8dlQ9H7hS2cjRFYP7ZK-yelZZG2eIEJ0J8Eq_ZPukJ8ut3tk4Vx788xtyLK8YuHF1h23LdoEnLIz0vKhF9ewGCmyQdQefpRWZghQGYduXISQ-IMa5vZ_H007Ht-qZE0jVjkUnRI6L86bosIFWQw6EoPBmcEF0R15IKO/s1600/Buzzstick2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp66Bu7p_KrY01liK5MUUjJ8dlQ9H7hS2cjRFYP7ZK-yelZZG2eIEJ0J8Eq_ZPukJ8ut3tk4Vx788xtyLK8YuHF1h23LdoEnLIz0vKhF9ewGCmyQdQefpRWZghQGYduXISQ-IMa5vZ_H007Ht-qZE0jVjkUnRI6L86bosIFWQw6EoPBmcEF0R15IKO/w400-h300/Buzzstick2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Buzz in Como Zoo, 2016.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Buzz, twin brother of Neil, died at the age of 24 in August of 2020 at Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota. Brother Neil still lives at Como, now with two other bears. The twin brothers were born in the Louisville Zoo December 9, 1995.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9Q05TEhzBn66xTxwM7TRIgEstq2_lFQXWOPgtZR7UUcBOR7sXjC3KXZyntzmB8BLAsza4a8l2_XGl6C0FMPVaYPQYbxQYa4wNH2pwx-R7gNwOoKSNHxqJY7vW5v2BOpz1ZQvxggXkY45F4oOteMKLhXmGNHUab-T5KqzxOnHQwEwii6Pkdn0dw6r/s2586/Blizzard%20Boris.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="2586" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9Q05TEhzBn66xTxwM7TRIgEstq2_lFQXWOPgtZR7UUcBOR7sXjC3KXZyntzmB8BLAsza4a8l2_XGl6C0FMPVaYPQYbxQYa4wNH2pwx-R7gNwOoKSNHxqJY7vW5v2BOpz1ZQvxggXkY45F4oOteMKLhXmGNHUab-T5KqzxOnHQwEwii6Pkdn0dw6r/w400-h219/Blizzard%20Boris.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Blizzard and Boris at Point Defiance Zoo in 2018</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Boris, the rescued circus bear and last survivor of the Suarez Six, died in September of 2020 in the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington. Boris had been born in Rostock, Germany. Despite his many years of suffering in the Mexican circus, he lived to the ripe old age of 34.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Moving around</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Maryland has sent its two young girls to other zoos, and the grizzly bears have taken over the polar bear habitat at the Maryland Zoo. They no longer have polar bears. Amelia Gray has moved to Portland where she now lives with her sister/cousin Nora, previously of Salt Lake City. Neva moved from the Maryland Zoo to Salt Lake City, where she now lives with Nikita. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hope, who lived in Salt Lake City with niece Nora, was moved to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, where she now lives with Hudson.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Nikita moved from the North Carolina Zoo to the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. Payton moved from the Memphis Zoo to take his place in North Carolina.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Nuniq moved from the Henry Vilas Zoo to the Kansas City Zoo. Bo, growing up, moved from the Toledo Zoo to the Henry Vilas Zoo to be with Berit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kulu left his mom Aurora in Columbus and moved to the Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota, where he lives with the two oldest bears, Nan and Neil.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>Fewer zoos with polar bears</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska gave up its great history of polar bear keeping several years ago, sending elderly Bam Bam to Kansas City, where she later died. There are now no polar bears in Omaha.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Maryland Zoo has given up polar bear keeping, with the departure of Amelia Gray and Neva.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">With the death of Little One, there are no more polar bears at the Cincinnati Zoo. The Bear Hill area is being remade into a North American Habitat.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">With the death of Snow Lily, the Milwaukee County Zoo has no polar bears.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not that many years ago, there were polar bears in San Francisco, Denver, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, SeaWorld San Diego, Tucson, Providence RI, Worcester MA, Bronx Zoo and more. Now habitats are greatly improved, but there are fewer of them. Some zoos in the past might have had eight or more polar bears; now a zoo is lucky to have just one.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>New habitats</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In positive news, the Oregon Zoo in Portland has reopened its newly refurbished polar bear area, and Amelia Gray of the Maryland Zoo has joined her sister/cousin Nora there. Both girls were born in Columbus. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington, lost old Boris and then Blizzard, and the polar bear area was empty, but the news is that they are rebuilding a better polar bear habitat and plan to welcome new residents this year.</span></p><p><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Some Statistics</b></i></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Of the 19 living males, only two have fathered cubs: Lee is father of Kulu, and has just rejoined Aurora in Columbus in time for breeding season. Nuka is father of Astra and Laerke in Detroit, and spent the last year in Toledo, where he fathered another set of twins with Crystal. He has just left Toledo, and although his destination was not announced, the plan always was to bring Nuka back to Detroit. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Three males, Kiska, Koluk and Neil, had been neutered many years ago.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Of the 21 living females, four have given birth: Nan (who is too old now), Crystal, and Crystal's daughters Aurora and Suka. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Eight polar bear cubs have been raised by keepers to some degree: Luna of the Buffalo Zoo (rejected by her mother Anana), Kali of the St. Louis Zoo (orphaned cub rescued in Alaska), Qannik of the Louisville Zoo (rescued cub in Alaska), Nora of the Portland Zoo (mother Aurora neglected her), and Laerke of the Detroit Zoo (mother Suka raised one cub, but smaller cub was failing, needed medical help). Twins Tatqiq and Kalluk, and Chinook, all three of San Diego, were rescued in the wilds of Canada as cubs.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In addition, the newly arrived unnamed male yearling at the Alaska Zoo is being raised by keepers.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Seven of our US zoo bears were born in the wilds of Canada or Alaska: Nan of Como, the three bears in San Diego (Chinook, Tatqiq and Kalluk), Qannik of Louisville, Kali of St. Louis, and the new unnamed rescued cub at the Alaska Zoo. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Qannik, Kali and the new cub, as property of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, cannot be part of the breeding program.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Supermom Crystal is the only polar bear we have who was born overseas, specifically Belgium. Currently, it is not permitted to import polar bears from other countries. Crystal's sister Blanche still lives in Monde Sauvage in </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Aywaille, Belgium, and Crystal has nieces and nephews in Belgium, Denmark and France.</span></span></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The Oldest...</span></i></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWw9yEd0xzhHbCGTopfMdSBOXTcjvInhvt72m0xGqQGsIUjQiXTrVroEpAixUqZEG3vwj_92a5zpWb8bkwMjQWYOZxIN5BncrjILckDtgeD6XfcBeJNGsWusDCQhVseOFb631CVN9zjL5nTnEIpMkNxaJfLDpV3E67IfOvH2W6c8qaLxsSUkQzSHp/s2630/Nangirl2.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2410" data-original-width="2630" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWw9yEd0xzhHbCGTopfMdSBOXTcjvInhvt72m0xGqQGsIUjQiXTrVroEpAixUqZEG3vwj_92a5zpWb8bkwMjQWYOZxIN5BncrjILckDtgeD6XfcBeJNGsWusDCQhVseOFb631CVN9zjL5nTnEIpMkNxaJfLDpV3E67IfOvH2W6c8qaLxsSUkQzSHp/w640-h586/Nangirl2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Nan and friend in 2014 in Toledo</b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">28 year old Nan</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">, short for Nanuyaak, was born in the Alaskan wilderness in late 1994. She lived in Toledo for many years, is the mother of Nikita, and now lives in the Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">27 year old Chinook</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> was born in the wild in Manitoba Canada in 1995. She came to the San Diego Zoo when she was about a year old. </span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b style="color: #333333;">27 year old Snowflake</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> was born November 28, 1995 in the Buffalo Zoo. She had spent most of her life at SeaWorld San Diego with her late German friend Szenja, with several periods in the Pittsburgh Zoo with male Koda, and now lives alone in Pittsburgh. </span></span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>26 year old Anoki</b> lives in Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester NY, where she was born after living for some time in the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.</span></span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgXYmZt-2R6BzJgBYUY1QhELtcyPbW3HnMkj69MbOu9g33zYv9zYQNmdHiqIG1K-Sy2KbPs2FoC1a6w5iEEijDrehNUPBIs1cBqWji3XPfWEzprAlLd4jJi2hbjhhicpXvZ2MqikhX22OmBf-1t-QxjqoGZpzi8dLzq0zpgVkNx-ydGW0sNwyMons/s1410/neil.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="1410" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgXYmZt-2R6BzJgBYUY1QhELtcyPbW3HnMkj69MbOu9g33zYv9zYQNmdHiqIG1K-Sy2KbPs2FoC1a6w5iEEijDrehNUPBIs1cBqWji3XPfWEzprAlLd4jJi2hbjhhicpXvZ2MqikhX22OmBf-1t-QxjqoGZpzi8dLzq0zpgVkNx-ydGW0sNwyMons/w640-h608/neil.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Neil in 2014 in Como Zoo<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As for the males, <b>27 year old Neil</b> of Como Zoo is the oldest. He and his twin brother Buzz were born in Louisville December 9, 1995. Sadly, his beloved twin brother Buzz died in August of 2020. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b style="color: #333333;">26 year old Kiska and Koluk</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> were born November 19, 1996 in Salt Lake City. Since 1997, they have lived in ABQ Biopark in Albuquerque NM. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Youngest...</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Births in the past seven years, 7 girls and 3 boys (if my guess about Crystal's cubs is correct), are all children or grandchildren of Marty and Crystal in Columbus:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Nora</b> in Columbus, daughter of Aurora and the late Nanuq in 2015.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Hope</b> in Toledo, daughter of Crystal and Marty in 2015.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Amelia Gray</b> in Columbus, daug</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">hter of Anana and the late Nanuq in 2016.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Nuniq and Neva</b> in Columbus, son and daughter of Aurora and the late Nanuq in 2016.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Kulu</b> in Columbus, son of Aurora and Lee in 2019.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Astra and Laerke</b> in Detroit, daughters of Suka and Nuka in 2020.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: georgia;">Boy Cub? </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">and</span><b style="font-family: georgia;"> Girl Cub?</b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> in Toledo, with mother Crystal and father Nuka. No names yet, and the gender of Crystal's twins has not been announced, so I am just going with my best guess for the purpose of this survey, based on the shapes of their faces, sometimes a good indicator, sometimes not, that they are a boy and a girl. Update: It is TWO BOYS!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And then there is the rescued orphan in the Alaska Zoo, a boy, no name yet, but he is about a year old.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YLyY2tm8iTqOFX9r5Nkptdqkb-dx--Ou7zpGttakkfM2dQEh2JXYmAUUxMGGbtDV2RrEaS-omIJJVTz7fAaxZHCgCM-8oaacDXG1pkkgF6Te-z9_kGRtOSX1SuLHah7xkzsN6BDcnrPT0-SSDfwjvjVVflfIIFaIbmHxK9FoFiiX9gfctRTlSv8w/s3000/Nan%20and%20Kulu.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2970" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YLyY2tm8iTqOFX9r5Nkptdqkb-dx--Ou7zpGttakkfM2dQEh2JXYmAUUxMGGbtDV2RrEaS-omIJJVTz7fAaxZHCgCM-8oaacDXG1pkkgF6Te-z9_kGRtOSX1SuLHah7xkzsN6BDcnrPT0-SSDfwjvjVVflfIIFaIbmHxK9FoFiiX9gfctRTlSv8w/w634-h640/Nan%20and%20Kulu.jpg" width="634" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></span><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Young Kulu, right with Nan at Como Zoo in 2022</b><p></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QvCs-_QChwa3M9Tl2YS1azyiXLipHCvqjfb1bKikWk8FzSdpMnHjhbzYGsLNMZKP7wPZzhI9fJ_CDBwrKZDChqPllWlSbJ5V4PHbkrTLdsqu5KKUGTUMSuTUPJACcGfxnwAh4wcvtG_aL-xvIexiNXWhkfFEHqcms8RbHG4yv-QFcJJc3EBuvVdf/s5184/jebbie%20Laerke%20singing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QvCs-_QChwa3M9Tl2YS1azyiXLipHCvqjfb1bKikWk8FzSdpMnHjhbzYGsLNMZKP7wPZzhI9fJ_CDBwrKZDChqPllWlSbJ5V4PHbkrTLdsqu5KKUGTUMSuTUPJACcGfxnwAh4wcvtG_aL-xvIexiNXWhkfFEHqcms8RbHG4yv-QFcJJc3EBuvVdf/w640-h426/jebbie%20Laerke%20singing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Laerke on right, with grizzly friend Jebbie in 2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My s</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">urvey this time is by zoos, from west coast to east.</span></span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></i></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Western:</i></b></span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">San Diego Zoo</b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The San Diego Zoo still has its three wildborn bears, 27 year old Chinook and 22 year old twins brother Kalluk and sister Tatqiq.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Chinook</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> was born in the wild in Manitoba Canada in 1995. She came to the San Diego Zoo when she was about a year old. Two years later, cubs Neil and Buzz from Louisville joined her in San Diego. In 2001, wildborn brother and sister twins Kalluk and Tatqiq joined the group, and at the end of 2001, Neil and Buzz left. Since then, Chinook, Kalluk and Tatqiq have formed a stable trio at the San Diego Zoo. Chinook has never had cubs.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>Twins Tatqiq and her brother Kalluk</b> were born in the wilds of Canada in the winter of 2000. They came to the San Diego Zoo as young cubs. It was decided that Chinook would be mate to Kalluk, and Tatqiq would stay with her brother as a playmate. The three bears all get along well. Tatqiq has been on birth control, and thus is unable to have cubs now. </span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsVNfq4blQYA1gssd2RnIZ4wkln8TeH9ndiqXSMs7c_d1p5nWZji93a8hMzqGQ0nO8Yr4BZbQfIGMDF5di-VuvyvtJuMadFS2RgxT2apA9G0TKSaoNdMWXBqEPrcckDIwYgmycVCHrXixeih5pno2k3KRnf_sBhe0l8n7imNr_VjXi1NQaiBl-ZZy/s1350/sandiegothree3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1350" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsVNfq4blQYA1gssd2RnIZ4wkln8TeH9ndiqXSMs7c_d1p5nWZji93a8hMzqGQ0nO8Yr4BZbQfIGMDF5di-VuvyvtJuMadFS2RgxT2apA9G0TKSaoNdMWXBqEPrcckDIwYgmycVCHrXixeih5pno2k3KRnf_sBhe0l8n7imNr_VjXi1NQaiBl-ZZy/w640-h628/sandiegothree3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">San Diego bears Kalluk, Chinook and Tatqiq </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span>You can watch Tatqiq, Kalluk and Chinook on the zoo's polar bear cam.</span><span> </span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Oregon Zoo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In the Oregon Zoo in Portland, following several years of construction to improve the habitat, two young bears have arrived. Seven year old Nora, daughter of Aurora, was raised by keepers in Columbus and lived for several years in Portland, before moving to Salt Lake City, where she was companion to her Aunt Hope, who is the same age. Hope has now moved to Brookfield. Nora has returned to Portland, and was joined last year by her six year old sister/cousin Amelia Gray, also born in Columbus, and who has lived in the Maryland Zoo for the past few years. Amelia Gray is the daughter of Aurora's twin sister the late Anana. The late Nanuq is the father of both Amelia Gray and Nora. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgU66gLDzGVQWiq5_bGdEZdUA8jMshc7LdUCFwrDcVTGRsnzQgP5AQYx4JrRit51IXvDMWwJPtHBlOPWCCcN3Loq4E7REnZcCieGKpUoWpX0ASCoo2-XwPknufOuMuyOmayUd6gA96BhC-AjHHSgpvIfad1P39jim61ezBCDTh6OnTy7QB5YnjmacO/s1557/noracone2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1557" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgU66gLDzGVQWiq5_bGdEZdUA8jMshc7LdUCFwrDcVTGRsnzQgP5AQYx4JrRit51IXvDMWwJPtHBlOPWCCcN3Loq4E7REnZcCieGKpUoWpX0ASCoo2-XwPknufOuMuyOmayUd6gA96BhC-AjHHSgpvIfad1P39jim61ezBCDTh6OnTy7QB5YnjmacO/w400-h291/noracone2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nora in the Columbus Zoo in 2016</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Alaska Zoo</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">21 year old Cranbearry lives on her own in the Alaska Zoo. She has never had cubs. Cranbearry is the older sister of twins Nuka and Koda, so she is the aunt of two year old cubs Astra and Laerke in Detroit, as well as the new cubs in Toledo. She was born in November 21, 2001 in Denver.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In November, a one year old orphaned cub was found alone in Prudhoe Bay, and brought to the Alaska Zoo, where he was quarantined and is being cared for. He has not been given a name yet. Since the Alaska Zoo only has Cranbearry, an older bear, I expect that they will want to keep the youngster as a permanent resident. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Hogle Zoo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City sent away young Nora and Hope, and welcomed 16 year old Nikita, who came from the North Carolina Zoo. Nora went to Portland and Hope went to Brookfield in Chicago. Nikita is the son of the late Marty and wildborn Nan. He was born November 21, 2006, in Toledo.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Newly arrived in Salt Lake City is six year old Neva, twin sister of Nuniq, who was born in Columbus Ohio on November 14, 2016. Neva and Nuniq were the offspring of Aurora and the late Nanuq. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Nikita is the son of the late Marty, who was Neva's grandfather, which shows how limited the breeding pairings are in the U.S. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">ABQ Biopark </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span>In the ABQ Biopark (formely the Rio Grande Zoo) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we find the 26 year old Kiska and Koluk, twin brothers who have lived together all their lives. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Kiska and Koluk</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> were born November 19, 1996 in Salt Lake City. Since 1997 they have lived in the zoo in Albuquerque. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Kiska and Koluk are brothers of the late Anana (of Buffalo, Cincinnati and Detroit), and half brothers of the late Aurora (mother of four) of Rochester, and of Denali (father of 8) of Sapporo Japan.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfW3-nNBd-usu8-tfR8yA3KJ_naBmANgZw_IGEslirwMdQwt9BBEMr8QPS1ceG9oC7UFMEoIc5OcqNqs6qzAb02p5rU_B5zLARds8SNRLhATu47MIY5xuCO_BspKGFCHaQsWN-OxZ2e2YNK5HGRfG6xILISUSIZrBSS1kZZFOvYu6vXX6q2yzNUDV/s4185/Kiska%20Koluk%20water.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4185" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfW3-nNBd-usu8-tfR8yA3KJ_naBmANgZw_IGEslirwMdQwt9BBEMr8QPS1ceG9oC7UFMEoIc5OcqNqs6qzAb02p5rU_B5zLARds8SNRLhATu47MIY5xuCO_BspKGFCHaQsWN-OxZ2e2YNK5HGRfG6xILISUSIZrBSS1kZZFOvYu6vXX6q2yzNUDV/w462-h640/Kiska%20Koluk%20water.jpg" width="462" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kiska and Koluk in 2022</span><br /><br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><i><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Midwest:</span></b></i><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Kansas City Zoo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span>The Kansas City Zoo was home to Berlin, who just passed away at age 33. She leaves behind young Nuniq, six year old son of Aurora and the late Nanuq. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Along with his twin sister Neva, Nuniq was born in the Columbus Zoo on November 14, 2016, to Crystal and Marty's daughter Aurora and the wildborn Nanuq, who was also father of Luna in Buffalo, as well as father of Aurora's first cub Nora, and Aurora's twin sister Anana's daughter Amelia Gray. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFd-gpeY7kurPPpn-fyMBSGqe8tfyUd5DZqXiVCO_FhvHsEghARkK44EfXbPqGOpBy8Xr3KoGciDKoACtjjJt4f8anxsJNvaMFkaxgGT4rfM9SEpt0yzZMZZCZulu6PSlRsPCwwS0wfpTDOKet6HowaOAHQ8BIIxmxdupihQmdNGREDKtxpvSW8lA/s1218/Nuniq%20window%20fish%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1218" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFd-gpeY7kurPPpn-fyMBSGqe8tfyUd5DZqXiVCO_FhvHsEghARkK44EfXbPqGOpBy8Xr3KoGciDKoACtjjJt4f8anxsJNvaMFkaxgGT4rfM9SEpt0yzZMZZCZulu6PSlRsPCwwS0wfpTDOKet6HowaOAHQ8BIIxmxdupihQmdNGREDKtxpvSW8lA/w640-h558/Nuniq%20window%20fish%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nuniq in 2017 in Columbus</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">St. Louis Zoo</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Ten year old</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> Kali</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> was born in the Alaskan wilderness in late 2012. His mother was shot by a hunter, who realized there was a cub and tracked him down in his den. He was taken to the Alaska Zoo, kept there for a few months, and then flown to the Buffalo Zoo to be a companion for young Luna, who was being raised by hand. Kali now lives alone in a wonderful new habitat in the St. Louis Zoo. As a property of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, he cannot be part of the breeding program.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05O1twZ5Obs0fv0duTDhRujnziMx3Qap3-5urPgaWqzzL4f87ZL4tZzIX6tnqq7c8RMTI5L_Syk6uIu0lVbBuxwXcGR0NLkXk6mJiEFIfEy0W0TeErIhmi6LAXDakdVV01uZgC7lgrisQ4EbCtQeyu2uY7wXpe4u7lxPRgFbBwTsWs1vYtVtZWt0k/s1600/Kali%20icemaker%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05O1twZ5Obs0fv0duTDhRujnziMx3Qap3-5urPgaWqzzL4f87ZL4tZzIX6tnqq7c8RMTI5L_Syk6uIu0lVbBuxwXcGR0NLkXk6mJiEFIfEy0W0TeErIhmi6LAXDakdVV01uZgC7lgrisQ4EbCtQeyu2uY7wXpe4u7lxPRgFbBwTsWs1vYtVtZWt0k/w480-h640/Kali%20icemaker%204.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kali in St. Louis in 2016, with his ice maker</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Como Zoo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota is still mourning the loss of Buzz, but his 27 year old twin brother Neil<b> </b>is being comforted by his new companion 28 year old Nan. Young </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Kulu is a new arrival there too. Como Zoo is home to the oldest female and the oldest male polar bears in the US, and also one of the youngest polar bears, Kulu.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtuPCSDdJRfrtpwK_qHWA5YbRCnBymFRJC3eDAHGDuLidoNmrksciV76r0gJwDxop8R7UHk6FreD-r6zJPkvXLWj2h1cLhpI4G34-V8PHcd0vas4VOUSFDM39cP7uSM-_cNfyKE_kyS9l9D3pPug7K0MfkHduBTLxYCwWXHfpo61gm4TEfe0ntYeg/s4368/Neil%20Nan%20kulu%20eat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3378" data-original-width="4368" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtuPCSDdJRfrtpwK_qHWA5YbRCnBymFRJC3eDAHGDuLidoNmrksciV76r0gJwDxop8R7UHk6FreD-r6zJPkvXLWj2h1cLhpI4G34-V8PHcd0vas4VOUSFDM39cP7uSM-_cNfyKE_kyS9l9D3pPug7K0MfkHduBTLxYCwWXHfpo61gm4TEfe0ntYeg/w640-h494/Neil%20Nan%20kulu%20eat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Neil, Nan and Kulu in Como Zoo in 2022</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">28 years old Nan</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">, short for Nanuyaak, was born in the Alaskan wilderness in late 1994. The cub was taken to the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, where she stayed for five months. She lived in the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma until she was six years old. Nan moved to the Toledo Zoo in 2001, where she gave birth to Nikita in 2006, with Marty as father, the same year Crystal gave birth to twins Aurora and Anana with Marty also as the father. Nan moved to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in 2017, where she lived with Marty's younger brother Hudson. Now she is in the Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota as companion to Neil, and now holds the honor of being the oldest polar bear in a US zoo. </span></span></p><p><span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4LHeMugnJQNUOCSWJJwegeaSTEC3lCnyVKgH6Y_r6Zqv5jZKhDUmjlOy_NGVGragRhlooj1KeToSp85tkbfZKPkVxNlCm0xoSIYykfnxJrgiF_O_weVUVozpxlDDXpk9Ip3qPmt6WgdeUcIjmQNn8NN-ODDVn5AWgzSYtlJdMsyV0aQYxZ7ZGi0w/s3380/Neil%20face.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3380" data-original-width="3285" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4LHeMugnJQNUOCSWJJwegeaSTEC3lCnyVKgH6Y_r6Zqv5jZKhDUmjlOy_NGVGragRhlooj1KeToSp85tkbfZKPkVxNlCm0xoSIYykfnxJrgiF_O_weVUVozpxlDDXpk9Ip3qPmt6WgdeUcIjmQNn8NN-ODDVn5AWgzSYtlJdMsyV0aQYxZ7ZGi0w/w389-h400/Neil%20face.jpg" width="389" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Neil</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"> Neil </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">and Buzz</span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">were named after the first two humans to walk on the moon. They were born December 9, 1995 in the Louisville Zoo, then lived at the San Diego Zoo from 1997 to 2001. They have lived at Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota since then, except for a two year span in 2008-10 when they enjoyed living in Detroit while the Como Zoo polar bear habitat was being expanded and renovated. While they lived in Detroit, the boys loved playing with young cub Talini, daughter of rescued circus bear Bärle.</span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">At Como Zoo, Neil and Buzz have played host to three grizzly bears from a flooded out Minot ND zoo. Later, they welcomed their niece Berlin, who also had escaped from a flooded zoo in Duluth. They shared their habitat with young twins Suka and Sakari while the cubs waited for their new exhibit at Henry Vilas to open.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Neil and Buzz come from the Louisville family of bears. Their older brother Icee was the father of twins Berlin and Yukon at the Cincinnati Zoo. Their older sister Ulu was the mother of Berit, longtime resident of the Cincinnati Zoo and current resident of Henry Vilas. Their parents also famously had rare triplets in Louisville in 1992, which included the late and much loved Aquila. Neil and Buzz were neutered so they could stay together and not fight. At the time, it was thought their genes were well represented and there were plenty of polar bears. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This lovely senior couple has recently been joined by youngster <b>Kulu</b> from the Columbus Zoo, now three years old. They all play together and have great fun. Kulu wears the oldsters out.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">Kulu was born November 28, 2019 in the Columbus Zoo, a fourth cub for Aurora and a first for father Lee. Kulu's older half siblings are Nora, Neva and Nuniq, and Amelia Gray is his cousin.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Brookfield Zoo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hudson and Hope are living together in the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Because of the limited gene pool. Hope, daughter of Marty and Crystal in Toledo, is paired with Marty's brother Hudson. That's right, Hudson is Hope's uncle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Seven year old</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> Hope</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> was born in Toledo on December 3, 2015, to Marty and Crystal. She lived in the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City with her niece Nora of the same age for a few years and now is in Brookfield. She is sister to Aurora and Anana, Siku, Suka and Sakari, Bo, and is half sister to the new Toledo cubs and also to Nikita.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_Asdld-hgB6WvjVQOmZnx5DulcgLh8sry1Yb2lRzwRX8p4vcgt1CdIoY65dxCJrt9cpiZFMKU8nx8VA0A6GfoICSsgsNeG0gCpT-C4FHrcwiXIliCTjvReP26bXySGtfyq9X3LdWEZf9O_y9O2efrDdp-NODDa6KW_ZRirQCKtwOx6Fww1P5G5BZ/s966/ToledoHope%20spool2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="934" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_Asdld-hgB6WvjVQOmZnx5DulcgLh8sry1Yb2lRzwRX8p4vcgt1CdIoY65dxCJrt9cpiZFMKU8nx8VA0A6GfoICSsgsNeG0gCpT-C4FHrcwiXIliCTjvReP26bXySGtfyq9X3LdWEZf9O_y9O2efrDdp-NODDa6KW_ZRirQCKtwOx6Fww1P5G5BZ/w618-h640/ToledoHope%20spool2.jpg" width="618" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hope in the Toledo Zoo in 2016</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">16 year old<b> Hudson</b> was born December 14, 2006, in Brookfield Zoo in Chicago to parents Aussie and Arki. Hudson still lives at Brookfield. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Hudson is brother to Payton and the late Marty. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaMLyaUxiLrXJM3hANs33VW1xvZ4xq4HezqS7Z0gz724WJMqjyPPTm_gn4jTG2TFEJWMv4sf_Hcn-W1EDk0Z8Zqg59igKq8ixnZvl_DmjYSK_-LJAjrHGDGgi94A7TjL7tUxqefhfAhSmoWUZtRqP205waPdviODHHQloX4a12_ZbbpboAHVJQWit/s2661/hudson%20mouth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2289" data-original-width="2661" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaMLyaUxiLrXJM3hANs33VW1xvZ4xq4HezqS7Z0gz724WJMqjyPPTm_gn4jTG2TFEJWMv4sf_Hcn-W1EDk0Z8Zqg59igKq8ixnZvl_DmjYSK_-LJAjrHGDGgi94A7TjL7tUxqefhfAhSmoWUZtRqP205waPdviODHHQloX4a12_ZbbpboAHVJQWit/w640-h550/hudson%20mouth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hudson in 2013 in Brookfield Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Lincoln Park Zoo</span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The other zoo in Chicago, Lincoln Park, is home to Siku, son of Crystal and the late Marty, and Talini, born in Detroit to the late </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bärle, a rescued circus bear, and the late Triton.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">13 year old <b>Siku</b> was born at the Toledo Zoo on December 3, 2009 to Marty and Crystal. He moved to the Louisville Zoo, where he lived, separately but next to wildborn Qannik, and now lives in the Lincoln Park Zoo with Talini. </span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v07uZrfMdOI1L9IzxBtroQYkhSBG_RZfGHTYOcD9widylvK1HTgmTwPeYCUNRMioGL15VY63e67KnsqRYYYduaUjPECzB3N7qMEoaY0Ievx0Ylka60lICOXYurXtRKyvlEJ3GOKxDysHJlq3lttzIJo6vo0yHBphGVT011DQwkpBO6NybQWjxvCx/s2374/Sikustand.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2374" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v07uZrfMdOI1L9IzxBtroQYkhSBG_RZfGHTYOcD9widylvK1HTgmTwPeYCUNRMioGL15VY63e67KnsqRYYYduaUjPECzB3N7qMEoaY0Ievx0Ylka60lICOXYurXtRKyvlEJ3GOKxDysHJlq3lttzIJo6vo0yHBphGVT011DQwkpBO6NybQWjxvCx/w640-h518/Sikustand.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Siku in 2013 in the Louisville Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Siku is brother to Aurora and the late Anana of Columbus, Suka of Detroit, Sakari of Buffalo, Bo of Henry Vilas in Wisconsin, and Hope of Brookfield. He is half brother of Nikita of Salt Lake City and also Crystal's new cubs.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">18 year old<b> Talini</b> was something of a miracle child. She was born on November 22, 2004, in the Detroit Zoo to rescued circus bear Bärle, her first cub and at an advanced age of 20. Bärle raised Talini, teaching her to "hunt" seals in the habitat's pools. Talini lived with Nuka for many years, but there were no cubs, so she was moved to Lincoln Park in Chicago several years ago to be with Siku. Tests have shown that Talini will probably never become pregnant.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZbIWeoo2B0SKcTCKn89hssED9QpJB_l-nLNcMF1nUl0FnEAKS_Kd4HNZ0DV75MbXT_JKedwzqjQRUKPG2RY6_bMkLptD56zjaF26B0qTFhZebac3IbIH4gxI5nlDGHPg6NlEbMuSNY8cBpvUlnYYg85R3gw8qCUmCeHYA7lMnnmU_cLLGWJv7zGN/s2530/talinisealion.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="2530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZbIWeoo2B0SKcTCKn89hssED9QpJB_l-nLNcMF1nUl0FnEAKS_Kd4HNZ0DV75MbXT_JKedwzqjQRUKPG2RY6_bMkLptD56zjaF26B0qTFhZebac3IbIH4gxI5nlDGHPg6NlEbMuSNY8cBpvUlnYYg85R3gw8qCUmCeHYA7lMnnmU_cLLGWJv7zGN/w640-h400/talinisealion.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Talini hunting seals in Detroit</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">It is believed that Talini's mother Bärle was born wild in late 1984 in Manitoba Canada, where she was captured and taken into the East German circus. She performed with other polar bears in the East German Circus, until some of the bears were sold to a Mexican circus with terrible conditions. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Bärle</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"> and five other bears, including Boris, were rescued in late 2002 in Puerto Rico by the U.S Government and she was taken in by the Detroit Zoo, where </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Bärle recovered from malnutrition and neglect. Two years later, Talini was born.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Henry Vilas Zoo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The grassy meadows of the polar bear home in Madison Wisconsin is home to Berit and young Borealis (Bo), son of Crystal and the late Marty, while he grows up. Berit is mostly past breeding age, and is one of the female bears probably made barren by birth control in the early 2000's.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">24 year old<b> Berit</b> and her twin brother Ulaq were born in Denver on December 28, 1998. The twins came to the Cincinnati Zoo as young cubs. Ulaq died rather mysteriously when he was four years old, and it was attributed to liver failure. Berit lived happily in the Cincinnati Zoo with Rizzo and Little One for many years, but never got pregnant. She used to curl up with Rizzo to take naps, and missed her friend when she moved away. Berit moved to the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison Wisconsin in 2016, first living with young girl cub Suka, and later with young Nuniq. Now she lives with young Bo. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">She is a playful babysitter for the young bears who come to live with her.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Four year old<b> Bo</b>, short for Borealis, was born December 9, 2018 at the Toledo Zoo. He is the son of Crystal and the late Marty. Crystal was born in Belgium. Marty and Crystal had seven cubs in Toledo, and now Crystal is raising another set of twins, fathered by Nuka. Bo is youngest brother to Aurora and the late Anana, as well as Siku, Suka and Sakari and Hope. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaAZwMbpqz4LhnOMpuy-rrAVcAVr98lw8YhivNVJR5QTfqlvJxGAhUeL3gmxW7885WbVbRRXigyA7-NXbuCKQcShr1H7QlA3Y2yKx79J4RYQb3mwImYvWSaNIlu0emAMiULYA6yaQrK6E8mJg3ma2lVyOfIsP2VwFAHijt0qATaqZcejJd11jW59R/s3336/Bo%20Berit%20by%20pool%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3336" data-original-width="2940" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaAZwMbpqz4LhnOMpuy-rrAVcAVr98lw8YhivNVJR5QTfqlvJxGAhUeL3gmxW7885WbVbRRXigyA7-NXbuCKQcShr1H7QlA3Y2yKx79J4RYQb3mwImYvWSaNIlu0emAMiULYA6yaQrK6E8mJg3ma2lVyOfIsP2VwFAHijt0qATaqZcejJd11jW59R/w564-h640/Bo%20Berit%20by%20pool%203.jpg" width="564" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Bo (left) and Berit in Henry Vilas in 2022</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Memphis Zoo</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Haley, daughter of the late Aurora and Yukon, has a new companion in Koda, who is the twin brother of proven breeder Nuka, who two years ago fathered twins in Detroit and just this year twins in Toledo. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">20 year old<b> Haley</b> was born November 15, 2002 to Aurora and Yukon in the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester New York. In 2005 she moved to the Brookfield Zoo where she was matched up with young Payton. The two of them moved to the Memphis Zoo in 2006. At the time, Cranbearry was living in Memphis, and stayed for four more years, but then Cranbearry moved to Denver, and is now in Alaska. Haley and Payton never had cubs, and Payton has now moved to North Carolina. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLN6HGBKs7Uta1F96jN1g20DwGom1BOmf7twNDK7k81LB8ojP1jXwh6_rhzOV4YT7gzcwN6LPWhrbE0wMIOUjlbCop2_R6W_NAWUxyeadEr4OJ-k0bAwqr4aKR7mIs5WVABj1D-EbLF7zy_5mi1i8yjXbyt39C5wiJFjwRGU0DbPNT_iHyhH3sUT2/s2592/haley%20sit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLN6HGBKs7Uta1F96jN1g20DwGom1BOmf7twNDK7k81LB8ojP1jXwh6_rhzOV4YT7gzcwN6LPWhrbE0wMIOUjlbCop2_R6W_NAWUxyeadEr4OJ-k0bAwqr4aKR7mIs5WVABj1D-EbLF7zy_5mi1i8yjXbyt39C5wiJFjwRGU0DbPNT_iHyhH3sUT2/w640-h480/haley%20sit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Haley in the Memphis Zoo in 2012</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;">18 year old</span><b style="color: #333333;"> Koda </b><span style="color: #333333;">and his twin brother Nuka</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> were born November 25, 2004 in Denver, to parents Voda and Kavek. The twins moved to Pittsburgh when they were two years old. In 2011, Nuka moved to Detroit. In early 2021, Koda left Pittsburgh and came to Memphis. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Toledo Zoo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span><span><b>Crystal</b>, age 24, who is mother or grandmother of nearly all the younger bears in U.S. zoos, just did it again with the birth of twin boys. Crystal and the late Marty became parents of Aurora and the late Anana of Columbus, Siku of Lincoln Park, new mother Suka of Detroit and her twin brother Sakari of Buffalo, Hope of Brookfield, and Bo of Henry Vilas. </span><span>Marty and Crystal are grandparents of Nora and Amelia Gray </span></span>of Portland, Neva of Salt Lake City, Nuniq of Kansas City, Kulu of Como Zoo, and twins Laerke and Astra of Detroit.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp34ijTgo4XuO-YhrhiixcdrEO369QfS34z7t0Re-3q8puo1nI4dXLbu72c7RoxByMJZ2z1_TpQ_8oQDnRkQJ1EnjK9gD6ind1CFBR6T_5WJgIfzxf4RZM2vBoMis_pUboSH7M_VCuZCKGu1gKJcgWaDDhIhP2iv2XnQPMLzh-FsSQGUaZqEsbBsU0/s3264/Crystal%20nursing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp34ijTgo4XuO-YhrhiixcdrEO369QfS34z7t0Re-3q8puo1nI4dXLbu72c7RoxByMJZ2z1_TpQ_8oQDnRkQJ1EnjK9gD6ind1CFBR6T_5WJgIfzxf4RZM2vBoMis_pUboSH7M_VCuZCKGu1gKJcgWaDDhIhP2iv2XnQPMLzh-FsSQGUaZqEsbBsU0/w640-h480/Crystal%20nursing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Crystal with Suka and Sakari in 2013 in the Toledo Zoo</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal was born in November 10, 1998, in Monde Sauvage in Belgium. Her older sister Blanche was born in 1993, and is still there, never having left the zoo. Blanche is mother to son Nanook, now in Denmark, and daughter Qannik, who still lives with her mother, so these two are first cousins of all Crystal's cubs. Nanook is father to Danish Siku and Nuno in Denmark and Nanu in France, so Crystal has a niece and two nephews in Europe. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal's twins can be seen on a dencam set up by the Toledo Zoo.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The father of the twins, 18 year old Nuka, has just left the Toledo Zoo for another AZA zoo, although it has not been announced to where. But since the plan was always for Nuka to return to Detroit when Suka had weaned Astra, I expect that this is where he is. Also, there are only three proven fertile females in the US zoos. Crystal is busy with the twins, and Lee has just returned to Aurora in Columbus, so that just leaves Suka in Detroit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Detroit Zoo</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Detroit Zoo is home to 10 year old <b>Suka</b> and probably 18 year old <b>Nuka</b>, and their twin daughters <b>Astra</b> and <b>Laerke</b>, 2020's only cubs in the USA, and none were born in 2021. Astra was raised by her mother, and twin sister Laerke was raised by keepers. For a time, a Grizzly cub named Jebbie came to Detroit as a playmate for Laerke, but he has grown too large and is now relocated to a sanctuary in Colorado. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmqcnmOtK89zJIpP8P94-gtUuTLOBcJ5iMrj2UpmMX5-WlYzd119zCl8OIiY89E9n78wgXbRMzVk6tlpQDBeYLdFKW-Jlalo_bJ_lpNEZk9XHG1HNBJNn3h7Rd_5ItCcmgwLRH2vhwR00hKZJVcnMdFSGlWl922WTrFLUaOwvD3_klWSpZXNd0YEp/s3532/Nuka%20and%20family.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3284" data-original-width="3532" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmqcnmOtK89zJIpP8P94-gtUuTLOBcJ5iMrj2UpmMX5-WlYzd119zCl8OIiY89E9n78wgXbRMzVk6tlpQDBeYLdFKW-Jlalo_bJ_lpNEZk9XHG1HNBJNn3h7Rd_5ItCcmgwLRH2vhwR00hKZJVcnMdFSGlWl922WTrFLUaOwvD3_klWSpZXNd0YEp/w640-h596/Nuka%20and%20family.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Papa Nuka looks over at Suka and Astra in 2021 in the Detroit Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Nuka<b> </b>and his twin brother Koda were born November 25, 2004 in Denver, to parents Voda and Kavek. They both moved to Pittsburgh when they were two years old. In 2011, Nuka moved to Detroit </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">as a mate for Talini. Then Talini moved to Lincoln Park, and Suka moved in. In 2020 Suka and Nuka welcomed twin daughters, Astra and Laerke.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In January of 2022, Nuka moved to Toledo to live with Suka's mother Crystal, whose longtime mate Marty had died. This would give more room Suka and her young cubs in Detroit. Now it seems that Nuka is ready to return.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Suka</span><b style="color: #333333;"> </b><span style="color: #333333;">and her twin brother Sakari </span><span style="color: #333333;">were born November 21, 2012 in the Toledo Zoo to Marty and Crystal. The twins moved to Como Zoo in St. Paul, then to the new habitat at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison Wisconsin. Suka now lives at the Detroit Zoo. Before Astra and Laerke were born, Suka had given birth to cubs for the previous two seasons, but they did not survive. </span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Columbus Zoo</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Twin sisters 16 year old <b>Aurora</b> and <b>Anana</b> lived together all their lives, from the time they were born in Toledo, for several years in Pittsburgh and then their many years together at the Columbus Zoo. Tragically, Anana died last October. The zoo's most recent male polar bear Lee had spent the past several years in Louisville, but now he has returned, so Aurora will not be alone. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Aurora and Anana were born in the Toledo Zoo November 25, 2006, four days after Nan gave birth to Nikita in the den next door. The father was the same, Marty. The twins' mother was Crystal, who was born in Belgium. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">The Toledo Zoo was a busy place during those years, with Nan raising Nikita, and Crystal raising the twin girls. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Twins Aurora and Anana moved to Pittsburgh in 2008, and to the new polar bear habitat at the Columbus Zoo in 2010. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Aurora gave birth to Nora in 2015, who was raised by keepers.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">In 2016, both sisters gave birth. Aurora had twins, Nuniq and Neva. Anana had Amelia Grey. The father of all four cubs was the late Nanuq, who had previously fathered Luna in the Buffalo Zoo with the late Anana. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> Three years ago, Aurora gave birth again to a boy named Kulu with Lee as the father. </span></span>Kulu moved to Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota in late 2021.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrPr13AelT3cyegl7eUKiLhk7OUiq_5oawcme3d7ja7P7vqgFjsRic1vwHwOF23QyfJ3mHW85euRHRTT2FCLgDUveCwPHobkD_5RcKtmFDFAr20uMoioQMBYCeLsrrrXYJGNUj5-6FXeBRSX6vX1KlIv35xhSJiQtryC5CoteqDsvHVoPjjuOmPhC/s3003/Aurora%20cubbies%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3003" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrPr13AelT3cyegl7eUKiLhk7OUiq_5oawcme3d7ja7P7vqgFjsRic1vwHwOF23QyfJ3mHW85euRHRTT2FCLgDUveCwPHobkD_5RcKtmFDFAr20uMoioQMBYCeLsrrrXYJGNUj5-6FXeBRSX6vX1KlIv35xhSJiQtryC5CoteqDsvHVoPjjuOmPhC/w640-h460/Aurora%20cubbies%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Mother Aurora with cubs Neva and Nuniq in the Columbus Zoo in 2017</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>23 year old Lee </b>and his twin sister (North Carolina) Anana were born November 27, 1999, in Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester NY to Aurora and Yukon.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Lee has lived in Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago several times, in Milwaukee, in Detroit, and then in Denver with Cranbearry. He moved to the Columbus Zoo in late 2018, and in 2019, Aurora gave birth to Kulu, a little boy cub, Lee's first.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_oMhoKWLca-ipIM1uDzn1iW6_xOnd3v_bE0ClYO0Z3MF1cnA1gbpQnMpvKSv_KKR24Aq7oJkgHlIMlr4RHWdE2qRRDSQliAuc7-7DetqDqYXI1GMWiSTvbLBoWjfCIdJiW3J_CP_BKdNn3dxQ_M_hGR2Om2E1Fjyk4UE_IvzxwNq3ioRdu1sMvMO/s4314/Lee%20look%20at%20me.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4314" data-original-width="3408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_oMhoKWLca-ipIM1uDzn1iW6_xOnd3v_bE0ClYO0Z3MF1cnA1gbpQnMpvKSv_KKR24Aq7oJkgHlIMlr4RHWdE2qRRDSQliAuc7-7DetqDqYXI1GMWiSTvbLBoWjfCIdJiW3J_CP_BKdNn3dxQ_M_hGR2Om2E1Fjyk4UE_IvzxwNq3ioRdu1sMvMO/w506-h640/Lee%20look%20at%20me.jpg" width="506" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lee in the Louisville Zoo in 2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Louisville Zoo</b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Now that Lee has left Louisville, it is just 12 year old <b>Qannik</b> there in Glacier Run, along with three grizzly bears. Wildborn rescued cub Qannik is the Ice Princess at the Louisville Zoo. As the Property of Fish and Wildlife, she cannot be part of the breeding program. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgyMXzT5IG5jQUTi8HR3icxkLcV6EH59mAT8Il-d6oo6MW_H1nody4n4m7V9DM3B7rAtGOw3zRmaBiQTaXNOuTsWO2rlfa6OHwoEmBewRBaOIOfNTOcRnohWJgfjNNOmjWx1Us9pDTdYt6nnCMqiLA_Tx2ghICyurupwevX6XCvf10GVGS6AalB14/s5184/qannik%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgyMXzT5IG5jQUTi8HR3icxkLcV6EH59mAT8Il-d6oo6MW_H1nody4n4m7V9DM3B7rAtGOw3zRmaBiQTaXNOuTsWO2rlfa6OHwoEmBewRBaOIOfNTOcRnohWJgfjNNOmjWx1Us9pDTdYt6nnCMqiLA_Tx2ghICyurupwevX6XCvf10GVGS6AalB14/w640-h426/qannik%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik at her birthday party in January of 2023 in Louisville Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Qannik</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"> was born wild on the North Slope of the Alaska oilfields. She became separated from her mother and sister in a storm and was rescued and taken to the Alaska Zoo. A few months later, after she had gained some weight, she was flown to the Louisville Zoo where she still resides. Her birthday was assigned to her by Fish and Wildlife - as January 2010. The Louisville Zoo always throws Qannik a big birthday party every January.</span></span><p></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Eastern</span></i></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Pittsburgh Zoo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Snowflake is on her own in the Pittsburgh Zoo, since Koda moved to Memphis. She lived for quite a time in San Diego. Despite many efforts, she has never produced cubs.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTquDxXf5P8IT3JmYquREs25JKL_AvQKldlnRYdH1bQP3cVdNNlPJN3Tx_EnvEMjduBoykUY-2wpGZ0dhH_CzyRmf-4mtgEGrTPqUGtj2VuNwByrFKk3AtS7TzW_MpuLDQ_xYdH9_ABhLrs0_yYPkXL4KHJCSsO4Ugww-429fhPSJ3hEjmwNuM12US/s3264/Snowflake3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTquDxXf5P8IT3JmYquREs25JKL_AvQKldlnRYdH1bQP3cVdNNlPJN3Tx_EnvEMjduBoykUY-2wpGZ0dhH_CzyRmf-4mtgEGrTPqUGtj2VuNwByrFKk3AtS7TzW_MpuLDQ_xYdH9_ABhLrs0_yYPkXL4KHJCSsO4Ugww-429fhPSJ3hEjmwNuM12US/w480-h640/Snowflake3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Snowflake in SeaWorld San Diego in 2015</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;">27 year old</span><b style="color: #333333;"> Snowflake</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"> was born November 28, 1995 in the Buffalo Zoo. She spent most of her life at SeaWorld San Diego with her late German friend Szenja, with several periods for breeding (unsuccessful) in the Pittsburgh Zoo. Since Szenja's death, Snowflake had lived in Pittsburgh with her nephew Koda. Since Koda recently moved to Memphis, Snowflake has been alone in Pittsburgh. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Her parents were He</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">rman II and Becky. Her brothers were Andy (father of the late Anana); Arturo, who had been sent to Argentina and was the object of many petitions to improve his conditions; and Kavek, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">father of Cranbearry of the Alaska Zoo and twins Koda and Nuka.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Snowflake was sister of the late Rizzo, who lived in Cincinnati and Salt Lake City. </span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Buffalo Zoo</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Buffalo Zoo is home to <b>Luna</b> and <b>Sakari</b>.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBf3zpXobZ0H255lmtvnusDDuZz7-A6yKKSuX55Sw-C8xWzWTSm5M4bbQ6DlNjqX43FVFMapNFu4tYTs3kxbM3kBYHkN3RKzTrs9juheRPIccQS9o7hAu_QwyzTcJktyRZy-iRMUC1ai7E4skwk6PhBsDBjPuyGbT5NKApoClYsXgmTQYL4GILMr-/s2109/Sakari%20stick.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1818" data-original-width="2109" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBf3zpXobZ0H255lmtvnusDDuZz7-A6yKKSuX55Sw-C8xWzWTSm5M4bbQ6DlNjqX43FVFMapNFu4tYTs3kxbM3kBYHkN3RKzTrs9juheRPIccQS9o7hAu_QwyzTcJktyRZy-iRMUC1ai7E4skwk6PhBsDBjPuyGbT5NKApoClYsXgmTQYL4GILMr-/w640-h552/Sakari%20stick.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sakari in 2017 in the Buffalo Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">10 year old twins Suka (girl) and Sakari (boy)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> were born November 21, 2012 in the Toledo Zoo to Marty and Crystal. The twins moved to Como Zoo in St. Paul, then to the new habitat at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison Wisconsin. Sakari moved to Buffalo in 2016, and Suka moved to the Detroit Zoo in 2018. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vfOD07eRUnWd3nrt4jpnWW2Ehymc6xYeLyAH8--Q7kuHFxvzQiJp85ea3XD8JLHnyM671aGI8ke4K3Rco2X4tyiDbmVxyEdRYXnHEPOhoW0_sHlwMKQP0bu2pCAS4ty2Wjm37S1LztpoWwTjIR7PGLFX-j51bX06sMLWkQCopRb-wE__xqH6BPTI/s1626/Luna%20loves%20mud.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1626" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vfOD07eRUnWd3nrt4jpnWW2Ehymc6xYeLyAH8--Q7kuHFxvzQiJp85ea3XD8JLHnyM671aGI8ke4K3Rco2X4tyiDbmVxyEdRYXnHEPOhoW0_sHlwMKQP0bu2pCAS4ty2Wjm37S1LztpoWwTjIR7PGLFX-j51bX06sMLWkQCopRb-wE__xqH6BPTI/w640-h638/Luna%20loves%20mud.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Luna in the Buffalo Zoo in 2017<br /></span><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">10 year old </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Luna</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"> was born November 27, 2012 at the Buffalo Zoo, and never left. Her father the late Nanuq had already moved to Columbus, and her mother Anana promptly moved to Brookfield Zoo, while Luna's birth was kept secret. Luna was raised by keepers. She was soon joined by a rescued Alaskan boy cub, Kali, as a playmate. During this time, the old bear pits were torn down, and a beautiful new polar bear habitat was built. Kali moved to St. Louis, and Luna's mother Anana returned, only to leave again for Cincinnati, then later Detroit, where she died of heart failure. Sakari arrive in 2016, in hopes that the pair would produce cubs. So far, no cubs. </span></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Seneca Park Zoo</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Anoki</b>, daughter of the late Aurora and Yukon, was born in the Seneca Park Zoo, and now has returned there, living alone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">26 year old<b> Anoki </b>was born in Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester NY on November 20, 1996, the first of four cubs from Aurora and Yukon. Anoki has never had cubs. She lived for ten years in Rio Grand Zoo (now ABQ Biopark) in Albuquerque 1998-2008 with her mother's brothers, twins Kiska and Koluk. From 2008 to 2018 she lived in Baltimore with Magnet until he died in 2015. When her mother Aurora, still in Rochester, died last year, Anoki moved back to Seneca Park Zoo so they would have a polar bear there. Her siblings are Haley of Memphis, and twins Lee, now in Columbus, and Anana now in North Carolina.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Anoki's mother Aurora was sister of Denali, who lives in Japan and has fathered many cubs there. </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>North Carolina Zoo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Anana</b>, daughter of Aurora and Yukon and twin sister of Lee, lives in the North Carolina Zoo with her new companion <b>Payton</b>, son of the late Arki and Aussie, and brother of Hudson and the late Marty.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">23 year old Anana and her twin brother Lee were born November 27, 1999, in Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester NY to Aurora and Yukon.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Anana had spent most of her life alone in Lincoln Park Zoo, until she moved to Asheboro North Carolina to be with Nikita in 2014. Hopes were high that these bears would have cubs, but no results. Nikita has moved to Salt Lake City, and now Payton arrived in early 2021.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">19 year old</span><b style="color: #333333;"> </b><span style="color: #333333;">Payton</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> was born in Brookfield Zoo November 8, 2003, the son of Aussie and Arki. When he was three years old, he and his companion Haley moved to the Memphis Zoo, until Payton moved to North Carolina two years ago. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOBXzZ-0mUJ5QxiDoGnSpEnLntNDN2XU2xXVcz8W0K9dPL0ibWWLyrPnpZm3gSG0FuhUDZpXA1GdD98ONoV5DyTRngmA1kqOhaB91Af0yPwBZ22f9IMbNwQT98RsLvC_EC9XMckzyIlsDPPt5iFGJnLmVawZFGjjnLHnvvZITJ2SZkv6JY5dKxuHX/s1952/paytonsmile.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1652" data-original-width="1952" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOBXzZ-0mUJ5QxiDoGnSpEnLntNDN2XU2xXVcz8W0K9dPL0ibWWLyrPnpZm3gSG0FuhUDZpXA1GdD98ONoV5DyTRngmA1kqOhaB91Af0yPwBZ22f9IMbNwQT98RsLvC_EC9XMckzyIlsDPPt5iFGJnLmVawZFGjjnLHnvvZITJ2SZkv6JY5dKxuHX/w640-h542/paytonsmile.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Payton in 2012 in the Memphis Zoo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The population seems to be stabilizing at 40, but the great concern is that most of the younger bears are part of the same family. We really need to change whatever federal laws are preventing the importing of zoo polar bears from Europe and Canada, or we will have no polar bears at all in our zoos in the next generation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eAfYWAcSkZzZUrY4ZFNZkTiGkkXRTcU46T9t3Qp5NkQuUXlFEpOfSboR9Xp_x9fB247NkPD2afaeQ-C4spM3-4Q-mQEgqLobrXGpE5UwKFOIsxEtnQGq3BLyEQ1d2ISnRcgr6iKL48bQWz8W_o2QlkGSwNPh8VLg3hWzfPqy8QrXNCL1JyY9lloH/s5184/crystal%20paw.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eAfYWAcSkZzZUrY4ZFNZkTiGkkXRTcU46T9t3Qp5NkQuUXlFEpOfSboR9Xp_x9fB247NkPD2afaeQ-C4spM3-4Q-mQEgqLobrXGpE5UwKFOIsxEtnQGq3BLyEQ1d2ISnRcgr6iKL48bQWz8W_o2QlkGSwNPh8VLg3hWzfPqy8QrXNCL1JyY9lloH/w400-h266/crystal%20paw.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Crystal's paw in September of 2022 in Toledo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><br /></p></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-37170381959447398592023-01-18T14:07:00.000-08:002023-01-18T14:07:57.706-08:00Happy 12th Birthday to Qannik<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Once upon a time there was a little rescued polar bear named Qannik, who lived in the Louisville Zoo.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME7EAXozxoHLKJSCiuji0yxGjekzTGujrfp81RtSxTIDZ9D_FfPV4kdMJfKUb3ec953vtsE7uVs9mBQ9p4PjgRvw95nj0q-y3oL0Ntn-PK3zWyjhIoRMGQ9gQiBLUASJ9Bgnpo2ozGGmr-3bS34K6ed9QYhue4198YJo5gexl0vdYfpuxe9DIGet1/s1488/qanniksmilecute.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME7EAXozxoHLKJSCiuji0yxGjekzTGujrfp81RtSxTIDZ9D_FfPV4kdMJfKUb3ec953vtsE7uVs9mBQ9p4PjgRvw95nj0q-y3oL0Ntn-PK3zWyjhIoRMGQ9gQiBLUASJ9Bgnpo2ozGGmr-3bS34K6ed9QYhue4198YJo5gexl0vdYfpuxe9DIGet1/w540-h640/qanniksmilecute.jpg" width="540" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik shortly after she arrived in Louisville in 2011.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTkDzcq_ahY4AdQSrBoKxQzuzGTXRzMb904ssRFBIGURnvn8PDzOrMakLauOERTi8q8sFoCvldq8N05_V5U6jx72e49T5c7sm4CvN6dMwPAhio1PpyC4z3V8d7bzNj9qUSxCvzke42-rHPyqK-5Ki70Ff5Ie98YcYztDk6J7cxqoYL9eICFHDl7Uy/s1527/qannikcradle3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1527" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTkDzcq_ahY4AdQSrBoKxQzuzGTXRzMb904ssRFBIGURnvn8PDzOrMakLauOERTi8q8sFoCvldq8N05_V5U6jx72e49T5c7sm4CvN6dMwPAhio1PpyC4z3V8d7bzNj9qUSxCvzke42-rHPyqK-5Ki70Ff5Ie98YcYztDk6J7cxqoYL9eICFHDl7Uy/w640-h472/qannikcradle3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Little Qannik back in mid-2011 in Louisville.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Well, that rescued little polar bear cub is now 12 years old, and weighs 550 pounds. She is very firm in her likes and dislikes. Does not want fish, but loves pumpkin. Loves to swim and hide things in her special hidey hole. Would rather sit in a window with her fans than do anything else.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Louisville Zoo held their annual Qannik Birthday Party on Saturday, January 7, with lots of fans and well-wishers there to sing to the birthday girl. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnIVUryKHaAmpTHEIUOgX-g26Hckx6hMzRnb1DcrcxIoqgN0OAEyt9dI_6jGPdXU26ixOjGq0OpT2efd3hsqgUBCrXVLXAmYdGhYBF1pNxj-vIOtR1PHsvKaU_vpzmrOD7U-tFHNeNM5XWQ5Onb3yzxmzWFJeWFV7RsG9e77APgSCjyv7ZcXzuOhJ/s4716/qannik%20keepers%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3324" data-original-width="4716" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnIVUryKHaAmpTHEIUOgX-g26Hckx6hMzRnb1DcrcxIoqgN0OAEyt9dI_6jGPdXU26ixOjGq0OpT2efd3hsqgUBCrXVLXAmYdGhYBF1pNxj-vIOtR1PHsvKaU_vpzmrOD7U-tFHNeNM5XWQ5Onb3yzxmzWFJeWFV7RsG9e77APgSCjyv7ZcXzuOhJ/w640-h452/qannik%20keepers%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Keepers prop up the number 12 with some Christmas trees <br />for Qannik's celebration.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The keepers had prepared some ice bombes with pumpkin chunks and apple slices. They hid more pumpkin chunks in Christmas trees and decorated tissue boxes. They set out a lovely buffet for the birthday girl, and then they opened the door so she could descend the magical ramp and make a grand entrance like the Princess she is.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9s_ZJpqN35xnkQ2rSWQHUF-JD1K_PPMB57W0J8nZUklkMkJjRbTXsavy2eT8hsV6vtsaTjhzdab3CFiHjRwc7_yBi1-pK7BHp2cL58a4gTN1NDcJSiOQnuKSMYCJ-bmTkh68pXT_0uNQ_mPkYiwbsu8Xt3L3f6_oQUDNy9b-2BrA7S4fjH8jxUin/s5184/qannik%20ramp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9s_ZJpqN35xnkQ2rSWQHUF-JD1K_PPMB57W0J8nZUklkMkJjRbTXsavy2eT8hsV6vtsaTjhzdab3CFiHjRwc7_yBi1-pK7BHp2cL58a4gTN1NDcJSiOQnuKSMYCJ-bmTkh68pXT_0uNQ_mPkYiwbsu8Xt3L3f6_oQUDNy9b-2BrA7S4fjH8jxUin/w640-h426/qannik%20ramp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik enters the "Party Zone"</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl3PLpPhqooZ1Rov4H5bEbWB6KOqc0zFMMq27ExprljJfjBwf3Vgwa2TN13Uy9rCJ1J6gu3TIoruWl6e8y2satVvfx9q24Q-GrlMqb-lqroHsaDXeD5chi9wdTh3IQdZCjm7SbjF2OowJPOPgeBWYJ0TkpfskDAd9MxsDO5OOK_2sjDFO0h8xP_o5/s5136/qannik%20birthday%20buffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1986" data-original-width="5136" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl3PLpPhqooZ1Rov4H5bEbWB6KOqc0zFMMq27ExprljJfjBwf3Vgwa2TN13Uy9rCJ1J6gu3TIoruWl6e8y2satVvfx9q24Q-GrlMqb-lqroHsaDXeD5chi9wdTh3IQdZCjm7SbjF2OowJPOPgeBWYJ0TkpfskDAd9MxsDO5OOK_2sjDFO0h8xP_o5/w640-h248/qannik%20birthday%20buffet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Quite the sweet buffet for the birthday girl.</span></b><br /></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HDe2Oe-AMOB2x57ofRluYK0VDueuL-OV-z5S2ogW7IKdEkzE14EVJhbmLufv4Fg4p_HZuBT4mQrSlwqQdoJ-bpud532fIkb84fvhSzlJxoZz2ZBr7nW5_PqjA5G7l_dBZEd9ARreCajTx2CXhIpgsgQbX054YKKOfRV11QJEXhh73LEPfRqvx962/s4980/Qannik%20birthday%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3012" data-original-width="4980" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HDe2Oe-AMOB2x57ofRluYK0VDueuL-OV-z5S2ogW7IKdEkzE14EVJhbmLufv4Fg4p_HZuBT4mQrSlwqQdoJ-bpud532fIkb84fvhSzlJxoZz2ZBr7nW5_PqjA5G7l_dBZEd9ARreCajTx2CXhIpgsgQbX054YKKOfRV11QJEXhh73LEPfRqvx962/w640-h388/Qannik%20birthday%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Checking out the party buffet.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1R72VcWPvuqKZnttuwmlv2exO2g5iZynrfEne_IhzSsJQvrhe4J-z_U37b9Y8ImCFzPdc29HpljN6FG3rzg9Isg3D564B2Mkj6IvXzFThBqFGirSdJHEFFe7d5isdGPtw5hoRMXE0ID1oDrGzykZ9rvuO5WS8g7BfVx0-ZY9QB479XJUDl4NpOVlj/s5184/qannik%20between.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1R72VcWPvuqKZnttuwmlv2exO2g5iZynrfEne_IhzSsJQvrhe4J-z_U37b9Y8ImCFzPdc29HpljN6FG3rzg9Isg3D564B2Mkj6IvXzFThBqFGirSdJHEFFe7d5isdGPtw5hoRMXE0ID1oDrGzykZ9rvuO5WS8g7BfVx0-ZY9QB479XJUDl4NpOVlj/w640-h426/qannik%20between.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik nods to her guests as they sing Happy Birthday to her.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1R72VcWPvuqKZnttuwmlv2exO2g5iZynrfEne_IhzSsJQvrhe4J-z_U37b9Y8ImCFzPdc29HpljN6FG3rzg9Isg3D564B2Mkj6IvXzFThBqFGirSdJHEFFe7d5isdGPtw5hoRMXE0ID1oDrGzykZ9rvuO5WS8g7BfVx0-ZY9QB479XJUDl4NpOVlj/s5184/qannik%20between.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8icvAyiwWO5j4WE8OmPNf_C4C5Wh8oMuAMUXguEpR-FZUD3eArQTEf3KgfF2IRT4GARQaTGdlkFrYfdq71PZx5-zIaURMCCBkEGqt2PyIzFXD5YzwzE__XcuiPy4LvCBpXbGS3hfb4ErmjkvZ0denvnBGJvGRCnA2Mm3tMBPhFxiUW97am3HyQ751/s5184/qannik%20between%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8icvAyiwWO5j4WE8OmPNf_C4C5Wh8oMuAMUXguEpR-FZUD3eArQTEf3KgfF2IRT4GARQaTGdlkFrYfdq71PZx5-zIaURMCCBkEGqt2PyIzFXD5YzwzE__XcuiPy4LvCBpXbGS3hfb4ErmjkvZ0denvnBGJvGRCnA2Mm3tMBPhFxiUW97am3HyQ751/w640-h426/qannik%20between%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">Wow! Twelve years already!<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPmr6MVsGez88ocyc_IYpIBQeZQz9G6Tko2ztSCQpBFXF8svDrKoSKU_HMSi530uc6RN6LkRMh4berJ_goV0PEYvrKiWWANjyCmiBcLEE9jbGrUndmNBSUwIMH7CQZ8XJyFU8vGfmiY8m1x-uhf_C2cx71nQetOgaGAZWqNp1Vo2qaWe9ASuG2spw/s5184/qannik%20ice%20chunks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPmr6MVsGez88ocyc_IYpIBQeZQz9G6Tko2ztSCQpBFXF8svDrKoSKU_HMSi530uc6RN6LkRMh4berJ_goV0PEYvrKiWWANjyCmiBcLEE9jbGrUndmNBSUwIMH7CQZ8XJyFU8vGfmiY8m1x-uhf_C2cx71nQetOgaGAZWqNp1Vo2qaWe9ASuG2spw/w640-h426/qannik%20ice%20chunks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Oh, some nice ice chunks!</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2mhnrDzZ6jp3dNU4zFpHP2UHAehpUHQw2mtN5ultxp7ker6W1KQMD15VeJM-xblRrOV1g6kdKnp4oMC2nJ4OkMaPaQuAzLn7lamd1EHrgAeSB4NCJY-pRoZj59UUb_mVTfmXVvsNNIsTLmHXVnKrS1V3QwoYOCK5jNTBQprM3xdI7H6CZ6ryOlw5/s5184/qannik%2012%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2mhnrDzZ6jp3dNU4zFpHP2UHAehpUHQw2mtN5ultxp7ker6W1KQMD15VeJM-xblRrOV1g6kdKnp4oMC2nJ4OkMaPaQuAzLn7lamd1EHrgAeSB4NCJY-pRoZj59UUb_mVTfmXVvsNNIsTLmHXVnKrS1V3QwoYOCK5jNTBQprM3xdI7H6CZ6ryOlw5/w640-h426/qannik%2012%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Where to start?</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzQWbRVfX6m_omidzTa9YY0Z8LlRPQyn-625A_KtlZyNIKQ0hEfMY0lTRHn9pLRQ9TJwav2gN1fho7HrutgxikHlgAaZlGdXoyBG3nttStaE5Q6AUhhTcRk87XpTppXekRYOClC3SmRh2ZraVQW9lTwHQAR4onMYAPxoh5_QHxa6EuIyMijXDbnjs/s4172/qannik%20stand.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3136" data-original-width="4172" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzQWbRVfX6m_omidzTa9YY0Z8LlRPQyn-625A_KtlZyNIKQ0hEfMY0lTRHn9pLRQ9TJwav2gN1fho7HrutgxikHlgAaZlGdXoyBG3nttStaE5Q6AUhhTcRk87XpTppXekRYOClC3SmRh2ZraVQW9lTwHQAR4onMYAPxoh5_QHxa6EuIyMijXDbnjs/w640-h482/qannik%20stand.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Qannik wonders where the bartender might be.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></b></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityRqFk2DNgph5u4Inebs1cT6Du_RjroJJmIk5jJK6_YkljPQ7uykpDss02yUbHh92lK5WdEmUt2YZW_gh5bRI0xYnET34h3OHgMe8FUojOVVUd96d9X_G1W8XeWIsoCXMNnk7Y5GwpzzkdsfNuh-JyJv6peWWBZygZXKzOhdZXloe2xICO9YJ8EPa/s5184/qannik%20buffet%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityRqFk2DNgph5u4Inebs1cT6Du_RjroJJmIk5jJK6_YkljPQ7uykpDss02yUbHh92lK5WdEmUt2YZW_gh5bRI0xYnET34h3OHgMe8FUojOVVUd96d9X_G1W8XeWIsoCXMNnk7Y5GwpzzkdsfNuh-JyJv6peWWBZygZXKzOhdZXloe2xICO9YJ8EPa/w640-h426/qannik%20buffet%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The birthday girl can just help herself.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4DQsF9ol_XssyPwLZh1wlG2AD8h3O5ttGtx6ycHHYqCTXK1Cqr2_dWajyLZE5n8j8NY80JCeCwEA_IJo2h5QBaNe7VplKmH-1G4YFt0nj2z7Kf7WaG4o9MhaJc9hXU3SS2IAtZo6v4nnn5dfzrlOO2MelvIsIdUz_2HSPxGL39WxncsU5inwIDai/s4440/qannik%20buffet%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3312" data-original-width="4440" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4DQsF9ol_XssyPwLZh1wlG2AD8h3O5ttGtx6ycHHYqCTXK1Cqr2_dWajyLZE5n8j8NY80JCeCwEA_IJo2h5QBaNe7VplKmH-1G4YFt0nj2z7Kf7WaG4o9MhaJc9hXU3SS2IAtZo6v4nnn5dfzrlOO2MelvIsIdUz_2HSPxGL39WxncsU5inwIDai/w640-h478/qannik%20buffet%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Blue or Pink?</span></b><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszAQ6j4RPAvPUzaf392TqX3M4uiSq7adTQgKI3ID4xIUcrUGmqHh3QEqBNTF5NBVwi7dSPZ5MhVt_D7WQhFu9Ee3jXD_GAv9BJjN40X3gXxur80L-GDboUwRpZmhw76HtY3aNHZwgcihbANj8vVrS4941PmM5n05lPJs8hli1vqq5MucxdOgthXrG/s3768/qannik%20lick%20buffet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3246" data-original-width="3768" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszAQ6j4RPAvPUzaf392TqX3M4uiSq7adTQgKI3ID4xIUcrUGmqHh3QEqBNTF5NBVwi7dSPZ5MhVt_D7WQhFu9Ee3jXD_GAv9BJjN40X3gXxur80L-GDboUwRpZmhw76HtY3aNHZwgcihbANj8vVrS4941PmM5n05lPJs8hli1vqq5MucxdOgthXrG/w640-h552/qannik%20lick%20buffet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Apples and Pumpkin chunks, yummy.</span></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zwhmJtssvun1j_b2bCCOSYTEVm4042zGbyZVwHk27gnRBQd2ZJGUbpXotuIbEbkTkJgCIPmCuKcZJqeV2A0kCcw7D7KqROt4G9N3_2usrD3nG2fmdX3YU-FFhdO7P9lnKMliwuhkkY9yM2WDOlveB4KKdjPksiJQPMA8sgkJbSnkKnAaUg1ZcEYz/s3240/qannik%20bite.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="3132" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zwhmJtssvun1j_b2bCCOSYTEVm4042zGbyZVwHk27gnRBQd2ZJGUbpXotuIbEbkTkJgCIPmCuKcZJqeV2A0kCcw7D7KqROt4G9N3_2usrD3nG2fmdX3YU-FFhdO7P9lnKMliwuhkkY9yM2WDOlveB4KKdjPksiJQPMA8sgkJbSnkKnAaUg1ZcEYz/w618-h640/qannik%20bite.jpg" width="618" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crunch!</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><br /></blockquote><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNL16gkf0Q6jwhqS5_AcumdtLDKV1gxD2FTz-22VUvP59xNw7uDOfyi43WvmqmrKudm6KADHZcGr6R3dZ8H1kFBdMQ2zc-Jy4p5-kb8coh0mXKtjJWvcSHeXKH3PqdRJf1i7JZwpUKoqQLgMJp0ajtMFR8DljZRDNH1AFDDLGogWcfD-w0sIbtlWV/s5184/qannik%20stand%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNL16gkf0Q6jwhqS5_AcumdtLDKV1gxD2FTz-22VUvP59xNw7uDOfyi43WvmqmrKudm6KADHZcGr6R3dZ8H1kFBdMQ2zc-Jy4p5-kb8coh0mXKtjJWvcSHeXKH3PqdRJf1i7JZwpUKoqQLgMJp0ajtMFR8DljZRDNH1AFDDLGogWcfD-w0sIbtlWV/w640-h426/qannik%20stand%20up.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Looking for more...</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZEJHW1PXPL4I9CWlYRAW0NaGjrv8HsAaEIRlYKvinBO1ANPvUzUyhj9MnqgZtx-2xGJX0Ssz_SYauhZkU3haOdLwtP1e2ajgf7rMtzLNKHYBOxCfNch2b7CUyOu1NxlTY0CjiE7w-_Y9GzbeX9rnKMDCFTTAwPVaqFIGKiieGl3CvgOjZB2UUxdY/s3672/qannik%20blue%20ice%20bombe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3126" data-original-width="3672" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZEJHW1PXPL4I9CWlYRAW0NaGjrv8HsAaEIRlYKvinBO1ANPvUzUyhj9MnqgZtx-2xGJX0Ssz_SYauhZkU3haOdLwtP1e2ajgf7rMtzLNKHYBOxCfNch2b7CUyOu1NxlTY0CjiE7w-_Y9GzbeX9rnKMDCFTTAwPVaqFIGKiieGl3CvgOjZB2UUxdY/w640-h544/qannik%20blue%20ice%20bombe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Hey, I found another one.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">By now, everyone knows the story of Qannik, the little rescued polar bear. She and her mother and sister were first noticed in the oil fields of the North Slope in January of 2011. Mother was collared and the cubs were given ear tags. The family was followed through the radio collar for a time, until it fell off the mom. In April, Qannik was found alone and starving, weighing just 15 pounds, probably separated from her mom and sister by a storm. No one really knows. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Qannik was taken to the Alaska Zoo, where she was bottle-fed and pampered and recovered nicely from her ordeal. In late June, she was flown to the Louisville Zoo, where she was raised by loving keepers. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And there she has lived in Louisville ever since. She has a deep diving pool where she has a lot of fun, and many toys, always something to do. There is another polar bear, an older male named Lee, and three grizzly bears, but while Qannik sees and smells them in the bedroom area, she is never with them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Qannik still has the hole in her ear from the ear tag. Because she is property of Fish and Wildlife, she cannot be part of the breeding program, which is just fine with her because she likes being alone and the center of attention. She often sits by her window as her adoring fans admire her.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszB-ZqBhN3bJtdMkAkwxooVjtoX5Nbd9Gc_YDIO-vpJ-lBIWRd4cAXDaJUtHZdMq_ndvTfLhfCHIJjxDysjPFuCS8koPIN2EiR4VghkdNc8QGZ0JCXHicmRhjeT7KdN-qvVZ78ZRGWS6AlO3AStZ3lVadi2XIbbiHqbeChXS7OAiCXOuXMKJ5cgwd/s3942/qannik%20profile%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2868" data-original-width="3942" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszB-ZqBhN3bJtdMkAkwxooVjtoX5Nbd9Gc_YDIO-vpJ-lBIWRd4cAXDaJUtHZdMq_ndvTfLhfCHIJjxDysjPFuCS8koPIN2EiR4VghkdNc8QGZ0JCXHicmRhjeT7KdN-qvVZ78ZRGWS6AlO3AStZ3lVadi2XIbbiHqbeChXS7OAiCXOuXMKJ5cgwd/w640-h466/qannik%20profile%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> A</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">n excellent 12th birthday party for Qannik, here resting </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> in the overhead passage of Glacier Run.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday Qannik.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You have grown into a beautiful lady bear.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-42917502197885528852023-01-12T20:28:00.000-08:002023-01-12T20:28:38.483-08:00Farewell to Berlin<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdB5KNnXhUqj2RUE5F4utSpvLT0cCr3_zwphSYscYJKlK6zYwJxfAjDXigVuM2cRnGQoymlnW9LLYeZMoHM0isZlV4Zsp2XLIIikTZM2F4wDDIAMS4bXOyu4WD0_7NanUOJ1Mlc4tckYc0dcX04LwKkEX0dTUPR8W2_ODxz40RMiQRs812skFcj9w/s2592/Berlin%20claws.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdB5KNnXhUqj2RUE5F4utSpvLT0cCr3_zwphSYscYJKlK6zYwJxfAjDXigVuM2cRnGQoymlnW9LLYeZMoHM0isZlV4Zsp2XLIIikTZM2F4wDDIAMS4bXOyu4WD0_7NanUOJ1Mlc4tckYc0dcX04LwKkEX0dTUPR8W2_ODxz40RMiQRs812skFcj9w/w400-h300/Berlin%20claws.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQMKS3jcRFYS78tTINXzqa_VlezTET6RGK9pGaZmp3cyULak8rcSbgyd_YuM_edJiI7Z2zvQYrQ8BatVIu44uMParhWam4JfJjeAKh4CizVkQpmCfEqsD88bA-7ABE0t_bDdqwSzAn3_RTE05sa5mUOXdcs8OsdstLzyKHH-GA0PTQN1WB9zAxFYM/s525/Berlinbone4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="525" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQMKS3jcRFYS78tTINXzqa_VlezTET6RGK9pGaZmp3cyULak8rcSbgyd_YuM_edJiI7Z2zvQYrQ8BatVIu44uMParhWam4JfJjeAKh4CizVkQpmCfEqsD88bA-7ABE0t_bDdqwSzAn3_RTE05sa5mUOXdcs8OsdstLzyKHH-GA0PTQN1WB9zAxFYM/w640-h626/Berlinbone4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Berlin in the Como Zoo, shortly after she was rescued from the <br />Duluth Flood at the Lake Superior Zoo</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZW8BDlmCRpqMGvUnHr9PtRXP1wjUXDISE10EwtS_PJCeQpwm3Jnw6awnak3UHboMQ6Dpwy5BbnaMsLUN7k32Zgz_aCjIqS6vRD5fOw-6gNb9duserSMVDd9_dRiBcnDrZEao3A4p8HN0S43zNos4QpMAVliBpmoaeP5gOGjUv7jkH4WsdbzBdIdd/s632/Berlindirty2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="632" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZW8BDlmCRpqMGvUnHr9PtRXP1wjUXDISE10EwtS_PJCeQpwm3Jnw6awnak3UHboMQ6Dpwy5BbnaMsLUN7k32Zgz_aCjIqS6vRD5fOw-6gNb9duserSMVDd9_dRiBcnDrZEao3A4p8HN0S43zNos4QpMAVliBpmoaeP5gOGjUv7jkH4WsdbzBdIdd/w640-h496/Berlindirty2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Berlin in snow, winter of 2012-13 in Como Zoo.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">She was a lovely bear, who could have told some incredible stories about her adventures if she could speak.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Berlin has left us, at the age of 33. She spent her last years at the Kansas City Zoo, where she was a well loved resident, known for her cheerful, fun-loving spirit.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8Pt4MU1A8NqOS5eUr7TiTiLZYlrkv-zEviBzbBYxXm3nd2n5Z9c3_1wgr-Mj_8WBWB_lkJgbxPN7d7Xlyn4heh9V5a9zePhj5V-FIwXVe499zz4ox-B9jt4OVYtPlL0UqFfLtGg2DcK9UQwZsCJwmJGbpggL8DG8hv_0oVcparmtSUxLXl-UgqIx/s1740/Berlin%20green%20ball.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1740" data-original-width="1611" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8Pt4MU1A8NqOS5eUr7TiTiLZYlrkv-zEviBzbBYxXm3nd2n5Z9c3_1wgr-Mj_8WBWB_lkJgbxPN7d7Xlyn4heh9V5a9zePhj5V-FIwXVe499zz4ox-B9jt4OVYtPlL0UqFfLtGg2DcK9UQwZsCJwmJGbpggL8DG8hv_0oVcparmtSUxLXl-UgqIx/w592-h640/Berlin%20green%20ball.jpg" width="592" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Berlin loved to play with balls</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Along the way she lived with a longterm boyfriend, got to spend quality time with some relatives in Minnesota, and was companion to three different bears in the Kansas City Zoo. She even took up the hobby of gardening while in KC.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a facebook post today, the Lake Superior Zoo posted about the loss of Berlin:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <i>Director of Animal Management at the Lake Superior Zoo, Lizzy Larson said, “I was one of Berlin's </i></span><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">caretakers for 3 years and the thing that I will remember most about Berlin was how incredibly smart she was. Everything Berlin did, had a purpose. She could solve every puzzle we gave her and I never found a toy she didn't like! </span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will fondly remember how enthusiastically she would jump into her pool to play. She has had the best care at all the facilities she's had the chance to live at and I know that she has touched countless hearts in her 33 years of life. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">We will all be mourning her loss." </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Lake Superior Zoo, Berlin liked to toss a ball back and forth with visitors. She is fondly remembered by many for her fun-loving ways. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Berlin and her twin brother Yukon were born December 11, 1989 in the Cincinnati Zoo. Berlin was named for current events in Germany, the fall of the Berlin Wall. The twins' parents were Connie (Amy), who was granddaughter of Olaf and Olga of the Omaha Zoo, and Icee, who was born in Louisville. Berlin and Yukon were the only cubs ever born and raised at the Cincinnati Zoo. Connie and Icee had no other cubs.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yukon moved to Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester YN, and died in 2008, but did father four cubs with Aurora there: Anana now in North Carolina, Haley now in Memphis, Lee now in Louisville (and the father of Kulu), and Anoki now in her birthplace of Rochester again. Berlin never did have any cubs, but spent much of her earlier life with Bubba, who was Aurora's brother.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>When she was just a year old, Berlin moved north from Cincinnati to the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth Minnesota. She was soon joined by a male of the same age named Bubba, who was a charismatic, playful and entertaining bear. </span><br /><span><br /></span><span>Bubba and his twin sister Aurora were born in the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City in November of 1989, and their parents were mother Chinook and father Cheechacko. </span><span>When Bubba died of liver failure at the young age of 17 in August of 2007, the Lake Superior Zoo even had a "celebration of life" for this beloved icon. Berlin became even more active and playful without Bubba there.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Life was just about perfect for Berlin in Duluth, until the Great Flood of June 21, 2012. When nine inches of rain fell in Duluth in just a few hours, some low areas of the zoo, which was built along a river, were deluged. Two harbor seals, Feisty and Vivian, escaped into the city streets. A dozen animals drowned. Berlin's enclosure was flooded and broken. At 5 a.m., she was found sitting on a rock near her home, waiting to be rescued. She was darted and safely moved to a secure location, but her enclosure was destroyed. Berlin was homeless.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">A few hours drive to the South, Berlin's uncles Neil and Buzz had some extra room in their newly rebuilt home at the Como Zoo in St. Paul, so Berlin was invited to move in. After a month's required quarantine, Berlin was introduced to Neil and Buzz, a couple of laid back twin brothers, somewhat younger than Berlin. Berlin's father Icee was older brother to Neil and Buzz.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeNM7qT3siiNMgrXWRvLCzKQaxvlRv8iKw06uT_RBFBpb1F_GQeNNvtko9ElwU9YiueEL5r8u_oQXDlQYspKAndpu991-IO5G94AD2wtCfTQn3o26cnRL7GaIyj-knDfJu6NEXhWP2bY4Op3FmyEZg1kGy6UguEllaEXfClXtqtRBn1id26at9xoW/s1228/BuzzBerlin2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1228" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeNM7qT3siiNMgrXWRvLCzKQaxvlRv8iKw06uT_RBFBpb1F_GQeNNvtko9ElwU9YiueEL5r8u_oQXDlQYspKAndpu991-IO5G94AD2wtCfTQn3o26cnRL7GaIyj-knDfJu6NEXhWP2bY4Op3FmyEZg1kGy6UguEllaEXfClXtqtRBn1id26at9xoW/w640-h582/BuzzBerlin2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: large;"> Berlin and her Uncle Buzz</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">The reunited family got along just great. Neil and Buzz allowed their niece Berlin to be the boss. Berlin again thought that she was in the perfect place. She had wonderful big pools in which to swim, piles of snow, lots of toys, and two other bears who let her be in charge. My daughter Corinna visited the bears and took some of the photos featured here. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyDKP0ACeaBcSx2NrL3KmdxH6nRtGklFjEE1G_9X5ac-H6vXIv1hWdpVa_9bna034-3k6hPF2Q_yzcqDB5i1y_JavCH14iPbxGJdvvCwK8U5ywImtvEtrNsimezwAzyqYvZlqx_tpyIZGhSdM5_DABrcQpBf4_bZrMjQ1v6AqRkahg1TfaQY2HMgU/s1500/Berlinindoors2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1500" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyDKP0ACeaBcSx2NrL3KmdxH6nRtGklFjEE1G_9X5ac-H6vXIv1hWdpVa_9bna034-3k6hPF2Q_yzcqDB5i1y_JavCH14iPbxGJdvvCwK8U5ywImtvEtrNsimezwAzyqYvZlqx_tpyIZGhSdM5_DABrcQpBf4_bZrMjQ1v6AqRkahg1TfaQY2HMgU/w640-h408/Berlinindoors2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Berlin, right, with one of her uncles peeking out</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Six months after the flood, Berlin was sent to Kansas City to be companion to an active, playful young male named Nikita, who was only 6 years old but had lived in Kansas City for a couple of years already, so it was his territory. He was the boss. Nikita was the star of the Kansas City Zoo. Nikita wanted Berlin to play with him, but she would have none of it. Nikita, the son of Nan and Marty, was big and bold and young and full of energy and clearly dominant. Berlin mostly avoided him.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7mt4eY2WKqM5oSSP_XC_vMUfc7uW3as2wWKt-XgAO5Ix5hBop40fU-eLQO0Td8g78KCWvxHgqH6oNWlS-vVtevZN6OIRl9mOp7yt1971OZ0X1EtJSKcgKmd9R-dFL6mNfwzuECz4tCjFCt4wlBauBg5TATWpAeCXzGh-UEw5mVn9AwajwIBiKg1Q/s2088/Berlin%20open%20mouth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="2088" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7mt4eY2WKqM5oSSP_XC_vMUfc7uW3as2wWKt-XgAO5Ix5hBop40fU-eLQO0Td8g78KCWvxHgqH6oNWlS-vVtevZN6OIRl9mOp7yt1971OZ0X1EtJSKcgKmd9R-dFL6mNfwzuECz4tCjFCt4wlBauBg5TATWpAeCXzGh-UEw5mVn9AwajwIBiKg1Q/w640-h528/Berlin%20open%20mouth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Berlin</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">For the next three years, the bears lived together, but Berlin would keep to the side, and let Nikita be the star, always with a wary eye watching out for him. I used to watch them on the bears' webcam, and noticed that we didn't see the two bears together. Then in January of 2016, the popular Nikita was moved out in the dark of night. He went to Asheboro, North Carolina to be with a young girl bear, Berlin's niece Anana (daughter of brother Yukon). Nikita's fans in Kansas City were crushed. They complained that now only the boring old lady bear was left, and she was no fun. (Nikita is now in Salt Lake City).</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w3_gW_qV71qOHb7sIrW1W592NCvPyBuPc59kU_mWGL6BmpAtTHuit7aQFbwXe4ETaKJ69ZFSIHDAwAk58XqpZ6c-lJfOtG-GV6E_H4wWC5gkpnFMJjDRqbbTbZJFwz7s9e4zYF4btXsbs5r6517nxpWhc6u3dYUMcDrEdejxx-_qGJ0AKmr2meQD/s2265/Berlin%20stroll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1827" data-original-width="2265" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w3_gW_qV71qOHb7sIrW1W592NCvPyBuPc59kU_mWGL6BmpAtTHuit7aQFbwXe4ETaKJ69ZFSIHDAwAk58XqpZ6c-lJfOtG-GV6E_H4wWC5gkpnFMJjDRqbbTbZJFwz7s9e4zYF4btXsbs5r6517nxpWhc6u3dYUMcDrEdejxx-_qGJ0AKmr2meQD/w640-h516/Berlin%20stroll.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Berlin on patrol</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">For the next few weeks after Nikita's departure, Berlin keep looking around, thinking that her arch-nemesis might not really be gone. If she came across a toy that he had played with and still smelled like Nikita, she wanted nothing to do with it. Gradually, she realized that she was gloriously alone again, and she became more active, more playful, even at her advanced age of 27.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNIlzMyAHdVcbCjK2eoKE_XXOZ-8XT6uirx4PQ2pXFEGx_dtoC3XtZbdcCKFewIaIf8-fm8AOY2SaRVOmfdeyR0qQ49matKqIUGgYnC7fP-Jf3lF1q1kbx2ETZfOqIBo2CSvgVHN5966DDEPAF08fwtuyx9ivtNiUHpbrmtyqMvU5jA-D9-Yfzzvv/s2088/Berlin%20pear%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="2088" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNIlzMyAHdVcbCjK2eoKE_XXOZ-8XT6uirx4PQ2pXFEGx_dtoC3XtZbdcCKFewIaIf8-fm8AOY2SaRVOmfdeyR0qQ49matKqIUGgYnC7fP-Jf3lF1q1kbx2ETZfOqIBo2CSvgVHN5966DDEPAF08fwtuyx9ivtNiUHpbrmtyqMvU5jA-D9-Yfzzvv/w640-h466/Berlin%20pear%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Berlin diving for a pear in KC</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was after Nikita left that Berlin took up gardening. She was given a melon to eat, and carefully planted a seed, which grew into a fine plant and produced a melon, which Berlin let grown until it reached the perfect state of ripeness, then she picked and ate her harvest.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ayJwZyQ4oj4YoMDMpi8TUNLNqVgu4XqOsGYmIT4GPRuqJOWIo3mzSEboWgXKL2kBALnur3WZe5sXAZM5zgugD1AnNSI39BS0gwdPAuuSi7q7DJyFNDw7izkUgs7yNbSheNakjJv3luMAPgwOvoAIchtUj3Evl4Ok5a1s8Ve0jDHx-g146Q0xNUZG/s2151/Berlin%20grass%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2151" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ayJwZyQ4oj4YoMDMpi8TUNLNqVgu4XqOsGYmIT4GPRuqJOWIo3mzSEboWgXKL2kBALnur3WZe5sXAZM5zgugD1AnNSI39BS0gwdPAuuSi7q7DJyFNDw7izkUgs7yNbSheNakjJv3luMAPgwOvoAIchtUj3Evl4Ok5a1s8Ve0jDHx-g146Q0xNUZG/w640-h458/Berlin%20grass%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Berlin the gardener</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">I visited her in 2017, and marveled at how active she was, even at her age. She was quite the swimmer too, retrieving various fruits and vegetables that the keepers threw into the pool. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjC7UFzhkvTZGBXTu1NzHjlGflzOj-O_-0jzlr49PksmJ1YDxhy73RxBHXCNXXZIItdKNNb4p0AYXLL4MSyzxCd_yoxlABmMGluYLE27aD2QZwYwv-2OTZ1yY6_fJwg0vnVGHzPxmQm9TmIqBaqHMitVPi7OTr29CCe48wu0lLbxBo5IbzvlE5RSq/s2592/berlin%20water.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjC7UFzhkvTZGBXTu1NzHjlGflzOj-O_-0jzlr49PksmJ1YDxhy73RxBHXCNXXZIItdKNNb4p0AYXLL4MSyzxCd_yoxlABmMGluYLE27aD2QZwYwv-2OTZ1yY6_fJwg0vnVGHzPxmQm9TmIqBaqHMitVPi7OTr29CCe48wu0lLbxBo5IbzvlE5RSq/w480-h640/berlin%20water.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Berlin waits for the keeper </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> to throw some more goodies into the pool. </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XDObx-m3f4aHPu_8xsBegi33SwA0BO_TVGLH9rhkQOolo7xK48tl0lan8f_IqZ4wRl7O4f6bX7Xd0ldHCWCzoOC6yNBsz-nc7bdU786zwNoAGekS5vdIWu5OAt20Erd5N5Q1n_oYcA1jXLxbqr_lGqLAmMsVXeV9u0x2vzSL4vZ8lOEDQGY2Z3t3/s2214/Berlin%20pear%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="2214" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XDObx-m3f4aHPu_8xsBegi33SwA0BO_TVGLH9rhkQOolo7xK48tl0lan8f_IqZ4wRl7O4f6bX7Xd0ldHCWCzoOC6yNBsz-nc7bdU786zwNoAGekS5vdIWu5OAt20Erd5N5Q1n_oYcA1jXLxbqr_lGqLAmMsVXeV9u0x2vzSL4vZ8lOEDQGY2Z3t3/w640-h490/Berlin%20pear%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Berlin diving for snacks</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">In 2018, another senior lady bear of about the same age, Fanny (better known as Bam Bam), moved in from the Henry Doorly Zoo in nearby Omaha. The old ladies' club lasted about a year, and then Berlin's new friend Bam Bam passed away.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">In late 2020, four year old Nuniq, born in Columbus Ohio, moved in, and Berlin could play grandmother to the youngster.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Now with the loss of Berlin, Nuniq is alone in that roomy grassy habitat. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span>Berlin was well loved by her keepers, and as a playful bear, she had many fans who visited her. </span></span></span>Berlin, at age 33, was the second oldest polar bear in human care in the world, the oldest being the famous dwarf bear Antonia in Gelsenkirchen Germany, just two weeks older.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Berlin was a special bear, and will be greatly missed.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0obuojp603hgx3GDlJYex_Q1wnyh9PUzVyg4ZqixqKxhDltwIVyVErNLl3XZm3i4V5ObxWdDB0QoCmynwuJIWJjS5YunfXNGgQ1mCTt_Djcaw5qywgksC50B0WG6aCm--YFUWoISaiawZ3tJYxpUXNHR9lgBMG1eFYv2Q-mXmBW8fiDjElhhjeyw/s2592/Berlin%20walk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0obuojp603hgx3GDlJYex_Q1wnyh9PUzVyg4ZqixqKxhDltwIVyVErNLl3XZm3i4V5ObxWdDB0QoCmynwuJIWJjS5YunfXNGgQ1mCTt_Djcaw5qywgksC50B0WG6aCm--YFUWoISaiawZ3tJYxpUXNHR9lgBMG1eFYv2Q-mXmBW8fiDjElhhjeyw/w640-h480/Berlin%20walk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to my daughter Corinna Troth for the photos of Berlin at the Como Zoo. </span></b></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-17660805288242871372022-12-31T14:18:00.001-08:002022-12-31T14:18:13.521-08:00Toledo Twins!<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH2-trrLfWuMBSBoVliw3XF4lRWsWM02KpBdfYe9M-bAn1lCp9PclkiHEqJ_v7pKxyHf3DPD837K_hpaVcsnOGUzshbJ7VtlMWKid6FmHjRGibFuoAOBtVV2vzw0jcfMJotBPTqfcKRHKbs0gWaxhE_T5biRXZrEQyU3_M6GEmge1sKeCU-FsThoQ/s3066/crystal%20twins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2611" data-original-width="3066" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH2-trrLfWuMBSBoVliw3XF4lRWsWM02KpBdfYe9M-bAn1lCp9PclkiHEqJ_v7pKxyHf3DPD837K_hpaVcsnOGUzshbJ7VtlMWKid6FmHjRGibFuoAOBtVV2vzw0jcfMJotBPTqfcKRHKbs0gWaxhE_T5biRXZrEQyU3_M6GEmge1sKeCU-FsThoQ/w400-h341/crystal%20twins.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal and her twins December 9 - dencam photo</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Although the polar bear birthing season is not quite over, and rarely is one born in January, as far as I can see, the only cubs born and surviving in a zoo this year are Crystal and Nuka's twins in Toledo. This includes the zoos in Europe, Russia, Japan and the USA, although we get very little news from China.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There were twins born in Japan, but they only lived three days. Triplets born in Estonia did not stay, sadly. These are the only publicly announced births, besides Crystal, but sometimes zoos wait awhile before announcing, so it is possible there are cubs somewhere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The European zoos have seen a good birthrate for their polar bears in recent years, and are now being careful not to overbreed, and thus have intentionally moved many polar bears to all-boy or all-girl groupings. With the closing of Orsa Bear Park in Sweden in October, homes are still needed for Ewa and her two year old daughter Miki, and Hope and her one year old twins.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Russia seems to be concentrating on using their valuable zoo space for orphaned or injured polar bears, and have announced no births this year. In the past, they have sent polar bear cubs to China, but this is thought to not be a good option. Very little is ever heard about these bears, once they go to China.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Canada also seems to be concentrating on their rescued orphan bears, and saw no births this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Japan saw two births two years ago, and another a year ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Zoos in the US would love to see more polar bear births, but the population is shrinking and becoming more closely related. There were no cubs born in a US zoo last year, and only the Detroit cubs the year before. The Alaska Zoo has just announced that they are taking care of a rescued yearling orphan male bear.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal is an experienced mother, having already given us twins Aurora and Anana, Siku, twins Suka and Sakari, Hope, and Bo. Her daughters Aurora, the late Anana and also Suka have all produced cubs.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU_gWSVv7dQLhZVIRgfcx-ZpPR4U-EaWSumQ3KLe-5LRr1lw8YLMCIrKV7S2rdoG1-bhgVvY2Prq7iSz14Ni81OkV7CeUfP1PHqyDYc4cmuvlVLDY8uZcAMNRNX6RxQxcXjJ8UATs-aJvCoaQyvYFYiQLJ5J-M8co16xyM6Siy672F5uc-ggXS-a3/s3264/Crystal%20nursing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU_gWSVv7dQLhZVIRgfcx-ZpPR4U-EaWSumQ3KLe-5LRr1lw8YLMCIrKV7S2rdoG1-bhgVvY2Prq7iSz14Ni81OkV7CeUfP1PHqyDYc4cmuvlVLDY8uZcAMNRNX6RxQxcXjJ8UATs-aJvCoaQyvYFYiQLJ5J-M8co16xyM6Siy672F5uc-ggXS-a3/w640-h480/Crystal%20nursing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal nursing Sakari and Suka in 2013</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Nuka is the father of the two year old girls in Detroit, Astra and Laerke.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36S16Jn-697n_ZImlmNX7xpqGixhWjer5cZgNs_3JXe9ihZ2rA35NbUI75wmtm2xpzh0438buw7UnpsWysQtzVBvWMVhqPjDGsfiVpTWF_DvOSnmxjV9qGG7S2n1EcSS2l3Htt_hHJZz89npxOY2se4g0ly3lPM903gg_Yd8s7KfyK_WD7wgxr0qz/s3532/Nuka%20and%20family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3284" data-original-width="3532" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36S16Jn-697n_ZImlmNX7xpqGixhWjer5cZgNs_3JXe9ihZ2rA35NbUI75wmtm2xpzh0438buw7UnpsWysQtzVBvWMVhqPjDGsfiVpTWF_DvOSnmxjV9qGG7S2n1EcSS2l3Htt_hHJZz89npxOY2se4g0ly3lPM903gg_Yd8s7KfyK_WD7wgxr0qz/w640-h596/Nuka%20and%20family.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nuka with Mother Suka and her daughter Astra in Detroit</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00wtNCLABF770C2x0P1OPw2yRmFKchs11h70hp_tk57n3sG6J2a-QA04q3X1rXVYcfcFtqE-1N4W_7vjEqepWT9YrVC6ObrxvJbjNh38bqGdPBsVpsdkjKh1VDMYs1wbnbK-Ju_eCS_izS_Npllmc9LKh57s_xFg6scCfRBdle2cPdpZ9wkgAEZey/s5184/laerke%20sheild%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00wtNCLABF770C2x0P1OPw2yRmFKchs11h70hp_tk57n3sG6J2a-QA04q3X1rXVYcfcFtqE-1N4W_7vjEqepWT9YrVC6ObrxvJbjNh38bqGdPBsVpsdkjKh1VDMYs1wbnbK-Ju_eCS_izS_Npllmc9LKh57s_xFg6scCfRBdle2cPdpZ9wkgAEZey/w640-h426/laerke%20sheild%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The small but mighty Laerke, only 290 pounds.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Polar bear cubs have a high rate of mortality, estimated at 50 percent in the wild and in zoos, for they are quite immature and fragile at birth. I found this chart at Gelsenkirchen ZOOM in Germany, which shows zoo births for polar bear cubs worldwide 2001 through 2016.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoQIf1sHPaJid8bN3WLLJhGeV_rEpRKMyG2YAjPBomafog76OwJHr3EcHaYtNKTuk9iwnq7v36rjah2uV26MDUiS_MuMUYqFyJchqB96XECRALzRYqZHPmRl8V8u5XzXQZ_CIJm_C8v7XS6A5zfiZKYjJx5vYWfnbp_jIBrVAWeIqYgxMCqZ34wRh/s3570/polar%20bear%20cub%20chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3570" data-original-width="3408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoQIf1sHPaJid8bN3WLLJhGeV_rEpRKMyG2YAjPBomafog76OwJHr3EcHaYtNKTuk9iwnq7v36rjah2uV26MDUiS_MuMUYqFyJchqB96XECRALzRYqZHPmRl8V8u5XzXQZ_CIJm_C8v7XS6A5zfiZKYjJx5vYWfnbp_jIBrVAWeIqYgxMCqZ34wRh/w610-h640/polar%20bear%20cub%20chart.jpg" width="610" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> These Toledo twins have made it through the riskiest time, the first two weeks, and have settled into a routine of eating and sleeping and sometimes crawling around.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVrX6w_41nBcKld9UmSKBH0nuFXzGrMENslSbwl8fiuce3HVHiWZczzhmwJG_UijhKLxcT-CGzEJyF6BCF_7JiYuG_OXU-BFlzt_O5kLhTzQHyBGjHRnTou0gZe9ip-mM3O0jQeTnNx-jiG-NtYbtFfTBN7a7xnEgLwbMnnmNrDDKEuiQfHc5QmGn/s2574/dec%2011%20cubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2574" data-original-width="2418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVrX6w_41nBcKld9UmSKBH0nuFXzGrMENslSbwl8fiuce3HVHiWZczzhmwJG_UijhKLxcT-CGzEJyF6BCF_7JiYuG_OXU-BFlzt_O5kLhTzQHyBGjHRnTou0gZe9ip-mM3O0jQeTnNx-jiG-NtYbtFfTBN7a7xnEgLwbMnnmNrDDKEuiQfHc5QmGn/w602-h640/dec%2011%20cubs.jpg" width="602" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A dencam photo on Dec 11<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I estimate that Crystal's twins were born around the middle of November. They will not be on public display until spring, but meanwhile, everyone is invited to watch the twins grow via webcam: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBLzb1MCJRs">Toledo cub dencam</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Twins are quite common in polar bear births, but triplets are rare, occurring maybe once a decade in a zoo. Although polar bear twins are usually about the same size, Crystal's cubs are not. The big chubby one seems to be about three times the size of the small one, but both are active and seem to be doing well. Her last set of twins, Sakari the male and Suka the female, differed in size although not to the same degree as these twins.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7DpuChVeMNaXzNeg_V2xqBZ5swsCZ_Fd3DhmFE6HFhZzeXrgDVWzztoy64wEHKq827DBt2lUn48ces0-wm07Lnbs8JB-Mz6ipR-OX4w5ZWF2n7nnSNgaRSL0SETNVNws9BnmeY22Fw-VrhoFlwKdcTgIbY-ddWrfWlYhIxnIDZqz38PsyZr9et57/s2100/Suka%20Sakari%20water%20battle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="2100" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7DpuChVeMNaXzNeg_V2xqBZ5swsCZ_Fd3DhmFE6HFhZzeXrgDVWzztoy64wEHKq827DBt2lUn48ces0-wm07Lnbs8JB-Mz6ipR-OX4w5ZWF2n7nnSNgaRSL0SETNVNws9BnmeY22Fw-VrhoFlwKdcTgIbY-ddWrfWlYhIxnIDZqz38PsyZr9et57/w640-h476/Suka%20Sakari%20water%20battle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Suka and Sakari.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>The sad story of Swimmer</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There was one other pair of polar bear cubs that were very different in size. Walker and Swimmer were born in December 2008 in Ouwehands Zoo in the Netherlands to Huggies and Victor. A dencam had been set up to film their birth and early days for Sir David Attenborough's Frozen Planet series, for it would be folly to try to film a wild mother bear. Huggies' rescue as an orphan cub had been sponsored by Kimberly Clark, thus her name, and Walker and Swimmer were named after types of their diapers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Ouwehands twins emerged from the den in mid-March 2009, and won the hearts of all. Less than a week later, Swimmer was dead. His mother had been teaching him to swim, and a later autopsy showed that a blood vessel in his chest had burst from the exertion, and he drowned. It is not known if this condition was related to his small size. Huggies and Walker mourned for lost little Swimmer for a long time, as the public watched. It was a very sad scene. Walker went on to become a fine healthy polar bear and now lives in Highland Wildlife Park. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This link goes to a newspaper's series of photos from the first day the twins emerged and happily played: <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthpicturegalleries/5006671/Polar-bear-twins-cubs-born-at-the-Ouwehands-animal-park-in-Rhenen-the-Netherlands.html">Walker and Swimmer pics</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I will never forget little Swimmer. He was here for such a short time, but touched so many.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Nuka's daughters</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Nuka's daughters in Detroit, Astra and Laerke, also differ greatly in weight. When they were about a year old, Astra weighed 200 pounds, and Laerke weighed half that. But Laerke had been very fragile at birth and had to be handraised in order to survive. It is possible that medication she needed as a baby might have held back her growth. In any case, she is doing well, although will never be much bigger than she is now at about 300 pounds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This also brings to mind another small but mighty bear, the formidable Miss Antonia of Gelsenkirchen Zoom. She was thought to be small but normal at birth, in Karlsruhe, but failed to grow like the other bears. She is a dwarf bear, weighing only about 300 pounds, but she is a feisty little thing, and is now, at age 32, is the oldest polar bear in the world (in a zoo, but wild bears don't live nearly as long as zoo bears so it is assumed she is the oldest).</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAJW_oNkBWgPHBUpN5-9LfpJCxoHMfFxjKeeGwZJCw4LqAcm-z6plOUt-psIn49vZYiPd7MvGWq9wnkJbyztSbJ3FJztacPVmOjwzlyQqVy1rrGWhbCmUwTmi92y8RLwoZ2YVutZsixjPoV5t30w4vjm46Gi6sCx4oHVkpaWgPfMtXhqZ32sFTSqG/s1188/Antoniastand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1188" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAJW_oNkBWgPHBUpN5-9LfpJCxoHMfFxjKeeGwZJCw4LqAcm-z6plOUt-psIn49vZYiPd7MvGWq9wnkJbyztSbJ3FJztacPVmOjwzlyQqVy1rrGWhbCmUwTmi92y8RLwoZ2YVutZsixjPoV5t30w4vjm46Gi6sCx4oHVkpaWgPfMtXhqZ32sFTSqG/w640-h608/Antoniastand.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Antonia of Gelsenkirchen ZOOM, at 300 pounds, <br />the oldest polar bear in the world</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We all hope that both of Crystal's cubs grow up strong and healthy. When they come out to greet their public, I will visit as often as I can and watch these unusual twins grow and thrive. I am lucky that I live so near the only zoo with polar bear cubs in the world this year.</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2Df0ouksu0dsZQJaMKNvTYzH3m-ukUGU2C7TvPV5khCHI0mQsNYZuyj_nAGptqWAXhjytz6uQU3FcvgOmBtt_be_v1i4wxUV5t--4gGuQbFjkxQ7sKJoShkPZoJR0xINrjFrrtXSX-5b-bPAOtcSHj3cNjO1yksAJUKYoUtnspDHnSbVNMjCKSzQ/s4160/crystal%20tongue%20carrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3310" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2Df0ouksu0dsZQJaMKNvTYzH3m-ukUGU2C7TvPV5khCHI0mQsNYZuyj_nAGptqWAXhjytz6uQU3FcvgOmBtt_be_v1i4wxUV5t--4gGuQbFjkxQ7sKJoShkPZoJR0xINrjFrrtXSX-5b-bPAOtcSHj3cNjO1yksAJUKYoUtnspDHnSbVNMjCKSzQ/w510-h640/crystal%20tongue%20carrots.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal in September, just before denning up. <br />She was eating her vegetables.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdM5ZA0JA47N-NCLbDRFRojhTIrUMj9I6XeN7R-Q1TfqvPld-eWtJS1vQ-nCiaZrpKzmWnffh1_7T3J3sWnjvgqifbva8-jnxvRTxJp0Odlg2cSdlGbBdE2gTmt_kHKGeNrTfG29rc6L8klVu1j6cVnalB3WvhVMTR0_lWNABKfKwP2oyvAoGdvCp/s5184/crystal%20look%20at%20me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdM5ZA0JA47N-NCLbDRFRojhTIrUMj9I6XeN7R-Q1TfqvPld-eWtJS1vQ-nCiaZrpKzmWnffh1_7T3J3sWnjvgqifbva8-jnxvRTxJp0Odlg2cSdlGbBdE2gTmt_kHKGeNrTfG29rc6L8klVu1j6cVnalB3WvhVMTR0_lWNABKfKwP2oyvAoGdvCp/w426-h640/crystal%20look%20at%20me.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yes, Crystal, you must eat those vegetables.<br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-50341596575827324102022-11-04T12:35:00.000-07:002022-11-04T12:35:24.306-07:00Astra and Laerke - twins separated at birth<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcdp0wwrQiVzEzo-TBXPJtnKetCpIdNYTzby_uLZAHWCdImYpWhfa0YjyiHV5s85AOK5fKLNPsQf4gsxOZXFUgX7nT2wsSag6WxXDSbs2dI4riZ60cDSAbvh2TugzCF3wN6XqkcdR3jx_wjRwqHr3Cm5UqQ-jEcGYSnrAWmxisLGzkUW8RKCcOylS/s2280/laerke%20disk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="1690" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcdp0wwrQiVzEzo-TBXPJtnKetCpIdNYTzby_uLZAHWCdImYpWhfa0YjyiHV5s85AOK5fKLNPsQf4gsxOZXFUgX7nT2wsSag6WxXDSbs2dI4riZ60cDSAbvh2TugzCF3wN6XqkcdR3jx_wjRwqHr3Cm5UqQ-jEcGYSnrAWmxisLGzkUW8RKCcOylS/w474-h640/laerke%20disk.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke, the hand raised cub at the Detroit Zoo.<br />Her twin sister Astra was raised by their mother.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42LQ7loViDGO2PRUOR4VvH5KdJxASs_-blpy-zsrKog5Ap5D00ffl5BpMv8bN2VNnYXDky81Dybg0OdnaJP8v1-MEQF5YyWyXMA12sM2Rs0q2tOrwVtKVxCL5L1y1r148Z04DYNFm7JvSlGidInxnn5NBq8D8dLA49wMKANX3WGLSt3Q2ttdIfwcX/s3766/astra%20bone%20disk%20turn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3766" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42LQ7loViDGO2PRUOR4VvH5KdJxASs_-blpy-zsrKog5Ap5D00ffl5BpMv8bN2VNnYXDky81Dybg0OdnaJP8v1-MEQF5YyWyXMA12sM2Rs0q2tOrwVtKVxCL5L1y1r148Z04DYNFm7JvSlGidInxnn5NBq8D8dLA49wMKANX3WGLSt3Q2ttdIfwcX/w640-h514/astra%20bone%20disk%20turn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Astra plays with part of a spool and a bone joint in the Icepack region.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelUVDAe_wVvXrjbvRK4as98HpyWU2WvOn6tks3RY8yb_EUT0KQ4XfKtXovHWs4fQyeJuH4YcNcU33R6uXgyvUvbHgCxScolIsWRSJC7mnTSGD2mS7tzNCj1z1mXuIb1hprizvEMk_4dkAQCQcYK_R5gfwnc8_mJnXTffWMNC3AakbHp29wGw_Cwe1/s3507/Laerke%20presents%20circle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2583" data-original-width="3507" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelUVDAe_wVvXrjbvRK4as98HpyWU2WvOn6tks3RY8yb_EUT0KQ4XfKtXovHWs4fQyeJuH4YcNcU33R6uXgyvUvbHgCxScolIsWRSJC7mnTSGD2mS7tzNCj1z1mXuIb1hprizvEMk_4dkAQCQcYK_R5gfwnc8_mJnXTffWMNC3AakbHp29wGw_Cwe1/w640-h472/Laerke%20presents%20circle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Laerke juggles the other part of the spool, in the Tundra area.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">wins Astra and Laerke will be two years old in two weeks. They share the same parents, and the same birthday. But these little girl cubs have lived separate and parallel lives from almost the beginning.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDdugrxmxxEqxQacSexfbQd8sboGltrLZKoVTi29WKy4OlC4lJqWg6MmI8Dm7VVrwLluR40hklipuiERkuIcLEfVL8hw7DkA01aI6JE8aRpwSCS5zgn82dZKDGcAO8lqrfUfHetLLMngvsDXqLg8FT3eFrlO5Ydsqk94JlU5sOXRoSNoVZkHqn61j/s2225/twin%20sisters%20astra%20laerke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2225" data-original-width="2035" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDdugrxmxxEqxQacSexfbQd8sboGltrLZKoVTi29WKy4OlC4lJqWg6MmI8Dm7VVrwLluR40hklipuiERkuIcLEfVL8hw7DkA01aI6JE8aRpwSCS5zgn82dZKDGcAO8lqrfUfHetLLMngvsDXqLg8FT3eFrlO5Ydsqk94JlU5sOXRoSNoVZkHqn61j/w586-h640/twin%20sisters%20astra%20laerke.jpg" width="586" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Astra far away, and twin sister Laerke, closer. In October 2021.<br />They are separated by a moat.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">They were born November 17, 2020, to parents Suka and Nuka in the Arctic Ring of Life of the Detroit Zoo. Suka had given birth during several previous seasons, but the cubs had been stillborn or short-lived. As the new mother was being watched via dencam, keepers could see that one of the cubs was struggling, and soon was nearly lifeless, so they intervened and took Laerke away for emergency medical help. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So it happened that Astra was raised by her mother, and Laerke was bottle-fed and raised by humans. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Astra and Laerke were the only cubs born in USA zoos in 2020, and no cubs have been born since, so they are the youngest polar bears in the USA.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In the spring of 2021, visitors to the zoo could see little cub Astra romping around the meadow with her mother Suka, while Laerke remained behind the scenes, a mysterious hidden cub. Later in the summer, Astra was introduced to the big saltwater pool, during which time father Nuka was rotated through whichever half of the habitat Suka and Astra were not occupying. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCWXkAe4Fv9Ckb8cPJOR7n209V9_LCIj6msqw7xLgmL0Hg0eXXKG7h3if938Y2gHPdtzNjHHjO5S4O2GKjqP_-HHUcNvEQWlhQYIHtGvFR4NJOQvPljUBH7hHWl7ZH66vmNDk760xv3i1d2URB1t8RAiIyZZ1_Q8vd9MJqMhtsmqmxEcoGydwf1kg/s5184/Astra%20suka%20swim%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCWXkAe4Fv9Ckb8cPJOR7n209V9_LCIj6msqw7xLgmL0Hg0eXXKG7h3if938Y2gHPdtzNjHHjO5S4O2GKjqP_-HHUcNvEQWlhQYIHtGvFR4NJOQvPljUBH7hHWl7ZH66vmNDk760xv3i1d2URB1t8RAiIyZZ1_Q8vd9MJqMhtsmqmxEcoGydwf1kg/w426-h640/Astra%20suka%20swim%202.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Suka swimming with her cub Astra last year.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimei_n4q_FflaMJ0-3eG_-SScMyd_eY630ZgC2ZEuPNI5vmoGnnw8Bw-slk4O6P1O9kXfCRqqZToyvKVSHXAAMqM4qzw32O2iJGd06juywWq-w-JdQ5QS_HvZJCZS76NhYvxkpU3YBquZiH211NG9C54CS2cui4Is5vrEAMrkkVxDHKjyhSOHPV1Np/s5184/astra%20suka%20swim%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimei_n4q_FflaMJ0-3eG_-SScMyd_eY630ZgC2ZEuPNI5vmoGnnw8Bw-slk4O6P1O9kXfCRqqZToyvKVSHXAAMqM4qzw32O2iJGd06juywWq-w-JdQ5QS_HvZJCZS76NhYvxkpU3YBquZiH211NG9C54CS2cui4Is5vrEAMrkkVxDHKjyhSOHPV1Np/w640-h426/astra%20suka%20swim%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T<b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">he Detroit Zoo has an amazing saltwater pool, with a viewing tunnel for visitors. Here are Suka and Astra last year.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuXBJIfgVL_cr2kiIOUSyPPI2CRvtTWRoaYiOJHqbVu7G0tGyo2PdtXfnZM37sjZQgIc7phUTg5hzpQmksQ_vb09rSxfS2n4DsOH-PAJwRTfftp5zABV_b64H4BFKhQ51se2v1y7NyNy-DqIm4ymLrDaQHD7VkPmiyEGmZrd4T8PkF2olxQx-sOCV/s5184/astra%20suka%20swim%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuXBJIfgVL_cr2kiIOUSyPPI2CRvtTWRoaYiOJHqbVu7G0tGyo2PdtXfnZM37sjZQgIc7phUTg5hzpQmksQ_vb09rSxfS2n4DsOH-PAJwRTfftp5zABV_b64H4BFKhQ51se2v1y7NyNy-DqIm4ymLrDaQHD7VkPmiyEGmZrd4T8PkF2olxQx-sOCV/w426-h640/astra%20suka%20swim%204.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Mother Suka has taught her daughter Astra through swimming and playing with her. Laerke has had to learn on her own.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoGO2Stw7wU7FVUEBDvM8XFJS3mjHrgVu-iR_KZQnsyASJte_UGOoHoghATOmNH2c1-qeniYux9Jy7J61dO3nP1jMhoXC6ASPFcZhsYoIZTsEYClmts3ggf2RA_2VivrtWZC5EGoeOZFfTKcwtdXL6c0sY-A8kL7wInzxgtr0TL5zjQNoBqD9WMCb/s5184/astra%20suka%20swim%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoGO2Stw7wU7FVUEBDvM8XFJS3mjHrgVu-iR_KZQnsyASJte_UGOoHoghATOmNH2c1-qeniYux9Jy7J61dO3nP1jMhoXC6ASPFcZhsYoIZTsEYClmts3ggf2RA_2VivrtWZC5EGoeOZFfTKcwtdXL6c0sY-A8kL7wInzxgtr0TL5zjQNoBqD9WMCb/w426-h640/astra%20suka%20swim%205.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Mother Suka and daughter Astra play underwater games last year.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2_8e5zeMe_OzqTNiVOtEKHHoSyAnZuc0y47lanIzIyyd4ZCguFQ3SYUF15dM1PCM6D9neg5vZcru6EAt_yHfUE6e9zA4Kp0s6mCHOIG62SpooOFmvCrypUlJ0g0A52y8F_3bmBd_X18oHfe5TRjv6ijb9eKR5vyRnfy3x-p-oBvyQI0p_YmbEo3K/s5184/astra%20suka%20swim%20tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2_8e5zeMe_OzqTNiVOtEKHHoSyAnZuc0y47lanIzIyyd4ZCguFQ3SYUF15dM1PCM6D9neg5vZcru6EAt_yHfUE6e9zA4Kp0s6mCHOIG62SpooOFmvCrypUlJ0g0A52y8F_3bmBd_X18oHfe5TRjv6ijb9eKR5vyRnfy3x-p-oBvyQI0p_YmbEo3K/w640-h426/astra%20suka%20swim%20tunnel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The underwater viewing tunnel is an astounding way <br />to experience the bears. Here are Astra and Suka.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvEdejxcj9EX5r3c9rsX7ruv-peewodch9S7iSSmb2-5thKNsv3bqb8PUcxqa418ESudsqzilcX6eRjdMNtTr5jusvbwMh0bglmsKFydkXyNI2QAKNC7m7tjGO3BUHDbVMSf3cDQgnjp2oCQvsJQbtMv7r4zQj3dA-isgHUoJG3aoN4BYmtAKaDWT/s3318/Astra%20suka%20water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3318" data-original-width="3216" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvEdejxcj9EX5r3c9rsX7ruv-peewodch9S7iSSmb2-5thKNsv3bqb8PUcxqa418ESudsqzilcX6eRjdMNtTr5jusvbwMh0bglmsKFydkXyNI2QAKNC7m7tjGO3BUHDbVMSf3cDQgnjp2oCQvsJQbtMv7r4zQj3dA-isgHUoJG3aoN4BYmtAKaDWT/w620-h640/Astra%20suka%20water.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Visitors get a unique close up view of the polar bears from the underwater tunnel.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5dg1pjKC0GzQmMyH1G511CpEj2OKQx4pKwn7it9tgvRuua6xWU_cSG5JomIgZVASXC9eIRlTik4AlKuXOaN6MYSl5GCPmvICXDvrPLcjuRIGjp1PvjpzEPraAJoNcTtvm3DP6tBNIjVi5g4lxSem9IMqzK2S5cQtO2Be2sxHroUnLxk4k89IEDVH/s5184/Suka%20Astra%20swim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5dg1pjKC0GzQmMyH1G511CpEj2OKQx4pKwn7it9tgvRuua6xWU_cSG5JomIgZVASXC9eIRlTik4AlKuXOaN6MYSl5GCPmvICXDvrPLcjuRIGjp1PvjpzEPraAJoNcTtvm3DP6tBNIjVi5g4lxSem9IMqzK2S5cQtO2Be2sxHroUnLxk4k89IEDVH/w640-h426/Suka%20Astra%20swim.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Suka and Astra chasing underwater last year.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">During those months, Laerke came out to play only after the zoo closed, and the public never saw her, except in a few tantalizing photos. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Astra gained weight at a proper rate, but Laerke always lagged behind. As they approached their first birthday, Astra weighed 200 pounds, double that of her little sister. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">During those spring and summer months, Astra was playing with her mom, learning social skills, swimming skills and more, learning how to be a bear. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOrER-kt8sb8kS74G19A5SaNzyhTcmVMK4Bgqe89fbVOaSriRlVfqg1NzwTk2bEiC1jnBTJ6_N5jW63I76SIATNsPyKKIhTcAG0lgD8SbWcr-CF611u7WE2EmSHoGdQ3kFj57iaDHZb8GJbJwKJqH8wJpVDNDuin2ASisEk4A8_IlKeiHJOAC-_t6/s3234/Astra%20Jebbie%20Laerke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3234" data-original-width="3186" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOrER-kt8sb8kS74G19A5SaNzyhTcmVMK4Bgqe89fbVOaSriRlVfqg1NzwTk2bEiC1jnBTJ6_N5jW63I76SIATNsPyKKIhTcAG0lgD8SbWcr-CF611u7WE2EmSHoGdQ3kFj57iaDHZb8GJbJwKJqH8wJpVDNDuin2ASisEk4A8_IlKeiHJOAC-_t6/w630-h640/Astra%20Jebbie%20Laerke.jpg" width="630" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A scene from about a year ago, Astra, across the dividing moat, watches grizzly cub Jebbie and her sister Laerke, <br />maybe wanting to join in the fun.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQWgi3jYWWHW8ulq4RWQwy9-gEEACSQBMM5pTpAvAWVGwro3VydXZbx4BG_sEHkPtadUZ7ChHJ8GQi_rLaBgryJOjTSVDZY8vTCPf5X7aUDONBurkn4lLxcHngGBOz47n0mqocUmjJ1m5mMhYF7uEJHHyKb5U1xCAIBEWRq5xjTmISIo7r7TKPInf/s4264/Laerke%20Suka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="4264" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQWgi3jYWWHW8ulq4RWQwy9-gEEACSQBMM5pTpAvAWVGwro3VydXZbx4BG_sEHkPtadUZ7ChHJ8GQi_rLaBgryJOjTSVDZY8vTCPf5X7aUDONBurkn4lLxcHngGBOz47n0mqocUmjJ1m5mMhYF7uEJHHyKb5U1xCAIBEWRq5xjTmISIo7r7TKPInf/w640-h268/Laerke%20Suka.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">L</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">aerke on the left, her mother Suka on the right. While they are curious about each other, Suka does not realize that Laerke is her cub, and would feel that she had to defend Astra from the strange cub. <br />Photo from fall, 2021.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Laerke was doing well with her human caretakers, but needed a bear companion so she could learn the social skills of how to be a bear. The zoo searched for such a cub, and a little grizzly bear boy named Jebbie, who had been found abandoned in Alaska, was brought to the Detroit Zoo as a companion for Laerke. This way both bears, Laerke and Jebbie the grizzly cub, could benefit by playing and interacting with another bear.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeTBNsM5Fw-HzBOPbHdCHK9FrSJkVBJPcP_9DxfVxjAx52iwuZqH8ONzrbvM_3PLSmJoxQ_T_pGx3a797x0oq0HHc9AUEwBk4eGFiVdR9JzeyBgkxxZi7AYo0WOUzpQ3yHymnUSE3bj0nYh51A9aeciAQiV5kG4bXK4zGvpjNwn_a0-gaR62f7W6r/s2555/laerke%20stand%20up%20jebbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2045" data-original-width="2555" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeTBNsM5Fw-HzBOPbHdCHK9FrSJkVBJPcP_9DxfVxjAx52iwuZqH8ONzrbvM_3PLSmJoxQ_T_pGx3a797x0oq0HHc9AUEwBk4eGFiVdR9JzeyBgkxxZi7AYo0WOUzpQ3yHymnUSE3bj0nYh51A9aeciAQiV5kG4bXK4zGvpjNwn_a0-gaR62f7W6r/w640-h512/laerke%20stand%20up%20jebbie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jebbie and Laerke, last year.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b style="text-align: left;"></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The arrangement worked out very well, and the cubs played together for many months of important development, first behind the scenes, and then in October, the public could see Jebbie and Laerke play together in the tundra area for short periods, for Laerke had her limits, and would tire after an hour of hard play. Both cubs delighted in having a playmate, and benefited greatly from the friendship.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcgpTveWAAzgJM0I88b7bfp8_Uqxf1x60O2s2TzKuzuoowYZhi6p_i0RZyvU_IcV2hZ9w766GG2GkoRRFL7ikzgGecaTBlopHKmlwXUS-Lr0AG9D_XBDtnu1xDSTZT6_EFwgyZJIzFGrHatngrnEK7R6uwVnOKWBQ4Zo1QXY0e3LuJG73ovxE1x6k/s2472/Laerka%20swim%20Jebbie%20rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="2192" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcgpTveWAAzgJM0I88b7bfp8_Uqxf1x60O2s2TzKuzuoowYZhi6p_i0RZyvU_IcV2hZ9w766GG2GkoRRFL7ikzgGecaTBlopHKmlwXUS-Lr0AG9D_XBDtnu1xDSTZT6_EFwgyZJIzFGrHatngrnEK7R6uwVnOKWBQ4Zo1QXY0e3LuJG73ovxE1x6k/w568-h640/Laerka%20swim%20Jebbie%20rock.jpg" width="568" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke and Jebbie, in October of 2021.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jebbie, being a grizzly and a land animal, would tend to stay on shore, and Laerke spent more time in the water, but these two were never far from each other.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFI-KRzETln7NspB8wIijQxdGffDFxt79cneGMWwZogAXfc-6miFXJfT1UWeH4svGhVzX_5pTd403ehQ02AlW1zsMK8R_RJdR4lD-aY2TMn7Y6IQMSf2UMUtNyQTef03QOJSK-RA5Pjgohcot-vEU-HgszFn3upTaezokuhFLk3KL7C3czc4HJM0Zb/s3900/Nuka%20peacocks%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3250" data-original-width="3900" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFI-KRzETln7NspB8wIijQxdGffDFxt79cneGMWwZogAXfc-6miFXJfT1UWeH4svGhVzX_5pTd403ehQ02AlW1zsMK8R_RJdR4lD-aY2TMn7Y6IQMSf2UMUtNyQTef03QOJSK-RA5Pjgohcot-vEU-HgszFn3upTaezokuhFLk3KL7C3czc4HJM0Zb/w640-h534/Nuka%20peacocks%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Father Nuka in the Tundra area of the Detroit Zoo, <br />before his move to nearby Toledo.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To give Suka, her cubs and Jebbie more time to play outside, father Nuka moved to the Toledo Zoo, where he remains at this time, living with Suka's mother Crystal.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDenBAi0kvjdTDuuprrdTfritJIFi2N9cyNS7g0N_kw79VNTok1i7PuWB2Bkz4T60pj1xRz68sW3cuBoimb290FBfhZgUYfwyXIwshIN7gwbvG5ClNlxCrp5iom7Zl-7Ep1RoldnuHf-1-Gagxf8WMX8Fi2yDqHZL8YVY-ZAWcEwmnYg9udER6A9tQ/s2640/laerke%20jebbie%20race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="2640" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDenBAi0kvjdTDuuprrdTfritJIFi2N9cyNS7g0N_kw79VNTok1i7PuWB2Bkz4T60pj1xRz68sW3cuBoimb290FBfhZgUYfwyXIwshIN7gwbvG5ClNlxCrp5iom7Zl-7Ep1RoldnuHf-1-Gagxf8WMX8Fi2yDqHZL8YVY-ZAWcEwmnYg9udER6A9tQ/w640-h476/laerke%20jebbie%20race.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke and Jebbie racing around in October of 2021.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The pairing of the polar and grizzly cubs worked well for most of a year, but Jebbie grew much faster than Laerke, and he also has some very long claws. Late this past summer, the keepers saw that Jebbie had outgrown the friendship. For safety reasons, the two cubs were separated, although they were still near each other in the bedroom area. In the fall, Jebbie was moved across the road to the grizzly bear area, where he had a small enclosure all to himself, while he awaited his big move. Jebbie is now in a huge wildlife sanctuary in Colorado, where has plenty of natural space, and he is reported to be doing very well there. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9r4kTwbSDinKBHuxuFI4-obbYVPuYxUy2ffWPcI-8ePgE1Il0f8yWR6iBKOILo5XO5WLHTLqzxE66MC-P38-U83cYSIrvUAlXQjYqxJIYGc62USO6KWLEP_LCBH-KmcwPT3COogTNBqwCaZze6fQLkIuFSpOMNtOiU4-_bJ7i_38H_CdJ32qsVB0/s2079/Laerke%20bite%20carrot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1876" data-original-width="2079" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9r4kTwbSDinKBHuxuFI4-obbYVPuYxUy2ffWPcI-8ePgE1Il0f8yWR6iBKOILo5XO5WLHTLqzxE66MC-P38-U83cYSIrvUAlXQjYqxJIYGc62USO6KWLEP_LCBH-KmcwPT3COogTNBqwCaZze6fQLkIuFSpOMNtOiU4-_bJ7i_38H_CdJ32qsVB0/w640-h578/Laerke%20bite%20carrot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke chomps on a carrot, in September 2022.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VllxZ27pOMYtsvSNNWpyLb4US6hmC9cJ0DltTBsfiinjtzt4NJqIbPKvcjVHdoiFZ-2sOiGd57KveNafgpFloU04cPYzGH2HZ0ZG3CcXJyX7wBbhDtwbdH6IGXucDKn3hQqyMYbSj6YDMwWe5g499CbDNPJbaRkxm73Pa7fjAr6LJPr_DPl0LgmU/s2835/Laerke%20bite%20wheel%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="2674" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VllxZ27pOMYtsvSNNWpyLb4US6hmC9cJ0DltTBsfiinjtzt4NJqIbPKvcjVHdoiFZ-2sOiGd57KveNafgpFloU04cPYzGH2HZ0ZG3CcXJyX7wBbhDtwbdH6IGXucDKn3hQqyMYbSj6YDMwWe5g499CbDNPJbaRkxm73Pa7fjAr6LJPr_DPl0LgmU/w604-h640/Laerke%20bite%20wheel%202.jpg" width="604" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Looking like she's playing a musical instrument, this is Laerke.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-gnsh8-l49mbLkQchOjx-jtS6rX3n0g504q99k6s9DM0MUBtvNSubA4vO-ExXoWYsIhb8mR39LnaVp3zIZ9z692YfrvB9gXlOKqWyhiQGMochElVs_MyJTdtlycZJ8NbGbQqZvYlnJM3xCSpX67c0p-TLpLpvLhWWHzRa4I2kL6_RzF2GOYKfYbA/s2954/Laerke%20bite%20wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2387" data-original-width="2954" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-gnsh8-l49mbLkQchOjx-jtS6rX3n0g504q99k6s9DM0MUBtvNSubA4vO-ExXoWYsIhb8mR39LnaVp3zIZ9z692YfrvB9gXlOKqWyhiQGMochElVs_MyJTdtlycZJ8NbGbQqZvYlnJM3xCSpX67c0p-TLpLpvLhWWHzRa4I2kL6_RzF2GOYKfYbA/w640-h518/Laerke%20bite%20wheel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">She is playing alone these days, but Laerke is still having lots of fun. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSkSicpY8z-egVxA_tvw8MFnkLTsuser2yUGoNR-g3ZSzkFRFSxLm1od_SQyh75POTRRsMuv9kWRfHlGl2_BuKq3qH73o_nYTNBffKyqNvjqHIaqEHSMrG28L7y1c66GUJux7ySUlNEEjbyy9wl5JC2GuMGOs3Gqwl61lVGCnGrNvIwgXJP-BpFgo/s3031/Laerke%20frisbee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3031" data-original-width="3031" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSkSicpY8z-egVxA_tvw8MFnkLTsuser2yUGoNR-g3ZSzkFRFSxLm1od_SQyh75POTRRsMuv9kWRfHlGl2_BuKq3qH73o_nYTNBffKyqNvjqHIaqEHSMrG28L7y1c66GUJux7ySUlNEEjbyy9wl5JC2GuMGOs3Gqwl61lVGCnGrNvIwgXJP-BpFgo/w640-h640/Laerke%20frisbee.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Showing her strength, Laerke plays.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfEQjEyj2nh0XgZ4OKxo3cM3tKJejbZQ6_pkBxWd1RGwsxv9MEWBZFMtmPB8u8xtwhfWzrmDGwjtfa3S2wMaKjQ2U_Yf0-_hBcIAUVyXOcYtizjd5DJuF9AhqRuul_ULHklMD63gwAbNpPJJDmPcPMMWWF1kB8vpDt6rijR7Rlo9rDYcfKwuwfItu/s3269/Laerke%20fuzzball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3269" data-original-width="2317" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfEQjEyj2nh0XgZ4OKxo3cM3tKJejbZQ6_pkBxWd1RGwsxv9MEWBZFMtmPB8u8xtwhfWzrmDGwjtfa3S2wMaKjQ2U_Yf0-_hBcIAUVyXOcYtizjd5DJuF9AhqRuul_ULHklMD63gwAbNpPJJDmPcPMMWWF1kB8vpDt6rijR7Rlo9rDYcfKwuwfItu/w454-h640/Laerke%20fuzzball.jpg" width="454" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fluffy Laerke. The cubs had picked up lots of burrs in the Tundra area, so gardeners came in and cut those plants down.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So now Laerke is an "only child" again, but she is very good at entertaining herself with swimming in the big pool and tossing around toys. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sCXAElSiE9AVlRnqBrBlU_oPm5o3EF8iZ1QJG7aB_-lXH2Azd8xGXOYZ5jOqWg5ywaoXTr4vHsO_t6jskipatPSxFLp4Z4n_f64URkJv6BgKgcFQTvyDCNLBqCa9p2sMQSzO_VP0tAl6H33z9SUtF9yL2A5vuVWWo3awJVOW9f2LkcF9N0o5pdOl/s4221/Astra%20tongue%20Suka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2772" data-original-width="4221" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sCXAElSiE9AVlRnqBrBlU_oPm5o3EF8iZ1QJG7aB_-lXH2Azd8xGXOYZ5jOqWg5ywaoXTr4vHsO_t6jskipatPSxFLp4Z4n_f64URkJv6BgKgcFQTvyDCNLBqCa9p2sMQSzO_VP0tAl6H33z9SUtF9yL2A5vuVWWo3awJVOW9f2LkcF9N0o5pdOl/w640-h420/Astra%20tongue%20Suka.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Astra with her mother Suka</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFd1PTBdEq9RUrtd8fumoieXMb4h3BAhtcjjM-jpXE61oL4pEXIiq2_zr8z9j54gr2QF7u5avOw5bPUwSkdDYLnH6Y8WCQkQSJoH-NNphhpMnu6wWUzyEBbhgl9ifPzXutSXHhTn-FmRnKC54GP9riGpF-8MVo1ylLUIYTwmO2rqwA-8Yg78-AWUDd/s5184/Laerke%20rick%20at%20glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFd1PTBdEq9RUrtd8fumoieXMb4h3BAhtcjjM-jpXE61oL4pEXIiq2_zr8z9j54gr2QF7u5avOw5bPUwSkdDYLnH6Y8WCQkQSJoH-NNphhpMnu6wWUzyEBbhgl9ifPzXutSXHhTn-FmRnKC54GP9riGpF-8MVo1ylLUIYTwmO2rqwA-8Yg78-AWUDd/w426-h640/Laerke%20rick%20at%20glass.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke with Keeper Rick. She keeps her eyes on him.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2o76uTYNiq3VdohcV4FQE8XUtZI8yX_8JRVVt810bE7CLiKvrqUJxhzuWcrsxIHrrJlG8PUq_nyW6RoNXEaLqIX968mGj42f795s-vVYbTPSsYZqUzUaB0cjNcGp-zZ6LOEE1K7DrUx_ve0WJQJYd6MVZm0r00Ld5ioT9XX69TE7I0r1JCp4Gw8cx/s4284/Rick%20Suka%20Astra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2653" data-original-width="4284" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2o76uTYNiq3VdohcV4FQE8XUtZI8yX_8JRVVt810bE7CLiKvrqUJxhzuWcrsxIHrrJlG8PUq_nyW6RoNXEaLqIX968mGj42f795s-vVYbTPSsYZqUzUaB0cjNcGp-zZ6LOEE1K7DrUx_ve0WJQJYd6MVZm0r00Ld5ioT9XX69TE7I0r1JCp4Gw8cx/w640-h396/Rick%20Suka%20Astra.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Keeper Rick throwing some snacks to Astra and Suka<br /> in the Ice Pack region of the Arctic Ring of Life.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Laerke has a real bond with her keepers, and likes to be near them, even when she is out in the enclosure. She needs this emotional support, just as Astra gets attention from her mother.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uHEVdQrgDwhIgHPZKP4NX-1W-JUx0J8_gLUoJRd9iS7LUPGgIW6-Nn7qvcslMqHlN_6OG5UBL440uLJxpmgbwItQ6AOEBoSZgiS8lLmqtF3A_NDrexhyKqhphezDu8fLanBEP0EVpUrO6uLrloWUbQTLbinWOcBHXK2Xl9-byVJumfN9MzQzmIlA/s5184/Laerke%20child%20bubbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uHEVdQrgDwhIgHPZKP4NX-1W-JUx0J8_gLUoJRd9iS7LUPGgIW6-Nn7qvcslMqHlN_6OG5UBL440uLJxpmgbwItQ6AOEBoSZgiS8lLmqtF3A_NDrexhyKqhphezDu8fLanBEP0EVpUrO6uLrloWUbQTLbinWOcBHXK2Xl9-byVJumfN9MzQzmIlA/w640-h426/Laerke%20child%20bubbles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke is drawn to the youngsters at the viewing window.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Laerke also loves the attention from the visitors, especially the children.</span><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja93KMKcukIAWwor5A419hUHDYjwdaSjjtm3sqsB_t49WfnVWAg2vswOeQJjMUTQQJ3oA4nSiiJK35q6WRV8GYBFJbstuflDm6cssZ6l-IO9849ZpObPOvjj5fTbqbrB0dOFTRUXLMzhg9bR7jfVNBZWOxou1amIOAIFsGa2BL543xNVt4xQ6X61PX/s5184/Laerke%20three%20kids%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja93KMKcukIAWwor5A419hUHDYjwdaSjjtm3sqsB_t49WfnVWAg2vswOeQJjMUTQQJ3oA4nSiiJK35q6WRV8GYBFJbstuflDm6cssZ6l-IO9849ZpObPOvjj5fTbqbrB0dOFTRUXLMzhg9bR7jfVNBZWOxou1amIOAIFsGa2BL543xNVt4xQ6X61PX/w640-h426/Laerke%20three%20kids%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke swimming to and fro.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Laerke still weighs a lot less than her sister. Astra now weighs about 500 pounds, and her little sister Laerke weighs 297. Their mom Suka weighs in at about 750 pounds. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkcWqvJSj1KvuDP_QejDzK4QZMSN0_mH342rK59ov3JB3jWKxn_5u97vFhYTdoNdr97WoXUxzgVNyZPCmKOBLEGaGQnIuhMWIm9EBRz_RDyRFWya98lArDR9AquO3bC7B4vVq8BTIi-tmHo3DH8P4P6n5ac2yCwVBKNbgLdKErfRVT9n8e41V1_7y/s5184/Laerka%20kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkcWqvJSj1KvuDP_QejDzK4QZMSN0_mH342rK59ov3JB3jWKxn_5u97vFhYTdoNdr97WoXUxzgVNyZPCmKOBLEGaGQnIuhMWIm9EBRz_RDyRFWya98lArDR9AquO3bC7B4vVq8BTIi-tmHo3DH8P4P6n5ac2yCwVBKNbgLdKErfRVT9n8e41V1_7y/w640-h426/Laerka%20kid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke plays through the glass with a young visitor.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjJ1AEzAScNa-cbKqlw0AA325MdQ7KXvVjh2jZ0pLtEqkjdTdkNOgD4l6RK8-riyy3bp3LD17-vDpeIhzVsUARzcAOgdBBJT1Zk6B8-U5Wj3Wj_qc9OFW-isBgtvehPXE9fsGoQFK3xoVhXDKkD4UBRyr-l6bVxufgekQUpiXc7AJUyEL79Z_55cP/s5184/Laerka%20swim%20girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjJ1AEzAScNa-cbKqlw0AA325MdQ7KXvVjh2jZ0pLtEqkjdTdkNOgD4l6RK8-riyy3bp3LD17-vDpeIhzVsUARzcAOgdBBJT1Zk6B8-U5Wj3Wj_qc9OFW-isBgtvehPXE9fsGoQFK3xoVhXDKkD4UBRyr-l6bVxufgekQUpiXc7AJUyEL79Z_55cP/w640-h426/Laerka%20swim%20girl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke shows off her swimming skills.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0hLxvdIt_4xIl_hJ5D0N_3rm-nWVHZWsevT-upVokaxZcMChorNP6M_45fcoqDBnTydvtEcBcezmfQB4iiOOa77UXF76tm7Ed1Hs7ktD74fJus7F2FybhDO39sLwbZ9EdpR3oAZGKhWa8kB5GoOgZwghUp0d93Xf9aEmITWkihPW2qcTrlXwdwh2/s3864/Laerke%20baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3395" data-original-width="3864" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0hLxvdIt_4xIl_hJ5D0N_3rm-nWVHZWsevT-upVokaxZcMChorNP6M_45fcoqDBnTydvtEcBcezmfQB4iiOOa77UXF76tm7Ed1Hs7ktD74fJus7F2FybhDO39sLwbZ9EdpR3oAZGKhWa8kB5GoOgZwghUp0d93Xf9aEmITWkihPW2qcTrlXwdwh2/w640-h562/Laerke%20baby.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A youngster is captivated by Laerke. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Astra is stronger than her sister and has better coordination. Laerke got off to a rocky start, and she is still playing catch up. She has a strong spirit and plenty of determination, though.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLeic5pSYfEpKarQJQTgCYKDWGviQn6W1DpECkKCNvM352B6NpQ5HD6JdgRMj_8qX4X-4z0NB5G09sNRjxq0WhXE4yHVp6qMBUAPX1CECwpwFEh9-uQ00mibEnhiTHVt-YNPLoeg4kMcvPlYA9o0z0ekzKveyjyC-OyB8awfG1mBoEm8NH72P4nPX/s5184/Astra%20Suka%20ring%20strugle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLeic5pSYfEpKarQJQTgCYKDWGviQn6W1DpECkKCNvM352B6NpQ5HD6JdgRMj_8qX4X-4z0NB5G09sNRjxq0WhXE4yHVp6qMBUAPX1CECwpwFEh9-uQ00mibEnhiTHVt-YNPLoeg4kMcvPlYA9o0z0ekzKveyjyC-OyB8awfG1mBoEm8NH72P4nPX/w426-h640/Astra%20Suka%20ring%20strugle.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Astra on the bottom, plays with a ring,<br /> as mother Suka tries to steal it.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAfOxL2fk0q7SX35vMHdvkZsYNdJFbx6MFuw2qIMFYxFccsz8jD-e8VvOOYwnr6eNdURAxIOmtubk3-fB2tAOH3MXMjy2zId_dJ-a6PTxoDhTXkmBx27rS_04TQC6c-n_FeQ-V60ltUDUAC-RFTdsGC79kK9bmjAIlIv_khUJ8bB5OLME4PC60y6E/s3122/Astra%20push%20up%20ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3122" data-original-width="2261" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAfOxL2fk0q7SX35vMHdvkZsYNdJFbx6MFuw2qIMFYxFccsz8jD-e8VvOOYwnr6eNdURAxIOmtubk3-fB2tAOH3MXMjy2zId_dJ-a6PTxoDhTXkmBx27rS_04TQC6c-n_FeQ-V60ltUDUAC-RFTdsGC79kK9bmjAIlIv_khUJ8bB5OLME4PC60y6E/w464-h640/Astra%20push%20up%20ring.jpg" width="464" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Astra is strong and can lift the ring every which way.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSbwyJ21xkTWR8hgW8tYrlmyojuk2I1XyM8_LoMs0HwVnCnLzQ5pTzQ9fz8GEk5AjkYq6zKcpZVyQJXMEGb7lWeUM9DQkIh0Z4xdMtrRjqvBcAzquYYKnm_D-dQn1J06cOPe1nFZsTjQUBLq4wuxoArOB7m8tBPPqHW93og1_MfCcM1096tCdGwvV/s2835/astra%20ring%20seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2478" data-original-width="2835" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSbwyJ21xkTWR8hgW8tYrlmyojuk2I1XyM8_LoMs0HwVnCnLzQ5pTzQ9fz8GEk5AjkYq6zKcpZVyQJXMEGb7lWeUM9DQkIh0Z4xdMtrRjqvBcAzquYYKnm_D-dQn1J06cOPe1nFZsTjQUBLq4wuxoArOB7m8tBPPqHW93og1_MfCcM1096tCdGwvV/w640-h560/astra%20ring%20seal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Seal tricks from Astra.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7H2u3T1d_WCkuvQmRuAWwhwcHCrh63nyuNljAvzKkaXbkipaPDIf8pHR5KsTIRV480zbFUm6IswH4WzpmQxkCEwjgwjHzffXGRu_gR4QwUv139Z96JR4khq0-zd2xSwO4bh1LHZ1HkDtrrw7tcojd4pY3YSmCk3tmZtfjH9UW4DDmP1to-PUcAld5/s3626/Astra%20ring%20and%20mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="3626" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7H2u3T1d_WCkuvQmRuAWwhwcHCrh63nyuNljAvzKkaXbkipaPDIf8pHR5KsTIRV480zbFUm6IswH4WzpmQxkCEwjgwjHzffXGRu_gR4QwUv139Z96JR4khq0-zd2xSwO4bh1LHZ1HkDtrrw7tcojd4pY3YSmCk3tmZtfjH9UW4DDmP1to-PUcAld5/w640-h426/Astra%20ring%20and%20mom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Look Mom! Astra shows off for her mother Suka.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLBTeBNO7EgsyZgVjf_L5w8hsG8oHkTyC4XMTX_b1nf1gGdZW2BRM8TzzD5HHaf0IxjIx26pKYun_0T7xaGDQlxqBeXQ3WlBvEjDyYeoodkRgUmyc42OkS7OHtVOoztY2lYyy2TCxZcWzEIoZceZFU2UREArV7SVSVSucTBgtaXTLodaB6Z9mcg7N/s4459/Laerke%20lift%20ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3059" data-original-width="4459" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLBTeBNO7EgsyZgVjf_L5w8hsG8oHkTyC4XMTX_b1nf1gGdZW2BRM8TzzD5HHaf0IxjIx26pKYun_0T7xaGDQlxqBeXQ3WlBvEjDyYeoodkRgUmyc42OkS7OHtVOoztY2lYyy2TCxZcWzEIoZceZFU2UREArV7SVSVSucTBgtaXTLodaB6Z9mcg7N/w640-h440/Laerke%20lift%20ring.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke, the weaker twin playing by herself, <br />struggles to lift the ring, but still has fun with it.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV3KikOcdfr8OGmFqRnbvODK8PGGXes2SKFSVloMnpjvNdCbVeBr7rmDRWU9VS85urFD9X-XxwNsRZ6uB2qSZ1ElCWKHzpF6DjobkoJQoteWAmqkMLyDlgbdMK1KJhnKU9WX0bCXsym_VHRkMrh-IAL5bcpXZHsAiKgM68TENhh57bXRL5MbicJ_C/s4102/Laerke%20ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3395" data-original-width="4102" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV3KikOcdfr8OGmFqRnbvODK8PGGXes2SKFSVloMnpjvNdCbVeBr7rmDRWU9VS85urFD9X-XxwNsRZ6uB2qSZ1ElCWKHzpF6DjobkoJQoteWAmqkMLyDlgbdMK1KJhnKU9WX0bCXsym_VHRkMrh-IAL5bcpXZHsAiKgM68TENhh57bXRL5MbicJ_C/w640-h530/Laerke%20ring.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke frames herself with a fun toy,<br /> one that Jebbie liked to play with too.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The girls are approaching their second birthday, to be celebrated on November 17. The plan, as I understand it, is that when Astra is weaned and separated from Suka, the girls may very well be reunited, and Laerke will again have a playmate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnsy01Sbk6jUDVkCSSj9a1uJp4OoxHIdAm6erNMo_oNizaJHfGtVv_J78b4XaFNUl43_1ihKn8mac8YyR305hnHLb46MWoWfr0Gtd_2jQhOM5byPJO7TCo7YIygRAo6LcbVfDLAMXZtxV6dmR4A4_y457_I9G94eOYqAYK0mu8GtviE9-7NETsPgz/s3927/Astra%20Suka%20no%20ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3164" data-original-width="3927" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnsy01Sbk6jUDVkCSSj9a1uJp4OoxHIdAm6erNMo_oNizaJHfGtVv_J78b4XaFNUl43_1ihKn8mac8YyR305hnHLb46MWoWfr0Gtd_2jQhOM5byPJO7TCo7YIygRAo6LcbVfDLAMXZtxV6dmR4A4_y457_I9G94eOYqAYK0mu8GtviE9-7NETsPgz/w640-h516/Astra%20Suka%20no%20ring.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Astra and Suka, sometimes together, often apart these days.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Mother Suka is gradually distancing herself from Astra, preparing for weaning, but right now, there is still some nursing going on.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It is the way of polar bear world that cubs leave to start life on their own at about the age of two in the wild. Then father Nuka can return from Toledo, and be reunited with Suka. </span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RR7Wg_luYvzPiwmKEjWcdXcvPelbSFCWbh9vce5wj1jgpvW2osgd5_vp2bGLUweEJLYV5GLfwU2W78bvoq2XdiCtb9z_PG0s124qY9A1djA4vBRYHVtywENq3OJAVAX6KJ53cWYTej-K_3M6uQcDqh9u819p8Afx8HGp80Ulbu1cDnybw8G8AfWt/s3950/astra%20bubbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3950" data-original-width="2490" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RR7Wg_luYvzPiwmKEjWcdXcvPelbSFCWbh9vce5wj1jgpvW2osgd5_vp2bGLUweEJLYV5GLfwU2W78bvoq2XdiCtb9z_PG0s124qY9A1djA4vBRYHVtywENq3OJAVAX6KJ53cWYTej-K_3M6uQcDqh9u819p8Afx8HGp80Ulbu1cDnybw8G8AfWt/w404-h640/astra%20bubbles.jpg" width="404" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Astra swimming in the viewing tunnel area.<br /> She can swim and play all day.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w2kAFfh1Towys-es32jbn2iW6u36Oe5bHqS9XSLNvgL3vkJo-hSWFRdUizVA5FGXSHhCYp8PhMaLM_IFZ0iH3b5JNnK24xNkap0tuXW9QhM_QR-wqmKVlByCUllWcLOvRnpuJEyUWNGpYE5RsHR47q0czaovykkQVcvagk2emqKbBECGDwDZmMQQ/s3234/Laerke%20swim%20bubbles%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3234" data-original-width="2611" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w2kAFfh1Towys-es32jbn2iW6u36Oe5bHqS9XSLNvgL3vkJo-hSWFRdUizVA5FGXSHhCYp8PhMaLM_IFZ0iH3b5JNnK24xNkap0tuXW9QhM_QR-wqmKVlByCUllWcLOvRnpuJEyUWNGpYE5RsHR47q0czaovykkQVcvagk2emqKbBECGDwDZmMQQ/w516-h640/Laerke%20swim%20bubbles%202.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke swims well enough, but she doesn't have the stamina of her sister, and she wants to go back inside after swimming for an hour.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Laerke is still a lot smaller than her sister, so reuniting the two may be put off for awhile.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This is pure speculation, but I hear that Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington, after the death of elderly bears Boris and Blizzard, is redoing its polar bear habitat, and will be home to some polar bears in 2023. Maybe that is where the twins will end up. </span></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-12274872664778739512022-10-15T08:30:00.001-07:002022-10-15T11:48:59.416-07:00Columbus Anana has passed away<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHDDp0KFkRNktZca4Gl7T2jGBHdXkzYpUkOpz5wSYGMg1tbgD4gG7m_OKvJHI7fBGItyMblaGilB0Rn8YU2Md3GywddDxrPD_X7XZAl3u_81J7Oj8uKBOBZzt9WMlOgfncaj3zQib1RMEt32P1YO9Yyhfe3le1VTqVq2Ubs2ka3v2cH5xkLaDyE5E/s1952/Anana%20curve.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1876" data-original-width="1952" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHDDp0KFkRNktZca4Gl7T2jGBHdXkzYpUkOpz5wSYGMg1tbgD4gG7m_OKvJHI7fBGItyMblaGilB0Rn8YU2Md3GywddDxrPD_X7XZAl3u_81J7Oj8uKBOBZzt9WMlOgfncaj3zQib1RMEt32P1YO9Yyhfe3le1VTqVq2Ubs2ka3v2cH5xkLaDyE5E/w640-h616/Anana%20curve.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A young Anana, in 2011.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She was so young, just short of her 16th birthday. Anana of the Columbus Zoo is gone now.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Anana and her twin sister Aurora were born at the Toledo Zoo on November 25, 2006, to Belgian born Crystal, and Chicago born Marty. They were the first cubs from this prolific pair, who went on to give us Siku, twins Suka and Sakari, Hope and Borealis (Bo). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Since her mother Crystal was born in Belgium, Anana also had many cousins in Europe.</span> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalzgeON5yA_bQ6N7gfv1W1HwYsiiGKfXtfX5ABlm9NN9vbcfvLnw2JrOeytFp1FZPkHC7NlUiUqLONIUrfQNktPG7ridcqIBa2NDzyHlXcchdPMYrVvmfxtuYjJ9Q4N6klEjRBVVPc3HAv7CBk-KSXcLl97Q2_KIf8-vBqJFWQgs4yoyXrKei5kzh/s2592/Aurora%20anana%20barrel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalzgeON5yA_bQ6N7gfv1W1HwYsiiGKfXtfX5ABlm9NN9vbcfvLnw2JrOeytFp1FZPkHC7NlUiUqLONIUrfQNktPG7ridcqIBa2NDzyHlXcchdPMYrVvmfxtuYjJ9Q4N6klEjRBVVPc3HAv7CBk-KSXcLl97Q2_KIf8-vBqJFWQgs4yoyXrKei5kzh/w640-h480/Aurora%20anana%20barrel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Aurora on the left, Anana with the barrel.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYt85zfL0-F30vj_Qv0fodTLqp0ZGWBjgmVABe9Lc7BYeObMnN2NKpAh-pLWeUmFGcCCyZlvdGNxkKOCDUe0gtUq_I5JmmINGB6xYwbqWU2ftA7wRks-_4y3zRsTuM9K0eh9F4cJeqG-o2Z8icYN9zRecGVpzXCEG61jEADMRF0w75-oh4VJRIpzXq/s2005/Aurora%20Anana%20green%20roller.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2005" data-original-width="1545" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYt85zfL0-F30vj_Qv0fodTLqp0ZGWBjgmVABe9Lc7BYeObMnN2NKpAh-pLWeUmFGcCCyZlvdGNxkKOCDUe0gtUq_I5JmmINGB6xYwbqWU2ftA7wRks-_4y3zRsTuM9K0eh9F4cJeqG-o2Z8icYN9zRecGVpzXCEG61jEADMRF0w75-oh4VJRIpzXq/w494-h640/Aurora%20Anana%20green%20roller.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana, playing in the water.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As young cubs, they spent a year in Pittsburgh, then moved into the brand new gorgeous polar bear habitat, the Polar Frontier, in the Columbus Zoo, which opened in the Spring of 2010.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To tell the girls apart, keepers started putting some dark paint on Aurora's paw. </span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeQo9bzhbOfhU33_igM4Sb2eehUN5jUfQVn4szEEaqaBLmbJCu7tvhj3tzlaII1r_DRjFQu7m-aFiZtBGrHpZt4lMqsXq2_FdekRKtH4EoeJDtbvDuRWHylyBcq-jvone8SYYCy4gVR8xQ62sa8PFaJbCcb826usCe20cQbN3vEA22P5Qx8czklLn/s2370/Anana%20aurora%20close.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="2370" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeQo9bzhbOfhU33_igM4Sb2eehUN5jUfQVn4szEEaqaBLmbJCu7tvhj3tzlaII1r_DRjFQu7m-aFiZtBGrHpZt4lMqsXq2_FdekRKtH4EoeJDtbvDuRWHylyBcq-jvone8SYYCy4gVR8xQ62sa8PFaJbCcb826usCe20cQbN3vEA22P5Qx8czklLn/w640-h366/Anana%20aurora%20close.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana walking, and twin sister Aurora sitting.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHgR7UXo_dGFJRPskm-YWINN10Cdupz8AtMXltoiVP8Q8CjnVWgZOXkjUWtVwiI__33CLostLfp4hEJredc9FAsZ-REOqDXGHkZI4dpQt01YktlhzGbFsZLOSUJDXSRUiprfEeFE0jx0MHsWzmC0qW2pTet7ZBfibFqDQRTD9bD_ZMV9Q3VkrlQ_g/s2592/Anana%20barrel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHgR7UXo_dGFJRPskm-YWINN10Cdupz8AtMXltoiVP8Q8CjnVWgZOXkjUWtVwiI__33CLostLfp4hEJredc9FAsZ-REOqDXGHkZI4dpQt01YktlhzGbFsZLOSUJDXSRUiprfEeFE0jx0MHsWzmC0qW2pTet7ZBfibFqDQRTD9bD_ZMV9Q3VkrlQ_g/w640-h480/Anana%20barrel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana loved her blue barrels.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYk3AT4rW4RM0oFaYciUJth7n_ixwwG1taBsqAN9XZRg6B4Lzzd5m24LOw_RzFaLLw7ih-5QIHtaM_uTghjBxBbAUlWYW10czT-WmtucPBFDwf-UxbMXDcAiFmKDiAucWtbr8RVkoEtZ_gxiVD8blohiDEP99MdHS9rRXXPEkC9mYjyY9w-wsPihz/s1804/Aurora%20anana%20waterside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1576" data-original-width="1804" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYk3AT4rW4RM0oFaYciUJth7n_ixwwG1taBsqAN9XZRg6B4Lzzd5m24LOw_RzFaLLw7ih-5QIHtaM_uTghjBxBbAUlWYW10czT-WmtucPBFDwf-UxbMXDcAiFmKDiAucWtbr8RVkoEtZ_gxiVD8blohiDEP99MdHS9rRXXPEkC9mYjyY9w-wsPihz/w640-h560/Aurora%20anana%20waterside.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana behind, Aurora on right.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In the summer of 2012, handsome wildborn Nanuq arrived and wooed both sisters. Aurora gave birth to Nora in 2015, and the next year, Aurora had twins, Nuniq and Neva, and Anana gave birth to Amelia Gray. Sadly, Nanuq passed away from the illnesses of old age in 2017.</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc16DjWMYkCB5BoJq8fn9xoQfHjH0NcC6RgBu-DHeH_9fO50Qz42CPQWnwfjXRWTBQuRKy5fwqE8ShAJdED-3h8lGfdMg8eYfUusYFJelVnE8xbeKaSZuWYF9vhjChW6Gi4YUdD2P7-HlNHzf22Ues-KlS851zEOHZmyOIyXkmfLRNeLDF0bVbi3_/s2259/nanuq%20and%20girls.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="2259" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc16DjWMYkCB5BoJq8fn9xoQfHjH0NcC6RgBu-DHeH_9fO50Qz42CPQWnwfjXRWTBQuRKy5fwqE8ShAJdED-3h8lGfdMg8eYfUusYFJelVnE8xbeKaSZuWYF9vhjChW6Gi4YUdD2P7-HlNHzf22Ues-KlS851zEOHZmyOIyXkmfLRNeLDF0bVbi3_/w640-h448/nanuq%20and%20girls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It all changed when Nanuq, in center, arrived. Anana on the left. <br />Aurora (on the right) has her paw painted.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVLwly7-UML7ewyCzJjvf0VcWGhmy96MgtsFhXIC6s_HM-XIcaXz_Tv1edxmHy2cYDPhLbKBBZt6YJze_FoNC-cQIH3PpbPQODKkN9l8kXmFMqBkTv4PMYUBRRxUDIlDF9VCIuzBAnQ3BkW_wIEqIx6AV9zG-6LY2gCv113p0iMKcUu1vSNkQh9WZ/s2592/Amelia%20Anana%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2292" data-original-width="2592" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVLwly7-UML7ewyCzJjvf0VcWGhmy96MgtsFhXIC6s_HM-XIcaXz_Tv1edxmHy2cYDPhLbKBBZt6YJze_FoNC-cQIH3PpbPQODKkN9l8kXmFMqBkTv4PMYUBRRxUDIlDF9VCIuzBAnQ3BkW_wIEqIx6AV9zG-6LY2gCv113p0iMKcUu1vSNkQh9WZ/w640-h566/Amelia%20Anana%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana as a mom, to cub Amelia Gray.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyTCKRbyfvE_piLI-TTtVpxFzp8YVznzA54zaJcWb9PW6Xilelp_j1eneDFu5Qzx5xs68nPuhllI8OLgxu97vWqxxv56CNqN8CA3kbMP6gTvr0hX3cojFL8zxs4F7pf8x-ZauktsbsbnUdyNYvhv3sADw2o9Ep1QbwX36zHfdTQ3nLHeCBUvfEV-_/s2976/Anana%20Mom%20cub.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2436" data-original-width="2976" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyTCKRbyfvE_piLI-TTtVpxFzp8YVznzA54zaJcWb9PW6Xilelp_j1eneDFu5Qzx5xs68nPuhllI8OLgxu97vWqxxv56CNqN8CA3kbMP6gTvr0hX3cojFL8zxs4F7pf8x-ZauktsbsbnUdyNYvhv3sADw2o9Ep1QbwX36zHfdTQ3nLHeCBUvfEV-_/w640-h524/Anana%20Mom%20cub.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Little Amelia Gray and Anana</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXveXdhs3CS4-6tJHK2Wj7elHf9fRwAo0g1THG5OkIWZtzVu-uLx65OfNN1oRkTIDOlGhYSU6gEu2_rltJrFfidq6pnPaANAVGzQCsEDB046r0w1gCjJxDG0iNQXZoKuzuyKJRBNUqar2o9-9reiMBVAuOmT3iqPda3ivaDVtf9lR9XG0ufRM2l8Tz/s2718/Anana%20Amelia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2379" data-original-width="2718" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXveXdhs3CS4-6tJHK2Wj7elHf9fRwAo0g1THG5OkIWZtzVu-uLx65OfNN1oRkTIDOlGhYSU6gEu2_rltJrFfidq6pnPaANAVGzQCsEDB046r0w1gCjJxDG0iNQXZoKuzuyKJRBNUqar2o9-9reiMBVAuOmT3iqPda3ivaDVtf9lR9XG0ufRM2l8Tz/w640-h560/Anana%20Amelia.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Amelia Gray and mom Anana.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnRKfWTS9i34C4g-exqAjznGcHshVav875Sn8GMuq-ckK_rQr8o4a5dYBz9McNh4ufiaWHCXnQ3VORneORlBz1ni_X5833R9c-aKmGKz9QmU9PPDRws8VclxUjpj3TQD4qokCAyy9ebgrIWdWpHLarxuR4KLx-1NanTdUuE_eX1TaxVuZVUivNHvp/s2829/Amelia%20bite%20mom.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2220" data-original-width="2829" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnRKfWTS9i34C4g-exqAjznGcHshVav875Sn8GMuq-ckK_rQr8o4a5dYBz9McNh4ufiaWHCXnQ3VORneORlBz1ni_X5833R9c-aKmGKz9QmU9PPDRws8VclxUjpj3TQD4qokCAyy9ebgrIWdWpHLarxuR4KLx-1NanTdUuE_eX1TaxVuZVUivNHvp/w640-h502/Amelia%20bite%20mom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Amelia Gray gives her mom a love bite.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A new male bear, Lee, came along and Aurora gave birth to Kulu in 2019. To make room for the cub, Lee moved to Louisville. When Kulu was old enough, Auntie Anana became very involved in his life, and was the best playmate a cub could wish for.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgs0i9jEhlLhxcrDHTV_sJCfrRVbCoaeCfoot3FLsgM_DA1Zowue4r8VP97TV7plJJmLT51yyeEIIxkLkVkHvsfqizHgM8ODltba3S_GfE3SfdO4dEcycAn3wgXcC-L3MQFu024qWdcmlN5ivw8ut7DroLgAfdbGWjZSTjhqh0Wth4NMDSbn4Zipv4/s5184/anana%20lettuce%20kulu.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgs0i9jEhlLhxcrDHTV_sJCfrRVbCoaeCfoot3FLsgM_DA1Zowue4r8VP97TV7plJJmLT51yyeEIIxkLkVkHvsfqizHgM8ODltba3S_GfE3SfdO4dEcycAn3wgXcC-L3MQFu024qWdcmlN5ivw8ut7DroLgAfdbGWjZSTjhqh0Wth4NMDSbn4Zipv4/w426-h640/anana%20lettuce%20kulu.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana with her nephew Kulu.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpvuDHV5lgN-4LprI6iWELdSyoPPo2x_2l5-MCzVUE4up7cwr7qCZlTjpD3NGEI1tQc8HXRzbVoWgEpI8JKO2Be-np-K-RdFanhy8yTLW11wVWo46PjE3Q9EPCbGvBObYB669wdjjLnDm4eGJ-HzgKDM-CVH0NQp-jvT57zhJj_iuqS4gdCYp-ueI/s3592/anana%20kulu%20aurora.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2196" data-original-width="3592" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpvuDHV5lgN-4LprI6iWELdSyoPPo2x_2l5-MCzVUE4up7cwr7qCZlTjpD3NGEI1tQc8HXRzbVoWgEpI8JKO2Be-np-K-RdFanhy8yTLW11wVWo46PjE3Q9EPCbGvBObYB669wdjjLnDm4eGJ-HzgKDM-CVH0NQp-jvT57zhJj_iuqS4gdCYp-ueI/w640-h392/anana%20kulu%20aurora.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Auntie Anana on left, with Kulu (center) and his mother Aurora.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi194n5IpQCZIaFMMBVg4pIjDq9IPcj4fFuxo5ByoQn9myarrXZ2vmJvRMDUKTQpG8GCoHrv6n-BrOBdBevtmRLmEECqa-Ew5eQn1MMn88qhHQ0xO0_UcVh554Hu9Gkj0_BGjo1bj-lVqnLyB9ESEFvJWatrCHjV3bZez8XJQSyGrOPseFsyUCysPVC/s5184/anana%20kulu%20water%20fight.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi194n5IpQCZIaFMMBVg4pIjDq9IPcj4fFuxo5ByoQn9myarrXZ2vmJvRMDUKTQpG8GCoHrv6n-BrOBdBevtmRLmEECqa-Ew5eQn1MMn88qhHQ0xO0_UcVh554Hu9Gkj0_BGjo1bj-lVqnLyB9ESEFvJWatrCHjV3bZez8XJQSyGrOPseFsyUCysPVC/w640-h426/anana%20kulu%20water%20fight.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana and her nephew Kulu loved their water battles.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">After Kulu left for Como Zoo in Minnesota last fall, it was just the two sisters again. Anana and Aurora.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">An Artificial Insemination attempt was made last March for both girls, using the sperm from Lee, who was still living in Louisville. The summer came and went, and everything seemed fine. Aurora, surprisingly enough, decided to den up in September. </span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-DipSbhGYoQT3BLoLoK2Kjp-TmQQyqkFejAvGBSj-lFMe_UhG_jy2t8ljW27btuCZwu_d41E46w85vbAeWzjNn3oO0TKKvlQMiHulie9aXarHnFwMbrnubbNUf2xI_rpXXxwUD1cNX3QyFBviM5oL9q2O1E8A20yLP2EYj9AL7yJvVFGFcgErVOM/s2511/ananaswim.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1938" data-original-width="2511" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-DipSbhGYoQT3BLoLoK2Kjp-TmQQyqkFejAvGBSj-lFMe_UhG_jy2t8ljW27btuCZwu_d41E46w85vbAeWzjNn3oO0TKKvlQMiHulie9aXarHnFwMbrnubbNUf2xI_rpXXxwUD1cNX3QyFBviM5oL9q2O1E8A20yLP2EYj9AL7yJvVFGFcgErVOM/w640-h494/ananaswim.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anana in the underwater viewing area.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">All was not well with Anana, however. Some unspecified health problems kept her behind the scenes for the past month, and her health declined rapidly in recent days. She was put to sleep on Wednesday, October 12. We may find out her cause of declining health in a few weeks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The loss of Anana is a devastating blow to all those who loved her, especially her keepers who have known her for most of her life. Aurora will wonder where her twin sister has gone, but they have been separated before, when one or both were busy with cubs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It is also a loss for the polar bear breeding program, for Anana was a proven mother, and there was hope for more cubs in the future.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Columbus Zoo has a stunningly beautiful polar bear habitat, and the bears seem to really enjoy the pools, the live fish, all the dead trees on which to climb, the caves. It is so well planned. And for now, there is only Aurora, and the possibility of progeny. If Aurora does indeed give birth, it will be the first time AI has been successful on a polar bear, which has delayed implantation, greatly complicating the process.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRNOJG3x5nHRfPs9-TwK27HI-o8nL6zMLC5v9sRjCzwMCptXdo3zYtfNXCiJ0ZOO2eOJXJVM1IrqEfQ6zbB1e-urIDIrt_0bHhi4KY_O9MSNh4eHIeTmyEeNWLH3mIqiOAIUpkEdvBr6ie2uw2gmHLr84g5X9bOJ4x3Zgr4rdO2c-qDMbq01W4XXY/s2592/Aurora%20Anana.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRNOJG3x5nHRfPs9-TwK27HI-o8nL6zMLC5v9sRjCzwMCptXdo3zYtfNXCiJ0ZOO2eOJXJVM1IrqEfQ6zbB1e-urIDIrt_0bHhi4KY_O9MSNh4eHIeTmyEeNWLH3mIqiOAIUpkEdvBr6ie2uw2gmHLr84g5X9bOJ4x3Zgr4rdO2c-qDMbq01W4XXY/w640-h480/Aurora%20Anana.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Aurora and Anana, in 2011.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Columbus is close by, and I visited often over the years. I last saw Anana in mid August, and she was just napping in the central area, in the shade of the tunnel, where I have often seen her before. She woke for a moment, looked at me, and I smiled back. I never thought this would be the last time I would see her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For now, we dwell on the happy memories of watching Anana sunning herself next to her sister, playing with her blue barrels, diving for life fish, swimming happily in the rain, jumping up at the visitors at the window, and playing with her daughter Amelia Gray, and her nephew Kulu. She had a good life, just not nearly long enough.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgab-4xT--E1SSMBpuaXqUrGpwwtg28OYAZmor36wNMYqPyLs4fltXdSn-Qug_iU1KL5Vw8sV7viP_DvkHaoKLYaLE6aivDjBabniteCzJUV2hzjAyP8zQXAlHmppQZsjOy-uAZpNUGcvSUUSQ6nvHLkmx360JX6OTSGrsdBMRkOq3k1ehPFC8P_N97/s5184/anana%20last%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgab-4xT--E1SSMBpuaXqUrGpwwtg28OYAZmor36wNMYqPyLs4fltXdSn-Qug_iU1KL5Vw8sV7viP_DvkHaoKLYaLE6aivDjBabniteCzJUV2hzjAyP8zQXAlHmppQZsjOy-uAZpNUGcvSUUSQ6nvHLkmx360JX6OTSGrsdBMRkOq3k1ehPFC8P_N97/w640-h426/anana%20last%20photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My last photo of Anana, taken in mid-August 2022.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-40317851474784303972022-09-16T06:43:00.002-07:002022-09-16T06:46:56.960-07:00A new chapter for Jebbie<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFd0tjblwvertJh38i-h6VUIKlcZNdPIlbdQR69-ma3rak_lec_0hGYllg-CF5PfQeZm7mJJnA0BJOy6L1Mjl4T-ySDF4vZH1rinuzF46CDAI_6Z2jpI4RZ7EF6gsimrRr7zErTVlgpTlqqh9wJ6A1Bs8_WNspvHe6nNQv44TkKijXV4Mx-3AHkeO4/s2515/jebbie%20pattycake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2515" data-original-width="1955" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFd0tjblwvertJh38i-h6VUIKlcZNdPIlbdQR69-ma3rak_lec_0hGYllg-CF5PfQeZm7mJJnA0BJOy6L1Mjl4T-ySDF4vZH1rinuzF46CDAI_6Z2jpI4RZ7EF6gsimrRr7zErTVlgpTlqqh9wJ6A1Bs8_WNspvHe6nNQv44TkKijXV4Mx-3AHkeO4/w498-h640/jebbie%20pattycake.jpg" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Little Jebbie in October of 2021. Playing Pattycake.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpYME2AZ_BUbT6N67C4gX6-MSFW7QZRvm-pwPgo54EIx9muyoxiMpP6zynLhSZ-9OYDOfxsNfTb-cWv9NKEGZrhsx2V94ilVCiWQagfmDO4zepja_pZubSZ1NLNfmGjcFqIQIDAkGT36EZ1ykZf_y0W6qOGHBxIVVXWLs6Jd3zmorAAwS954Bjd0T/s4420/Jebbie%20stand.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4420" data-original-width="2470" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpYME2AZ_BUbT6N67C4gX6-MSFW7QZRvm-pwPgo54EIx9muyoxiMpP6zynLhSZ-9OYDOfxsNfTb-cWv9NKEGZrhsx2V94ilVCiWQagfmDO4zepja_pZubSZ1NLNfmGjcFqIQIDAkGT36EZ1ykZf_y0W6qOGHBxIVVXWLs6Jd3zmorAAwS954Bjd0T/w358-h640/Jebbie%20stand.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jebbie last week, September 2022</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It was a beautiful friendship between the little polar bear cub Laerke and her rescued companion Jebbie, the grizzly cub. But all good things must come to an end, and Jebbie, now about 20 months old, has left the Detroit Zoo for a wildlife sanctuary near Denver, Colorado, where he will have space to run around and play and be his best self as he grows up. I hope there will be other young grizzly bears for him to play with there.</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLdtlDgT8Jmx2Vw-rDWWFk202Xjydq62obmIEgvUmxH6VvVPliR8mRYAjZCFnGAvkpa8fTvFh7QEpHSHkeF05ocQaJhhfX5C14_is4m9H_d2Gw-sd2Q8c3C--Ii4Kp0fLZ4cuf7ZUsNY_yA8sXrjxPPSL0bWtWKW2xdTXXB23MLfFfXaARWroflLO/s2784/Jebbie%20bear%20hug.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="2408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLdtlDgT8Jmx2Vw-rDWWFk202Xjydq62obmIEgvUmxH6VvVPliR8mRYAjZCFnGAvkpa8fTvFh7QEpHSHkeF05ocQaJhhfX5C14_is4m9H_d2Gw-sd2Q8c3C--Ii4Kp0fLZ4cuf7ZUsNY_yA8sXrjxPPSL0bWtWKW2xdTXXB23MLfFfXaARWroflLO/w554-h640/Jebbie%20bear%20hug.jpg" width="554" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jebbie on land, Laerke in the water, this is how they often played.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Little Jebbie, then only a few months old, had been found wandering in an Alaskan village in June of 2021, and brought to the Alaska Zoo, then to the Detroit Zoo to be a companion to Laerke, a polar bear cub being raised by hand. </span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-re2N-7aLOmTlPq6_ZI1Wlw2cCSrhGwq2mW_gp0LSAo7QbjMmqcOcNFYoyKhV6VdSF4EZYwQeRcSdDyJrxfoS6kHFRPMLPThW8GMXPY4VWnfNjgWqHVYjVPTgUTTfxcei2zcR42JblPgbfdborUwd-Sll_EBi1q5LN-jnJ19e0mfk21kuT5pJ3_X/s2590/jebbie%20stand%20up%20laerke.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2590" data-original-width="2560" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-re2N-7aLOmTlPq6_ZI1Wlw2cCSrhGwq2mW_gp0LSAo7QbjMmqcOcNFYoyKhV6VdSF4EZYwQeRcSdDyJrxfoS6kHFRPMLPThW8GMXPY4VWnfNjgWqHVYjVPTgUTTfxcei2zcR42JblPgbfdborUwd-Sll_EBi1q5LN-jnJ19e0mfk21kuT5pJ3_X/w632-h640/jebbie%20stand%20up%20laerke.jpg" width="632" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Cubs at play, October of last year</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Laerke needed to learn the social skills important for a bear to know, skills that can only be learned by interacting with another bear. This pairing would also provide Jebbie with those important experiences too.</span></p></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-KURvgcEzIj0wtjpsDeZ1pOVAFHQGgLVSVwbdu_I4CpehwFd9lbnZ4DtmiRJ34-76Qv28NIe3JUwjydsE5Snezo4kTf4CwPjUay9BPdWdnuwT2843uJ3okcofOEmp8d_WBoj4BBsSIuA10fupjQT-7uqiR30mog_bzl3XVnvpPHvajqAZDcg86HK/s2345/laerke%20jebbie%20fight.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2345" data-original-width="2100" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-KURvgcEzIj0wtjpsDeZ1pOVAFHQGgLVSVwbdu_I4CpehwFd9lbnZ4DtmiRJ34-76Qv28NIe3JUwjydsE5Snezo4kTf4CwPjUay9BPdWdnuwT2843uJ3okcofOEmp8d_WBoj4BBsSIuA10fupjQT-7uqiR30mog_bzl3XVnvpPHvajqAZDcg86HK/w574-h640/laerke%20jebbie%20fight.jpg" width="574" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke and Jebbie liked to spar. Play is how bears learn.<br /> (October of last year).</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Laerke's twin sister Astra was being raised by their mother Suka, but Laerke had suffered life threatening medical issues in her first few days, and had to be removed from the den and bottle-fed. As Laerke grew, the Detroit Zoo sought a suitable playmate for her. Jebbie seemed to be a good match, and he needed a place to thrive as well.</span></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_Kuys8E4Fof3g3zQMqTUUz8nwCmdodNxddnTFU26fKfaVoB1rymIXAEtc2NzWyhvSkvs4E0wO14cWH_6Y14UVX3sC_TPH_zfHJb62sOsMJ1xcpjpQdWA8wiTrtzEqAEeOH0l6wEJxPcFk4iTMJtl6lh2dzttWWF5I0WnWeUJq5QPgEClLQKiu7of/s2640/laerke%20jebbie%20race.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="2640" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_Kuys8E4Fof3g3zQMqTUUz8nwCmdodNxddnTFU26fKfaVoB1rymIXAEtc2NzWyhvSkvs4E0wO14cWH_6Y14UVX3sC_TPH_zfHJb62sOsMJ1xcpjpQdWA8wiTrtzEqAEeOH0l6wEJxPcFk4iTMJtl6lh2dzttWWF5I0WnWeUJq5QPgEClLQKiu7of/w640-h476/laerke%20jebbie%20race.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laerke and Jebbie romping about the Tundra in October of last year</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">So by the end of summer, this little odd couple, the polar bear cub and the grizzly cub, were wrestling and running around the tundra area of the Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life. Occasionally, Laerke, as a polar bear cub and a marine animal, spent time in the pool, and Jebbie, a land oriented grizzly, would be on the shore. Most of the time, however, they were together, tumbling around, chasing each other, and doing what cubs enjoy.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YSqTuieMbY9VtIHWGRnjd88XFX4WnxVUNjylZsLupWLakmGKtzba5til19gLMwUWkIRyPl62z-iO5BL0eDhvH71X3ocuQNs0lU3xY1B0PYmAXv-JM-Xl7G5tnQWuGovjURsvAcbLIynr35b4_owJ9T_4DVcFCjb5pn3-n0IlPwAea-dyipDm0Vi6/s3184/Jebbie%20stand%20tall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3184" data-original-width="2444" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YSqTuieMbY9VtIHWGRnjd88XFX4WnxVUNjylZsLupWLakmGKtzba5til19gLMwUWkIRyPl62z-iO5BL0eDhvH71X3ocuQNs0lU3xY1B0PYmAXv-JM-Xl7G5tnQWuGovjURsvAcbLIynr35b4_owJ9T_4DVcFCjb5pn3-n0IlPwAea-dyipDm0Vi6/w492-h640/Jebbie%20stand%20tall.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Little Jebbie in October 2021<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsxX473b77iqPZYuDh5Z4pTKCsT8bhpSt66uuHxFNi7aG0TMOUNomZTRGLH5WvQKWfKz759EYkDKSRsbA3Fa7JtYAKfBg7PwFviSB9SN02aNeyiUHcF6JTBuMx6JrSv3yvGfFLZSoLO06-fyeO-2AuGAn7IGZFeXX4xNBD1vHtLjKUU6_YXYMfbX5/s1890/jebbie%20smile.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="1890" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsxX473b77iqPZYuDh5Z4pTKCsT8bhpSt66uuHxFNi7aG0TMOUNomZTRGLH5WvQKWfKz759EYkDKSRsbA3Fa7JtYAKfBg7PwFviSB9SN02aNeyiUHcF6JTBuMx6JrSv3yvGfFLZSoLO06-fyeO-2AuGAn7IGZFeXX4xNBD1vHtLjKUU6_YXYMfbX5/w640-h640/jebbie%20smile.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jebbie last week</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">For six or seven months, these two taught each other important life lessons while they played. But Jebbie grew faster than Laerke, partly because he is a grizzly bear, but partly because Laerke lags behind in growth due to her early medical problems. The time had come to separate the two friends for safety reasons. Jebbie didn't realize how much stronger he was than Laerke.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Detroit Zoo has been home to three orphaned grizzly bear brothers, Mike, Thor and Boo, since they were rescued in Alaska in 2011 after their mother was shot and killed illegally, but it was felt that Jebbie would not be welcomed into their bonded group, and he needed to find a home elsewhere.</span></span></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DMa9rq3n9vYFYU2sgJwSwBhOTZHS3Rqen4cHqstTFkHUHdw36ImRFF6YOqde1dVfg1zDBgdpXpZa5VMiNGYRMV4_rBwxkE_4DG4NOuoSthbG793Rt5y0PNbrHmiBGtdI54qlizZtaz_CVI2qN2xk5e2h9BzyzLq_eLxHsWnm_P2_qM8igeXXGJXZ/s4396/Jebbie%20eye%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="4396" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DMa9rq3n9vYFYU2sgJwSwBhOTZHS3Rqen4cHqstTFkHUHdw36ImRFF6YOqde1dVfg1zDBgdpXpZa5VMiNGYRMV4_rBwxkE_4DG4NOuoSthbG793Rt5y0PNbrHmiBGtdI54qlizZtaz_CVI2qN2xk5e2h9BzyzLq_eLxHsWnm_P2_qM8igeXXGJXZ/w640-h448/Jebbie%20eye%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jebbie and the ball last week.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_qd3rAH4DKUdhYiiSNKxM-qFefiYuan8GWcDY7ZQf3_h7zxp0RGkms28CWk-Eeakiy9GcHkdWuqBkTggUV91Pb-6HDsuvBmC-7M2iWUXx1qlY2S2SFjwlvM-qiy7t6RuK6P4OlrLXk6N4xUg78v1MWzssA_Rd1gNplCFgVnxUPdFj6faBDQXbIof/s3948/Jebbie%20ball%20side.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3395" data-original-width="3948" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_qd3rAH4DKUdhYiiSNKxM-qFefiYuan8GWcDY7ZQf3_h7zxp0RGkms28CWk-Eeakiy9GcHkdWuqBkTggUV91Pb-6HDsuvBmC-7M2iWUXx1qlY2S2SFjwlvM-qiy7t6RuK6P4OlrLXk6N4xUg78v1MWzssA_Rd1gNplCFgVnxUPdFj6faBDQXbIof/w640-h550/Jebbie%20ball%20side.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jebbie tests the ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULKR5e3WfzvulQoiFQjOy9oCR8xLLQpS_fgBlToyEr4izbg7fG0blBlWUto4m0QxXnizhuhXcYg0jrlyQ7_yBYTpCNK9w8MyGiy3KOLh6qPQDwGTKkLe_u3xIBu4Wxz2uOjWRWrGHvVOu_TjvTipb69AO6bz7Mc5P-xONhxDS3i_VHSxaNJdQ10C9/s2835/jebbie%20hide%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="2471" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULKR5e3WfzvulQoiFQjOy9oCR8xLLQpS_fgBlToyEr4izbg7fG0blBlWUto4m0QxXnizhuhXcYg0jrlyQ7_yBYTpCNK9w8MyGiy3KOLh6qPQDwGTKkLe_u3xIBu4Wxz2uOjWRWrGHvVOu_TjvTipb69AO6bz7Mc5P-xONhxDS3i_VHSxaNJdQ10C9/w558-h640/jebbie%20hide%20ball.jpg" width="558" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jebbie thinks about going bowling.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Laerke now weighs 290 pounds, while Jebbie weighs 490 pounds, the same as Astra, Laerke's twin sister.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLebWDGsIWHkRGKZpVhqBWHYpDvieOoEHzd58pAPZJLIRs_FAIMqX6hcyDi3UFbfDF24NBlEwejd_sh6TysfeLAfmJhj85_VfCYNdN1AbcujUrjAwy0QxxIxOOv2ZckCCS6-AIbo8p7rv_QHthXbHcLy5yuNo0yYY116fcRbpO24PPpgWBokDoliC8/s2100/jebbie%20wistful.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2044" data-original-width="2100" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLebWDGsIWHkRGKZpVhqBWHYpDvieOoEHzd58pAPZJLIRs_FAIMqX6hcyDi3UFbfDF24NBlEwejd_sh6TysfeLAfmJhj85_VfCYNdN1AbcujUrjAwy0QxxIxOOv2ZckCCS6-AIbo8p7rv_QHthXbHcLy5yuNo0yYY116fcRbpO24PPpgWBokDoliC8/w640-h622/jebbie%20wistful.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A silly face from Jebbie</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">For some months, Jebbie stayed in the same underground area near Laerke, and they would still see each other, but they were not allowed to be together in the outside habitat. About a month ago, Jebbie moved across the road to the small enclosure behind the primary grizzly habitat. There wasn't much room to run, but he got busy removing the few trees that remained. The keepers prepared him for the upcoming move by training him to go into the traveling crate and be comfortable there.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week, he took down the last tree, with great satisfaction. He was ready to make the trip to his new home in Colorado. </span></span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuS2DKwYymaWVL9yEIWgcGE1P0PM-oQ6k-U7gdA6SfZZ4XXNzZPkPLZJxB25EAnNjF67cHSQKS9Ze0f28kU42Yr_k_81ubFTiogLdLmI2vDdfsZThIIfNgDYqe4ZNERX7qQ1fNrpQLxa8xIZRHSgVIIUMBuewizTrnwWBJJ87rgUuJ3CeDDpKd9J6L/s4690/Jebbie%20tree%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3045" data-original-width="4690" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuS2DKwYymaWVL9yEIWgcGE1P0PM-oQ6k-U7gdA6SfZZ4XXNzZPkPLZJxB25EAnNjF67cHSQKS9Ze0f28kU42Yr_k_81ubFTiogLdLmI2vDdfsZThIIfNgDYqe4ZNERX7qQ1fNrpQLxa8xIZRHSgVIIUMBuewizTrnwWBJJ87rgUuJ3CeDDpKd9J6L/w640-h416/Jebbie%20tree%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jebbie the morning after he took down the last tree, behind him.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good luck, Jebbie. Grow up to be a beautiful grizzly bear in your new home in Colorado.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__cr9o4a-rSIdP-fxLMflc-oOAjf4gFC26ZpZvMwAY4NSvW6NqizXs_7XcObpN3VH0BxmxBgkuO8MLpe_QmEh9IvQGsLEhNC430As2JO8thPcqAkepdY4pd2E-azqGlb901kHVXx1crK5UAXtWcKJebNkqBJUJA_ivmI9bkI5GG8fPlvgBJ0RhWlY/s5184/IMG_7017.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__cr9o4a-rSIdP-fxLMflc-oOAjf4gFC26ZpZvMwAY4NSvW6NqizXs_7XcObpN3VH0BxmxBgkuO8MLpe_QmEh9IvQGsLEhNC430As2JO8thPcqAkepdY4pd2E-azqGlb901kHVXx1crK5UAXtWcKJebNkqBJUJA_ivmI9bkI5GG8fPlvgBJ0RhWlY/w640-h426/IMG_7017.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Decorated pumpkins at the Detroit Zoo in 2021 depict<br /> Jebbie and Laerke.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-6887947638326497922022-09-14T19:24:00.018-07:002022-11-17T12:23:28.251-08:00Crystal a lady in waiting<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzh8yEtYfIy2odbfZrrqDMUe5ESJR5fp13mYbkkKX-8QWdS_rm081EvPdES6V2pb07ashotojDDeq4kpQaZGA3NmFCimI9XN5zThLn3AFQkQbKi3s6NVPwSe5PXdI4UUj2OD4Zuw-tRCgOg1eQiNsUyBTz-pKdEqE2xa5iznHgPcIKVKUUA-_wJwsA/s4044/crystal%20fish%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4044" data-original-width="2802" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzh8yEtYfIy2odbfZrrqDMUe5ESJR5fp13mYbkkKX-8QWdS_rm081EvPdES6V2pb07ashotojDDeq4kpQaZGA3NmFCimI9XN5zThLn3AFQkQbKi3s6NVPwSe5PXdI4UUj2OD4Zuw-tRCgOg1eQiNsUyBTz-pKdEqE2xa5iznHgPcIKVKUUA-_wJwsA/w444-h640/crystal%20fish%202.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Crystal</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal, mother or grandmother of every US zoo polar bear cub born in the past nine years, may not be shutting down the nursery just yet. While Marty, her lifetime mate and father of all her seven children, may have died last November, she welcomed a new temporary companion in Nuka, and reports of mating last spring have raised hopes that Crystal (nearly 24 years old), may give birth this fall. After all, the late Uslada of Leningrad Zoo in St. Petersburg, Russia, gave birth to her final cub (of 17) when she was 26 years old.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So far, Crystal is the mother of seven cubs, and grandmother of another seven. And Nuka is known to be fertile.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nuka is the father of Crystal's daughter Suka's twins in the Detroit Zoo. Since one of the twins, Laerke, needed to be raised separately, it was felt that moving Nuka to Toledo last winter would give Suka and her twins the space they needed.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jCcMVVGwlZGcRbjgLk6-ev1AaGsfqKtRXVREPPYFALAkyJsDROFCGGRa9y9bQglKceNddGeXc0QyC0rd-JPvO-Ln6xH5xj3jAAAO1mlV8OaCht-JWL6amk_mHYtuSDgHfk0PEhPFM2VM9gm3I0YHvvKcn0lzxb7FccUJ6hLOy6TFjA6tYtuaaRkc/s5184/Nuka%20stand.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jCcMVVGwlZGcRbjgLk6-ev1AaGsfqKtRXVREPPYFALAkyJsDROFCGGRa9y9bQglKceNddGeXc0QyC0rd-JPvO-Ln6xH5xj3jAAAO1mlV8OaCht-JWL6amk_mHYtuSDgHfk0PEhPFM2VM9gm3I0YHvvKcn0lzxb7FccUJ6hLOy6TFjA6tYtuaaRkc/w640-h426/Nuka%20stand.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nuka in the Detroit Zoo last fall. <br />He was behind the scenes when I visited Toledo last week.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Currently Nuka and Crystal are being kept separate, and only Crystal was out on the day I visited, Nuka has his days in the public eye too and the Toledo Zoo has large areas in the back, so whichever bear is not in the public enclosure has plenty of space.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The plan is for Nuka to return to the Detroit Zoo when Astra, the twin being raised by her mother, is weaned, and the two young girl cubs can be introduced. Then Nuka could be brought back to live with Suka in the coming months. After the twin girls are reunited, they may move to another zoo together.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUp-8bZp3fJewSQYU_klB3UXUuJ24w-DFhpruI0TmMyVi4HxOPvkcF5ZNL6NuWwwU7VDlEbyga4aGMzoiijYRU2EQ9zCNiYBHkdNazbcxirtilvV0NwGsFDSVWpVYbRARiRZpNYEvM0spILFPEfwis__Xj3uRyDZRg_bFLeD3Ks75TWdEZSJfVjSm/s2225/twin%20sisters%20astra%20laerke.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2225" data-original-width="2035" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUp-8bZp3fJewSQYU_klB3UXUuJ24w-DFhpruI0TmMyVi4HxOPvkcF5ZNL6NuWwwU7VDlEbyga4aGMzoiijYRU2EQ9zCNiYBHkdNazbcxirtilvV0NwGsFDSVWpVYbRARiRZpNYEvM0spILFPEfwis__Xj3uRyDZRg_bFLeD3Ks75TWdEZSJfVjSm/w586-h640/twin%20sisters%20astra%20laerke.jpg" width="586" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nuka's twin daughters, Astra (back) and Laerke, in October of<br /> last year. They are also granddaughters of Crystal.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">A docent confirmed that Crystal has been putting on weight recently. Her fur looks perfect. Don't be surprised if she starts denning up soon, which is normal for female polar bears, even if they are not pregnant.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crystal is an immigrant bear. She was born in Monde Sauvage, Aywaille, Belgium on November 10, 1998 to parents Saskia and Orca Also in Monde Sauvage was Crystal's five year old sister Blanche, who still lives there.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When Crystal was about a year and a half old, she was flown across the Atlantic Ocean to Toledo, Ohio, where there was a beautiful new polar bear habitat with a saltwater pool, the Arctic Encounter. Awaiting her arrival was a young male bear, born in Brookfield Zoo in 1996, named Marty. The next year, another female, wildborn Nan, born in 1994, arrived.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZdJJB3s-x4N0MD-z1rD5hBl8HftJmiSoSckR6XOLOv7xs72A75QHs9UgNpp0eP0t45jE3z-YwtNtaqBwY2iC0m7J4vjnnVwm7VtBRTgjAHY7-6Mg8xFCGpobW5MZ6R3zjGl8CvCgoDaBtCrh1XvIdwzFIAjmVB0R6dygpBjipjBqq2x5TB65v2pn/s2630/Nangirl2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2410" data-original-width="2630" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZdJJB3s-x4N0MD-z1rD5hBl8HftJmiSoSckR6XOLOv7xs72A75QHs9UgNpp0eP0t45jE3z-YwtNtaqBwY2iC0m7J4vjnnVwm7VtBRTgjAHY7-6Mg8xFCGpobW5MZ6R3zjGl8CvCgoDaBtCrh1XvIdwzFIAjmVB0R6dygpBjipjBqq2x5TB65v2pn/w640-h586/Nangirl2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nan in 2014 Toledo Zoo<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The autumn of 2006 saw both female bears at the Arctic Encounter giving birth. Crystal had twin daughters, Aurora and Anana (now in Columbus), and Nan gave birth to a son, Nikita (now in Hogle Zoo). </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f00e1-Jq2oxucVQ5Yd0CcEZCOx0kcvZI0wtAa9Yrfp0wGkcZeRvM6cPabvSxMDkWGRbqW8iCOS_7-ecvWlWjWQiviW6LWBVzwvbiWmMD4hQh-Z-p69hyuGDY4XFgVUgbjKHqNqAuW0OT6DIhPoydbj7ejzHOA7TkRiHXY515sfIb9ZlqBV_rp6yp/s1845/footplay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1845" data-original-width="1635" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f00e1-Jq2oxucVQ5Yd0CcEZCOx0kcvZI0wtAa9Yrfp0wGkcZeRvM6cPabvSxMDkWGRbqW8iCOS_7-ecvWlWjWQiviW6LWBVzwvbiWmMD4hQh-Z-p69hyuGDY4XFgVUgbjKHqNqAuW0OT6DIhPoydbj7ejzHOA7TkRiHXY515sfIb9ZlqBV_rp6yp/w568-h640/footplay.jpg" width="568" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Siku and his mom Crystal in 2010.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">2009 brought the birth of Crystal's son Siku (now in Lincoln Park, Chicago.)</span></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9hrkaG7mMAloyaeMKmI2fFlsJcXmkceFPyO-BkkrYha5LlmmOdFtvOc6ns2Ctst4XZHm1WIdzmZ-Q2dqyDE4F0gBWc0rMdvGBLd4f48k9Rc2xs33mfcdirV-5HyZjz6QQwziu9kNkDhvH0ujNqbDY4gzvGXT1jK5P1y7KbG3uXqn8H1CToJ0zsiz/s3264/Crystal%20nursing%20twins.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9hrkaG7mMAloyaeMKmI2fFlsJcXmkceFPyO-BkkrYha5LlmmOdFtvOc6ns2Ctst4XZHm1WIdzmZ-Q2dqyDE4F0gBWc0rMdvGBLd4f48k9Rc2xs33mfcdirV-5HyZjz6QQwziu9kNkDhvH0ujNqbDY4gzvGXT1jK5P1y7KbG3uXqn8H1CToJ0zsiz/w480-h640/Crystal%20nursing%20twins.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal nursing Sakari and Suka in 2013.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cubs just kept coming for Crystal. In 2012 she gave birth to twins, a boy named Sakari (now in Buffalo) and a girl named Suka (now in Detroit). </span></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpG3zsZUNx1X2A7aKaXDWq_uBhVX8-7GFuZPAXp4jTf-6zKvnws8qqNvDfajespTXxitLfu1diDIPSYLFn2bFfN4T0GWihSwiWTHAAJgvEFD45Lqk7Ch-cl3Hn6Y1s-L3hy5DBfvgCnwxHmT7RxvE7v_c1R8iKZvFWkD_L36DFVKjCDJ6IF7WC7oo/s3264/Crystal%20sakari%20suka.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpG3zsZUNx1X2A7aKaXDWq_uBhVX8-7GFuZPAXp4jTf-6zKvnws8qqNvDfajespTXxitLfu1diDIPSYLFn2bFfN4T0GWihSwiWTHAAJgvEFD45Lqk7Ch-cl3Hn6Y1s-L3hy5DBfvgCnwxHmT7RxvE7v_c1R8iKZvFWkD_L36DFVKjCDJ6IF7WC7oo/w640-h480/Crystal%20sakari%20suka.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal with her twins Sakari and Suka in 2013.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Daughter Hope (now in Brookfield) was born in 2015.</span></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUFliEzSb3TW2lupm8MsZuQs5XIXq-QQYQxEc5mh7TWi9Y85bJiSKCI4m6kRwqQvq8agcwTGaCTlkfkFuaE60-TDdf_53ToJgJ5Xaku0_ULJTl4k6ZqKKJd0lluS9wZeZzimfCG_6izXUg6Zjhq5BOw5VmXHD-VirxuL_xAL4CofgjtvnMMlACr5q/s1232/ToledoHope%20Crystal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1232" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUFliEzSb3TW2lupm8MsZuQs5XIXq-QQYQxEc5mh7TWi9Y85bJiSKCI4m6kRwqQvq8agcwTGaCTlkfkFuaE60-TDdf_53ToJgJ5Xaku0_ULJTl4k6ZqKKJd0lluS9wZeZzimfCG_6izXUg6Zjhq5BOw5VmXHD-VirxuL_xAL4CofgjtvnMMlACr5q/w640-h512/ToledoHope%20Crystal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal and daughter Hope in 2016<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crystal's most recent cub, Borealis or Bo (now in Henry Vilas, Madison Wisconsin), will be three years old in a few months.</span></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-PnNJhPHEp2GIviQy4GMs1U1t9j3G2lwcS6newnwamK25XIL52LP2XnHWd4_ErvUUtkgcfhPXYAu-UYkKxD8RFRXm1rrAY_2d6RUKQI9sjHwsaaCb6GF4F3GIYxr4Rn9ePq2l1tnVdekFnyvi5UoBHxmTEm6mEwpddp0zbaBZGzACO0vpV-Baq5a/s5184/crystal%20nursing%20Baby%20Bo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-PnNJhPHEp2GIviQy4GMs1U1t9j3G2lwcS6newnwamK25XIL52LP2XnHWd4_ErvUUtkgcfhPXYAu-UYkKxD8RFRXm1rrAY_2d6RUKQI9sjHwsaaCb6GF4F3GIYxr4Rn9ePq2l1tnVdekFnyvi5UoBHxmTEm6mEwpddp0zbaBZGzACO0vpV-Baq5a/w640-h426/crystal%20nursing%20Baby%20Bo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crystal nursing Baby Borealis in 2019</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will there be another cub born at the end of 2022? Crystal isn't telling.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal also has 7 grandchildren. Aurora in Columbus is the mother of Nora (now in Oregon Zoo), twins Nuniq (now in KC) and Neva (now in Hogle Zoo), and Kulu (now in Como Zoo). Anana is mom to Amelia Gray (now in Oregon Zoo).</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8Lb8MmzrQ7-XyQJZR3TuIk0Vie7I1gRrGLBnCwy8PTJI8U5c4pf7FjQMxgSOaA8Qpr1wUh9WUnVoqDlyfAZc9wEsKAdB2Zm4Smiui98PnoAw23b-jEi-EYKRLSBxjgCVd5auD0m5zkS28t-0CQdxY71_JzN7gDgCHLw_G36QrTn7vnN6qK2S7Hw-/s4368/kulu%20aurora%20vertical%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4368" data-original-width="3186" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8Lb8MmzrQ7-XyQJZR3TuIk0Vie7I1gRrGLBnCwy8PTJI8U5c4pf7FjQMxgSOaA8Qpr1wUh9WUnVoqDlyfAZc9wEsKAdB2Zm4Smiui98PnoAw23b-jEi-EYKRLSBxjgCVd5auD0m5zkS28t-0CQdxY71_JzN7gDgCHLw_G36QrTn7vnN6qK2S7Hw-/w466-h640/kulu%20aurora%20vertical%204.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Aurora with youngest cub Kulu in 2020 in Columbus.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Suka in Detroit is mother to twins, almost two years old, Astra and Laerke.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZlLYOr92zya5W-Qk0y6LYB7Zh_afXmcWSLVGKusaGdzenOgp7fUKqsY0tbMfoe7exKyv-L8S278zmgDCtlHeA5Ux8qDtsNzKQX9LtR4cCHRVtaeh_IpGnnrERclLtnudNoHRUFd4-herudoqtkK750snVmR3OK6xdavE_rCStUJPAtwshumIrzIi/s5184/Astra%20Suka%20ring%20strugle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZlLYOr92zya5W-Qk0y6LYB7Zh_afXmcWSLVGKusaGdzenOgp7fUKqsY0tbMfoe7exKyv-L8S278zmgDCtlHeA5Ux8qDtsNzKQX9LtR4cCHRVtaeh_IpGnnrERclLtnudNoHRUFd4-herudoqtkK750snVmR3OK6xdavE_rCStUJPAtwshumIrzIi/w426-h640/Astra%20Suka%20ring%20strugle.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Suka with one of her twins, Astra, in Detroit last week.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal's longtime companion Nan has moved on from the Toledo Zoo too, and is living in Como Zoo in St. Paul, with Crystal's son Kulu, and another older bear, Neil.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkcDSrjXXYBO6JM7QGbiNMozJV1ur3jBS4v5ifGPVh2HZ2gdczuLpdkC_IOPpJisafsLND6RAEMCCT9CLa-zewH_Z-AD76NQkfi3vY20G-eW1AGOt1ytfhrkDg2ooARmB2007HbIEJzt4InJxmHRzsnpsba1FoZU3iuzkjSzG-jFnMXzOBYI6Kgx2/s3000/Nan%20and%20Kulu.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2970" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkcDSrjXXYBO6JM7QGbiNMozJV1ur3jBS4v5ifGPVh2HZ2gdczuLpdkC_IOPpJisafsLND6RAEMCCT9CLa-zewH_Z-AD76NQkfi3vY20G-eW1AGOt1ytfhrkDg2ooARmB2007HbIEJzt4InJxmHRzsnpsba1FoZU3iuzkjSzG-jFnMXzOBYI6Kgx2/w634-h640/Nan%20and%20Kulu.jpg" width="634" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nan, left, looking out for Crystal's grandson Kulu,<br /> in Como Zoo, St. Paul, in April of 2022</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Sisters Aurora and Anana, who have no male bear with them currently in Columbus, underwent Artificial Insemination last March, and Aurora has already denned up. Polar Bear AI has not been successful so far, so this would be a first if she does give birth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDdCFlLfhxxwVqY0DR4JLBn7owDj5zz6hc-cxlRQ-16opvdr8Ydi4-ZhG4Df320JYc1t-L6duIuAaFfqGazmN2ow2USn9F5bPSdI0g7HVwqtyw7CleWeDauAwNc6wQIIaqzvi2QEAhSND_inneGvvsDQKRYzFMtaA7Jsf0HfoTcchBBsIZdVud9fo/s2592/Aurora%20Anana.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDdCFlLfhxxwVqY0DR4JLBn7owDj5zz6hc-cxlRQ-16opvdr8Ydi4-ZhG4Df320JYc1t-L6duIuAaFfqGazmN2ow2USn9F5bPSdI0g7HVwqtyw7CleWeDauAwNc6wQIIaqzvi2QEAhSND_inneGvvsDQKRYzFMtaA7Jsf0HfoTcchBBsIZdVud9fo/w640-h480/Aurora%20Anana.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Aurora and Anana in Columbus in 2011.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And what of Crystal's relatives in Belgium? Her sister Blanche will turn 29 years old in December. Blanche lives with her daughter Qannik, who is almost 12 in Monde Sauvage. This year, a male bear named Nanuk (son of Cora of Zoo Brno) arrived from the Mykolaiv Zoo </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">in Ukraine</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, shortly before the war broke out there. Nanuk's previous mate Zefirka and their daughter Smetanka are still in that warzone zoo, and we all think hopeful thoughts for these two bears. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crystal's sister Blanche is also mother of 21 year old Nanok, of Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Denmark, where he fathered Danish Siku, born in 2011 and handraised, and also twins Nuno and Nanu, born in 2012. Nuno is a new mother of twins born this last winter in Skandinavisk Dyrepark. Nanu lives in France. Siku still lives with his father in Denmark.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB_y48nw09mXymMHaV3QQkjbXYTM7blJGR5sQs--Qi0Vg-pUGbz2pOtr3yGcSq2Hwjky8J_bqvGLuOpLKCY41CSJt1ylDjotF6iRvWUHuyExT5Ymx9dYD7TWg10ZDebncS1i6g9oKPxTFRITFyOJkQn9Gp-Dmvozlc5XBJE0ItN5ck2A4j0xCmFdy/s1742/Nanook2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1742" data-original-width="1618" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB_y48nw09mXymMHaV3QQkjbXYTM7blJGR5sQs--Qi0Vg-pUGbz2pOtr3yGcSq2Hwjky8J_bqvGLuOpLKCY41CSJt1ylDjotF6iRvWUHuyExT5Ymx9dYD7TWg10ZDebncS1i6g9oKPxTFRITFyOJkQn9Gp-Dmvozlc5XBJE0ItN5ck2A4j0xCmFdy/w594-h640/Nanook2.jpg" width="594" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nanok of Denmark, son of Crystal's sister Blanche,<br /> first cousin of Crystal's children.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEK2xoJax78O48GILnYoo2-enI3dozq3OR7CpbmijctiK6k7adJLoAEKWRwRH1vvwroxv0rMojuUo-3kboRiqqugcIUksfyAAITPsoIS7KLBiqiHQ0wtj0Hq4JIby1BhmKw0AYkSuxoOAcpHvN8tl_ggw5zkMaA_pf1QMe9QRI5y0ljGf3nBBKI0B/s3207/siku%20nuno%20nanu.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2082" data-original-width="3207" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEK2xoJax78O48GILnYoo2-enI3dozq3OR7CpbmijctiK6k7adJLoAEKWRwRH1vvwroxv0rMojuUo-3kboRiqqugcIUksfyAAITPsoIS7KLBiqiHQ0wtj0Hq4JIby1BhmKw0AYkSuxoOAcpHvN8tl_ggw5zkMaA_pf1QMe9QRI5y0ljGf3nBBKI0B/w640-h416/siku%20nuno%20nanu.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Danish Siku is one year older than twins Nuno and Nanu in Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Denmark. They are grandchildren of Crystal's sister Blanche, and first cousins, once removed, of Crystal's American children. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><br /><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><p></p><br />Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-4325726532065811822022-08-19T13:42:00.003-07:002022-08-19T13:42:55.819-07:00Bubble themed Birthday for Frankie<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbat4YWvAd4w8iuJ8Lf886oueBej1oVd179GLdrHlHyFuM-Zb53rkKKQftPq5a3sFm825svVIHPfHrm_t8NYKYdz5hlNPdyDTMqK9HSmstdmQCsIMryuKImzBo9f4zvnbsjQRtrogba84PChj1J-CNbI_hSsGf4N9brdzNZvgertp2wVIMt6FNrcr/s3374/Frankie%20bubbles%20rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3374" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbat4YWvAd4w8iuJ8Lf886oueBej1oVd179GLdrHlHyFuM-Zb53rkKKQftPq5a3sFm825svVIHPfHrm_t8NYKYdz5hlNPdyDTMqK9HSmstdmQCsIMryuKImzBo9f4zvnbsjQRtrogba84PChj1J-CNbI_hSsGf4N9brdzNZvgertp2wVIMt6FNrcr/w430-h640/Frankie%20bubbles%20rainbow.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Frankie the birthday boy</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It was all bubbles on Tuesday, August 16, at the Columbus Zoo elephant house, in honor of Frankie's first birthday. It was also a celebration of Asian Elephant Awareness Month. The press was there in full force, as well as a crowd of zoo visitors, many of whom came that day especially for the bubbles birthday party. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HOjo3CNzIwWyr8_DusSH1eszS8gTYw1urmv2n8b5pFHRCVPwZMSx8QyNbIakBVCa4NtbPsAPsuufIPmSjxdyghHr4Xz-YAG28LWnnuwsaWLzqdsXwWSPoa-rTzEZ5afoYebTHibVzBoSESdMEaLl2qHKvz5tFdN-99voXc7H9-Ee7jyp6xSRukIR/s5184/Frankie%20bubbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HOjo3CNzIwWyr8_DusSH1eszS8gTYw1urmv2n8b5pFHRCVPwZMSx8QyNbIakBVCa4NtbPsAPsuufIPmSjxdyghHr4Xz-YAG28LWnnuwsaWLzqdsXwWSPoa-rTzEZ5afoYebTHibVzBoSESdMEaLl2qHKvz5tFdN-99voXc7H9-Ee7jyp6xSRukIR/w640-h426/Frankie%20bubbles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Frankie amidst the bubbles and the protective herd<br /></span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">At first, the adult elephants were a little put off by the mysterious bubbles raining down from the ceiling, and closed ranks to protect little Frankie from whatever it was. They made various noises, and kicked up dust, while Frankie hid inside the moving walls of older elephant ladies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The elephant herd in Columbus includes six elephants: Baby Frankie; Mother Phoebe, who was born in Israel in 1987 and came to Columbus in 2002; Connie, who was born in the wild in 1973, lived in the San Diego Safari Park and came to Columbus in 1992; Rudy, born in 1992 in the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Elephant Center and came to Columbus in 2016; Rudy's full sister Sundara born in 2008 at Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, also coming to Columbus in 2016, when the circus stopped using elephants; and father Hank, born in 1988 in Bush Gardens Tampa Bay, lived in the Bronx Zoo, who came to Columbus in 2011. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhkVx_PXH1L7j09uzbcccjrlAonji3vWFwYRqE2DQ1Sxixx33ynVTA1IauVtV-eIhsvRMbkt6qFLWa56TT10z2y9A07G8uS23K8Rq3JSGBHUU1o3HWHgsNEZo3LJUuAmRs33dciX50GrSW-aVNvqfe0q-GOgMbHLdXHYy0xgINUhO_qndO45UBmpz/s4410/guarding%20frankie%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4410" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhkVx_PXH1L7j09uzbcccjrlAonji3vWFwYRqE2DQ1Sxixx33ynVTA1IauVtV-eIhsvRMbkt6qFLWa56TT10z2y9A07G8uS23K8Rq3JSGBHUU1o3HWHgsNEZo3LJUuAmRs33dciX50GrSW-aVNvqfe0q-GOgMbHLdXHYy0xgINUhO_qndO45UBmpz/w640-h438/guarding%20frankie%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The older lady elephants, including mom Phoebe, <br />close ranks around the bahy.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwhvilJVZHOlAeil_j710eCF9gp63tXXg2NgT_P8QDzmN2ARpO58tTu3a1WVCfyyAnT-6qR2A-8AzfwxewUDaS2bWy1Zj0t6Op5J5LADHOhtYvXGYMGngl7RwOQI1xD-8QHYmVEKDM3S16AddRgHPRfzyLT5qxccHP3CBw2RsGMKBZD6WBKx3efjc/s2550/trunk%20dust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="2124" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwhvilJVZHOlAeil_j710eCF9gp63tXXg2NgT_P8QDzmN2ARpO58tTu3a1WVCfyyAnT-6qR2A-8AzfwxewUDaS2bWy1Zj0t6Op5J5LADHOhtYvXGYMGngl7RwOQI1xD-8QHYmVEKDM3S16AddRgHPRfzyLT5qxccHP3CBw2RsGMKBZD6WBKx3efjc/w534-h640/trunk%20dust.jpg" width="534" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Some of the elephants tried to diffuse the bubbles by throwing up dust.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFDwNn11mi7d-ZM-Fopf1qWXAymZkUqMSxUu72fMF3LAh_S74EWJQz_ICXWPpFZuz5hKUSBLAWUj2cAi1ANNQS4P5wkmrhUQAt54PrTaJDLzGJUZDNG4EkHlf7npViGfoUDH5ERWuudpxIxJu2g2F6LJuzLZqi84mryG4vr43qht1tuyLEqmKBpWk/s3528/Frankie%20hidden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="3528" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFDwNn11mi7d-ZM-Fopf1qWXAymZkUqMSxUu72fMF3LAh_S74EWJQz_ICXWPpFZuz5hKUSBLAWUj2cAi1ANNQS4P5wkmrhUQAt54PrTaJDLzGJUZDNG4EkHlf7npViGfoUDH5ERWuudpxIxJu2g2F6LJuzLZqi84mryG4vr43qht1tuyLEqmKBpWk/w640-h522/Frankie%20hidden.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The bubbles sparkled around the elephant family.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Soon, the elephants realized there was no threat, and Frankie was able to run about, although never far from his mother Phoebe.</span></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60GiRokHwWHgjgXO1zxswOSp-bvBS2iBJNtO2X5qqzhOOreGu_A11pDjq6rUXSRXI71g-twSLd8s97dPcidfVXJMYe7IAg4BvuSvPUTtY6IFnA5V5Cugus7hLR9t3w7Df7WnIfiYZ7tPcExRJe2_jqq6e-5cRNl3_3UOwJP5t8iMfkai-lGIgJh70/s4550/frankie%20bubble%20bath%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2597" data-original-width="4550" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60GiRokHwWHgjgXO1zxswOSp-bvBS2iBJNtO2X5qqzhOOreGu_A11pDjq6rUXSRXI71g-twSLd8s97dPcidfVXJMYe7IAg4BvuSvPUTtY6IFnA5V5Cugus7hLR9t3w7Df7WnIfiYZ7tPcExRJe2_jqq6e-5cRNl3_3UOwJP5t8iMfkai-lGIgJh70/w640-h366/frankie%20bubble%20bath%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Frankie in the splash pool. Trying to figure it out.<br /> Something is different.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The big pool against the back wall on the left had turned into a big bubble bath. Once they got used to the bubbles, Frankie and the other elephants really enjoyed the pampering. The elephants have a handle to turn on the faucet whenever they want to a shower.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8x1ZRsf7fATqrpXZuNxq9pPIr8gprk-8eWPW31HcofxPW-gYyS9oKPvd6--lDQyTQwRhZP6ajgNfULSgDQdGaed9jtMu5f3FyIhAz-tuShMvfK0ndWWtcnWAadwdyczJTHaSNDiCie8Cufkmc3WXjx8-FG40nRzhFDwMibJCquNlHLenvob5ghDa/s3591/frankie%20on%20camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2583" data-original-width="3591" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8x1ZRsf7fATqrpXZuNxq9pPIr8gprk-8eWPW31HcofxPW-gYyS9oKPvd6--lDQyTQwRhZP6ajgNfULSgDQdGaed9jtMu5f3FyIhAz-tuShMvfK0ndWWtcnWAadwdyczJTHaSNDiCie8Cufkmc3WXjx8-FG40nRzhFDwMibJCquNlHLenvob5ghDa/w640-h460/frankie%20on%20camera.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One of the zoo photographers catches Frankie's attention. <br />There is mom Phoebe by Frankie's side.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcnsaZWS59xBWwyUU6byhnvolcqNgu1SRfAulk7c9lCo15OI2nuytjBF9xAqGXZjGG92r9jaipp3Wu1cGcXUbmFNZL3Yym4eWExmPrRqp-iJNHmc33ZschwtBPt9PvMAH75Q2erqKOL7jkhOPY0e7lrgG7PdL2e_Oj064NImoV0XylzROj0P_nOZW/s4340/Frankie%20soap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3297" data-original-width="4340" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcnsaZWS59xBWwyUU6byhnvolcqNgu1SRfAulk7c9lCo15OI2nuytjBF9xAqGXZjGG92r9jaipp3Wu1cGcXUbmFNZL3Yym4eWExmPrRqp-iJNHmc33ZschwtBPt9PvMAH75Q2erqKOL7jkhOPY0e7lrgG7PdL2e_Oj064NImoV0XylzROj0P_nOZW/w640-h486/Frankie%20soap.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Soap on Frankie's trunk and legs.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv3vVhJ0t_h7MT2NDrWoay18x5hgbOiYQrO3x-h9GOhXwULuFlPUDaYcQyO_6fW81ftcQjTxuGX5ifIQ_ewvdsDAbby-NRbKxTOwuNfzqY5HZ_04diEABfmEnAF8J7R0CKuqdJ6nyjICeZv7aE9lhMFwOdrewdiBuTof-6DbBgbTrS8tb4ev9_0F7/s4428/frankie%20bubbles%20rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4428" data-original-width="2925" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv3vVhJ0t_h7MT2NDrWoay18x5hgbOiYQrO3x-h9GOhXwULuFlPUDaYcQyO_6fW81ftcQjTxuGX5ifIQ_ewvdsDAbby-NRbKxTOwuNfzqY5HZ_04diEABfmEnAF8J7R0CKuqdJ6nyjICeZv7aE9lhMFwOdrewdiBuTof-6DbBgbTrS8tb4ev9_0F7/w422-h640/frankie%20bubbles%20rock.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Frankie has quite a bit of reddish hair<br /> on his head and back.<br /></span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_PAiZi_yFMi5VMpmQCrcdp_s6rM_34rGHOupfR7HtZXZHm7rkhaWZ-LrYbDXqxFGFqgxsbOChg3DIpXm1J6l2eonlXllBgg2DdnSem7-d7ClEx5GZ-JnxGQ4bZ_VXRXTg5objIJW48C1bul_G4fYwbCT3KcAwL-ytsHGf-pRadruDpMTjduagYdR/s5184/Frankie%20bubbles%20sparkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_PAiZi_yFMi5VMpmQCrcdp_s6rM_34rGHOupfR7HtZXZHm7rkhaWZ-LrYbDXqxFGFqgxsbOChg3DIpXm1J6l2eonlXllBgg2DdnSem7-d7ClEx5GZ-JnxGQ4bZ_VXRXTg5objIJW48C1bul_G4fYwbCT3KcAwL-ytsHGf-pRadruDpMTjduagYdR/w640-h426/Frankie%20bubbles%20sparkle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Photography isn't easy with a moving subject,<br /> bubbles and ropes to pull the camera's focus,<br /> and a large crowd of birthday party guests up against the glass. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAnxIX_LV3s5CaVwsf2pBFjIi8brPN5m66z04JJVQGJ3FwR-0lfP-X3Xz4VbqOHzgAQcrUcX-Inf2JKD6xmipBNS75d2BOK0e8Vwkf_tGqr1HbN1P0pBtm3OYS6Pw4piH9oPuajvaI-11NfpahI9GwjjcA6vOfe7CbYz1WxIzc66D1jxZImI2Xbpu/s3948/frankie%20run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="3948" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAnxIX_LV3s5CaVwsf2pBFjIi8brPN5m66z04JJVQGJ3FwR-0lfP-X3Xz4VbqOHzgAQcrUcX-Inf2JKD6xmipBNS75d2BOK0e8Vwkf_tGqr1HbN1P0pBtm3OYS6Pw4piH9oPuajvaI-11NfpahI9GwjjcA6vOfe7CbYz1WxIzc66D1jxZImI2Xbpu/w640-h500/frankie%20run.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Frankie likes to run around. The adults try to keep up.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHg09NNYzFOSORpV8fmb-5u1MdsTIcmAyAePpBxNKuN21Tc5aZXBs41uVRBqn2BG0MX3WzRNwNSnZG_hGjx6pJpvTCrk7x7f7Bz_y__cWhrhc6PoMhDmbN9o4Ur77aZQXxmwhkEvr_OuL18QsO8WjAERJNsmlOf9132DuqvIwm2mJZCDa3nd9v-6w4/s3640/Frankie%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2660" data-original-width="3640" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHg09NNYzFOSORpV8fmb-5u1MdsTIcmAyAePpBxNKuN21Tc5aZXBs41uVRBqn2BG0MX3WzRNwNSnZG_hGjx6pJpvTCrk7x7f7Bz_y__cWhrhc6PoMhDmbN9o4Ur77aZQXxmwhkEvr_OuL18QsO8WjAERJNsmlOf9132DuqvIwm2mJZCDa3nd9v-6w4/w640-h468/Frankie%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Is it a really big bubble? No, it is Frankie's favorite ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj9XT0BKO1ybWBk8Bhxq1ZPPCFGXf7d9Yyr4XBqqhl4uFIMJmjH1oNbAg-ovIZ_pLvQV8QMGryUJ2-HgIce4K-z4ohhnI5bgsH2-J4jiQMb77-rZYuXTAWqSf0FaaHWyixSXuEDHZLC1AQDdBD_G2BE_PTAKP49p8SwhY_V4PKLqmeZdW0fYBd1CR/s3136/Frankie%20close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3136" data-original-width="3066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj9XT0BKO1ybWBk8Bhxq1ZPPCFGXf7d9Yyr4XBqqhl4uFIMJmjH1oNbAg-ovIZ_pLvQV8QMGryUJ2-HgIce4K-z4ohhnI5bgsH2-J4jiQMb77-rZYuXTAWqSf0FaaHWyixSXuEDHZLC1AQDdBD_G2BE_PTAKP49p8SwhY_V4PKLqmeZdW0fYBd1CR/w626-h640/Frankie%20close.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Little Frankie, and someone's tail.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkSBvZDh4wZ7KAZuDn-hobEOcnmdorlcTORRkgjKZpFJMJvf6B48LNtppgSaVNZemY5l8Ka2xa6qOhvmQJYHqLtenVQGgoDDhZy7oW7O-cbAMt5sIs-etdbuJlQ4XegahfbwwlSdJeZM1J_AyyMlftbxjeRf3Kl03JtnokSyD52pLdTMoeSa15N-D/s5184/frankie%20curl%20trunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkSBvZDh4wZ7KAZuDn-hobEOcnmdorlcTORRkgjKZpFJMJvf6B48LNtppgSaVNZemY5l8Ka2xa6qOhvmQJYHqLtenVQGgoDDhZy7oW7O-cbAMt5sIs-etdbuJlQ4XegahfbwwlSdJeZM1J_AyyMlftbxjeRf3Kl03JtnokSyD52pLdTMoeSa15N-D/w640-h426/frankie%20curl%20trunk.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All bubbles, all the time. It was something new for the elephants.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCDwn4-9K_hIwpq6Bwv1G3raE27eU-aYVXqcbc_mAv05rGq0XaE0XD1DcgyG9OGb3eMfL0pXbJaLgNRUXWZGz_lYFdvt1Kco6XWLVxKwLdiO_YZY_BBLweSE6SSK-Rph_ilf8Adtty4HhXfGJB-oXHbB-d8A19tNyBVvTESvPtxje7GMxbqFFT-D0/s3339/Frankie%20and%20mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2723" data-original-width="3339" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCDwn4-9K_hIwpq6Bwv1G3raE27eU-aYVXqcbc_mAv05rGq0XaE0XD1DcgyG9OGb3eMfL0pXbJaLgNRUXWZGz_lYFdvt1Kco6XWLVxKwLdiO_YZY_BBLweSE6SSK-Rph_ilf8Adtty4HhXfGJB-oXHbB-d8A19tNyBVvTESvPtxje7GMxbqFFT-D0/w640-h522/Frankie%20and%20mom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Frankie and the herd wander over to investigate the cameras.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Little Frankie was all set to celebrate his first birthday back in mid-June, and then his half brother Beco became ill with the deadly Elephant herpes virus, so the party was postponed, of course. Sadly Beco, who was 13 and thought to be past the danger of the virus, died on June 18.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Beco was born in the Columbus Zoo to Phoebe in 2009. The elephant herpes virus has claimed many other young elephants, both in the wild and in zoos. Much research is being conducted and new treatments provide some hope. It seems to be triggered by stress. Lifechanging events like weaning seem to make a young elephant vulnerable. But no one really knows.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hopefully, the new treatment strategies will help with recovery.<br /></span><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBY_wbQPRGpX44Jr-2OIEjLeobK0ECJmiZIC730oy03-TZgXDYTbF8fjd-zQPajG-We8iMUJ30hMR_l4mmEItQTenrFG5PC-e2gihw82gAuMD-Qa6wqd_RI8ejmHHNGQCD2hEsXKEn7lYFrGpOgBYvRPATxhPzNi4IIEjXSiIUN1lVj_ncAEpD09B/s4445/Hank%20elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3206" data-original-width="4445" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBY_wbQPRGpX44Jr-2OIEjLeobK0ECJmiZIC730oy03-TZgXDYTbF8fjd-zQPajG-We8iMUJ30hMR_l4mmEItQTenrFG5PC-e2gihw82gAuMD-Qa6wqd_RI8ejmHHNGQCD2hEsXKEn7lYFrGpOgBYvRPATxhPzNi4IIEjXSiIUN1lVj_ncAEpD09B/w640-h462/Hank%20elephant.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Frankie's father Hank waited outside the elephant barn. Frankie was conceived via artificial insemination, <br />but the sperm donor was resident elephant bull Hank.<br /> Trying the natural way just wasn't working.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilid_xxvoqKyEMPfad00lyBza6NwLXBrd_Mn2-NzpdamSdaJTuCWAm7MxkoTsMiON9qt0G3rC_0UWS-virC1OxKEk3P6vRlRQpHvBZC6b9-yPhb449y8go-BFT5L7jdFs0kgYLvpVWQfVDCqfzoeNyAuid2ylF_8AiR-yzNQJQ2_voO7P67YQP7uMF/s4686/elephant%20back%20end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2976" data-original-width="4686" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilid_xxvoqKyEMPfad00lyBza6NwLXBrd_Mn2-NzpdamSdaJTuCWAm7MxkoTsMiON9qt0G3rC_0UWS-virC1OxKEk3P6vRlRQpHvBZC6b9-yPhb449y8go-BFT5L7jdFs0kgYLvpVWQfVDCqfzoeNyAuid2ylF_8AiR-yzNQJQ2_voO7P67YQP7uMF/w640-h406/elephant%20back%20end.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Frankie in the bubble bath, between mom Phoebe<br /> and probably Aunt Ruby</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBQw6zFjrAmc7QAFpKQpxJBRnRrSo3NlTPYG398FQXmdJn6Pg-UwfQrnnMAzh14GV0yfhLP9hoEfKEx7rJKDwYmceV-1ruP4A3ipC89spVTCe6BAyS0-8Bwj60JFky8djIGEci291srKYTTGgFx0S6iPT4G5tevTapp3WXi-wsAlAxzf90qieR2Nq/s2912/Frankie%20back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2583" data-original-width="2912" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBQw6zFjrAmc7QAFpKQpxJBRnRrSo3NlTPYG398FQXmdJn6Pg-UwfQrnnMAzh14GV0yfhLP9hoEfKEx7rJKDwYmceV-1ruP4A3ipC89spVTCe6BAyS0-8Bwj60JFky8djIGEci291srKYTTGgFx0S6iPT4G5tevTapp3WXi-wsAlAxzf90qieR2Nq/w640-h568/Frankie%20back.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The End.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-86148554508691174942022-07-19T07:15:00.010-07:002022-07-19T07:25:01.085-07:00Arctic Sea Ice Day at the Louisville Zoo<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcdOaB83C0G6U0WwdizEH-m3mhDAiDi7Rhxsb54r6LEQdV9RP-R17vsnyrEYeEdPAlsOD3HQ7PifV5z1iMzBB2mttNAZp_JwZHNsx7PPozMcPZvk8QVb-5AkSGtLrvuV2Wuqkbzk5ifdbqI-xIMAS3DwFXjnPkJg1E7rpVm8-pRvI0a2Wco6-Wr9j/s5184/Qannik%20stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcdOaB83C0G6U0WwdizEH-m3mhDAiDi7Rhxsb54r6LEQdV9RP-R17vsnyrEYeEdPAlsOD3HQ7PifV5z1iMzBB2mttNAZp_JwZHNsx7PPozMcPZvk8QVb-5AkSGtLrvuV2Wuqkbzk5ifdbqI-xIMAS3DwFXjnPkJg1E7rpVm8-pRvI0a2Wco6-Wr9j/w400-h266/Qannik%20stand.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik enjoys the misting fan.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHK0it3kKz8cf7qNpYxjbXMw1k77mB7TjEjSoXnwy9GtSFBOC6pl0uCIoIzArNnHwAefiRhwkkQ8NaHPeCeoYKULWm2NtCaD4XkGJCaEE83g-UhOf7yi-aDPlT8LneTBwrVtZxWMhLeSkqbD2VeuXF4ps60ggEjIH0dEqSLm7n6eiRb85lmFR3WEh/s2850/qannik%20tub%20of%20ice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="1740" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHK0it3kKz8cf7qNpYxjbXMw1k77mB7TjEjSoXnwy9GtSFBOC6pl0uCIoIzArNnHwAefiRhwkkQ8NaHPeCeoYKULWm2NtCaD4XkGJCaEE83g-UhOf7yi-aDPlT8LneTBwrVtZxWMhLeSkqbD2VeuXF4ps60ggEjIH0dEqSLm7n6eiRb85lmFR3WEh/w390-h640/qannik%20tub%20of%20ice.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik and her tub of ice.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1cDisLnoalSAHI8V287xjcgUikwTM1B1BUaoGosUG2GwVbsA-ARrisUAlW-BefrsV_G2jeBjnds2rVtpNJYDOFWpY3Gt3wDbGTyKeIuAzXLHUs1cuSvkdAL_PVoF1ZVnr6NPZ067y1SzZeWVYKFeZZ6ZjahDa-YVUWokGCGJYurdnOhUzrshRvOl/s5184/Lee%20on%20grass.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1cDisLnoalSAHI8V287xjcgUikwTM1B1BUaoGosUG2GwVbsA-ARrisUAlW-BefrsV_G2jeBjnds2rVtpNJYDOFWpY3Gt3wDbGTyKeIuAzXLHUs1cuSvkdAL_PVoF1ZVnr6NPZ067y1SzZeWVYKFeZZ6ZjahDa-YVUWokGCGJYurdnOhUzrshRvOl/w426-h640/Lee%20on%20grass.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lee roamed the large enclosure, munching on grass.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Arctic Sea Ice Day, held every year on July 15, was created by Polar Bears International to bring attention to the crisis of accelerating loss of Arctic sea ice.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dCjs06tpPH_Ogj1ydxcLQ42VVdedpycSKV4eA1GogYGYPoZF6wwOaXmr4SAguhhdZa1cqfocAaALbGoLkd2YCfCvoqiLpfT1_5df9Woc351FYWgLicggsU7Ky38GP3L4xe2Mt4dCQwJlVx5l2O4pdf8MobQSH2nxa38cl_xyk4kHlheg2CIYJRSV/s4590/window%20sea%20ice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3312" data-original-width="4590" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dCjs06tpPH_Ogj1ydxcLQ42VVdedpycSKV4eA1GogYGYPoZF6wwOaXmr4SAguhhdZa1cqfocAaALbGoLkd2YCfCvoqiLpfT1_5df9Woc351FYWgLicggsU7Ky38GP3L4xe2Mt4dCQwJlVx5l2O4pdf8MobQSH2nxa38cl_xyk4kHlheg2CIYJRSV/w640-h462/window%20sea%20ice.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUENOFVsgN7H4pBKYtM3PiW3oxoHzKt7yKFvz4V3aFAzWCV-OpY9nAV7hkaOz2oZUO07lb68hVhAL8-42Eb1zyrIbBvuUuR7C0Kp4URQUXkbzVjZtxgpATRXCCzg_NPPCWZlaSWpgsmlEwWw1jUQ04jLlV_dTGQ8Kpd5hqicmkwd984nEZmYg9savU/s5184/lee%20windows.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUENOFVsgN7H4pBKYtM3PiW3oxoHzKt7yKFvz4V3aFAzWCV-OpY9nAV7hkaOz2oZUO07lb68hVhAL8-42Eb1zyrIbBvuUuR7C0Kp4URQUXkbzVjZtxgpATRXCCzg_NPPCWZlaSWpgsmlEwWw1jUQ04jLlV_dTGQ8Kpd5hqicmkwd984nEZmYg9savU/w426-h640/lee%20windows.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lee</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Many zoos, including the Louisville Zoo, use the occasion to educate the public about the need for sea ice in cooling the planet, why it is important for arctic wildlife, and steps we can take to help the environment, such as turning the lights off, setting the thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter, and diving more efficient vehicles.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC1IHWfl5_5YlCMmXy7at2SlcdZJCDPJ5rOz4swySmM5oPaLiv9o1-Y3PhD47fDvj3tWPje1j6zZQ_feTuuVKMWrEviiwiNaTVV61Qh690bzrRTanrQkY8Qt89nawvO3-kcjjJXWTMafyB3bvBYev4zeNl4vvLmciq18bKaod904TuC4x0RRDjmgY/s5184/window%20bear.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC1IHWfl5_5YlCMmXy7at2SlcdZJCDPJ5rOz4swySmM5oPaLiv9o1-Y3PhD47fDvj3tWPje1j6zZQ_feTuuVKMWrEviiwiNaTVV61Qh690bzrRTanrQkY8Qt89nawvO3-kcjjJXWTMafyB3bvBYev4zeNl4vvLmciq18bKaod904TuC4x0RRDjmgY/w640-h426/window%20bear.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A sign made by a student urges people to purchase food grown locally, to reduce your carbon footprint. Other signs suggested turning lights off when you leave the room, and other tips for saving energy.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It is a day when visitors to the Louisville Zoo can most likely see both polar bears who live there. During the rest of the year, the two polar bears in Louisville are rotated through two exhibit areas, taking turns with three grizzly bears, so there are times when you won't see a polar bear at all. But on Arctic Sea Ice Day, the spotlight is on the polar bears, so it is a great opportunity to see both Lee and Qannik.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwNQL1-SQ5lUUG97Lf1juFV8_e9O8nmNKhovrCWvQRPB96Ak_U2hrFxzY4AykRWwBMBs-5bljrEW27DN1mt5KfWhdsWdrfCJb8PCWjKd5a_d-8AHH9baQ1Q3OkTkzesYs-GaHaPO3ONOU6eioW-lYKBTTovHL1jCzcPSFec8wxAcg2QuuASeyBgSw/s2682/qannik%20and%20debbie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2682" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwNQL1-SQ5lUUG97Lf1juFV8_e9O8nmNKhovrCWvQRPB96Ak_U2hrFxzY4AykRWwBMBs-5bljrEW27DN1mt5KfWhdsWdrfCJb8PCWjKd5a_d-8AHH9baQ1Q3OkTkzesYs-GaHaPO3ONOU6eioW-lYKBTTovHL1jCzcPSFec8wxAcg2QuuASeyBgSw/w542-h640/qannik%20and%20debbie.jpg" width="542" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My polar bear friend Debbie takes a photo of "wild child" Qannik.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Qannik was in Polar Bear Alley, cooling off in a spot in the center where a strategically placed fan blew a refreshing mist down from the ceiling, She loved it. There was also big tub of ice for her playtime enjoyment.</span></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsog01eq1qAjR5nKepNWjR1BqmMF5zVYv4BWcgPAHlV4QZvXUAK4KTj4pOHmubyMttnY5To_lceuCMdOo4NmLgfGP7DHWDqm0Vt44LRksw_Txl057crB1jrwyMeh3Stg6cqa1hwGMQKAiQh6TCw_wznATnivmPNBnOh5wdn9j2qr-e-7ZXb8y2JvY/s2934/qannik%20ice%20chunk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2934" data-original-width="2856" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsog01eq1qAjR5nKepNWjR1BqmMF5zVYv4BWcgPAHlV4QZvXUAK4KTj4pOHmubyMttnY5To_lceuCMdOo4NmLgfGP7DHWDqm0Vt44LRksw_Txl057crB1jrwyMeh3Stg6cqa1hwGMQKAiQh6TCw_wznATnivmPNBnOh5wdn9j2qr-e-7ZXb8y2JvY/w622-h640/qannik%20ice%20chunk.jpg" width="622" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A chunk of token "sea ice" for Qannik.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Some chunks of ice that the keepers had frozen in pails were distributed throughout in both enclosures.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl0Nb8DRXo_09_YYV657K9tfkgNmF1SQOO-WXWxzGLSyETrUb-EA45CnPNwWIpHXhEtg_I_Xjf1ytcmbG9-u5EKI-0JTWl3WA9JR7Igz3k6nfzqBx2ywvFRF5y-bspjejgO885ET5v12mSJJP5UjCCFMD4UjZnNGv7Das8eDBQEyIUkxW50APp-fh/s3060/qannik%20ice%20walk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="2136" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl0Nb8DRXo_09_YYV657K9tfkgNmF1SQOO-WXWxzGLSyETrUb-EA45CnPNwWIpHXhEtg_I_Xjf1ytcmbG9-u5EKI-0JTWl3WA9JR7Igz3k6nfzqBx2ywvFRF5y-bspjejgO885ET5v12mSJJP5UjCCFMD4UjZnNGv7Das8eDBQEyIUkxW50APp-fh/w446-h640/qannik%20ice%20walk.jpg" width="446" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik was roaming around in Polar Bear Alley. The entire polar bear area is called Glacier Run, set up to look like a gold mining camp on the edge of the Arctic wilderness, with seals and sea lions nearby. <br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Qannik was born in a den in an Alaskan oil field in January of 2011. She got separated from her mother and sister in a blizzard, and was rescued as an underweight 15 pound cub, recovered at the Alaska Zoo, and came to Louisville in late June of 2011. She remains property of Fish and Wildlife so is not allowed to be part of the breeding program.</span></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiPqiO2sSWpvqIDBeCxMjn9Kuvl1qfvqkpdyMxLmCGPFyy8RrzJIdf-8Lb8Cdhflv6ixEDL1JqLBzn0YeAxgok5VJsu2Xk_k6hDWlw1s7B0vGQ0xyhnXTpBe_y2z83ew_etXak3YedT1VQP9pE2vwdW02OEC2XDmYk1FRNn-U-BSgP0zEOGPeJqU9/s5184/qannik%20sit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiPqiO2sSWpvqIDBeCxMjn9Kuvl1qfvqkpdyMxLmCGPFyy8RrzJIdf-8Lb8Cdhflv6ixEDL1JqLBzn0YeAxgok5VJsu2Xk_k6hDWlw1s7B0vGQ0xyhnXTpBe_y2z83ew_etXak3YedT1VQP9pE2vwdW02OEC2XDmYk1FRNn-U-BSgP0zEOGPeJqU9/w426-h640/qannik%20sit.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Qannik sits in the center of Polar Bear Alley, <br />where a highly placed fan is blowing a cooling mist down upon her..</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Qannik currently weighs 505 pounds.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS2Q8lrSVu6bsgnUstZZUCLHTfX13TswH_j2z3A8eXUrvIr2EXzInPEFobPu5nFD3mrFjGym0GnS4AJsiHddHRJXFDcdhGMOS6r0gva8EYUkgt0YYXvj0J896wTybEtsoPsgwUZnGVq2_neaXFeNZ39WAByz_Bl5Xi0jqNadgB9yjZC_tClYJqIat/s5184/Qannik%20stand.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS2Q8lrSVu6bsgnUstZZUCLHTfX13TswH_j2z3A8eXUrvIr2EXzInPEFobPu5nFD3mrFjGym0GnS4AJsiHddHRJXFDcdhGMOS6r0gva8EYUkgt0YYXvj0J896wTybEtsoPsgwUZnGVq2_neaXFeNZ39WAByz_Bl5Xi0jqNadgB9yjZC_tClYJqIat/w640-h426/Qannik%20stand.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That fan feels good.<br /> She can also go downstairs to her air conditioned bedroom.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQySP0jE45VKUGr4hGNulPrLlVBXEDzrB0XZHA5isYhjt72ffuFRLj-Io-FUbEYShBm1yFahxQFy87RWjKDnsCS8WBUcxVpXdApoCjsh6GxiWMiwe6c_pnNCNMq00nNOgl8EzTDVFOCG2Tt6-HmxuJsuEqHt70rpXD9lM9lO9X0Sya_hvhYB57wv_P/s4494/qannik%20truck%20ac.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3185" data-original-width="4494" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQySP0jE45VKUGr4hGNulPrLlVBXEDzrB0XZHA5isYhjt72ffuFRLj-Io-FUbEYShBm1yFahxQFy87RWjKDnsCS8WBUcxVpXdApoCjsh6GxiWMiwe6c_pnNCNMq00nNOgl8EzTDVFOCG2Tt6-HmxuJsuEqHt70rpXD9lM9lO9X0Sya_hvhYB57wv_P/w640-h454/qannik%20truck%20ac.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Polar Bear Alley, with Qannik at the center. <br />The larger pool area, where Lee was spending the morning,<br /> is just across the way.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The male polar bear at the Louisville Zoo is Lee, who was born in Rochester NY in 1999, and has lived in Lincoln Park in Chicago, Detroit, Denver, and most recently in Columbus where he fathered 2 year old Kulu (currently in Como Zoo in Minnesota). Lee came to Louisville in late 2020.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRdn7c_4THgcYZkbb5pTE7Ki3eId986pPpoWGMffMIfkBVFThCZZevnxzVEM4GxbfTXdFziRDGraCW9J9rQSyayAnNqfUv_YMfhnq65Vo0ebT5wE2JmdwZ2vRLxiAoDuKObp4KVnILXgjnJZrgUuboL7YWl7rNSLerygYWxM4UbQ4Yu00xVOSmUU0/s5184/lee%20stroll.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRdn7c_4THgcYZkbb5pTE7Ki3eId986pPpoWGMffMIfkBVFThCZZevnxzVEM4GxbfTXdFziRDGraCW9J9rQSyayAnNqfUv_YMfhnq65Vo0ebT5wE2JmdwZ2vRLxiAoDuKObp4KVnILXgjnJZrgUuboL7YWl7rNSLerygYWxM4UbQ4Yu00xVOSmUU0/w640-h426/lee%20stroll.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Handsome Lee in Louisville.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Lee weighs in at 1040 pounds right now.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFfqp-Sk0yK8Sr7QnNaDE50_WGH5hc544UAqNXl39ssHet6S-P6tIgw05_GR0idkDZzOCyhV0tkrWDCYfUXu29ppagTv_m8LwNMcM7uLGN_oMjIZ93XJ8-FogXrtiZYB-V_QKjSsXUDLVJDWI_c9ExAXAMbp58FUbHgsvgPQeKcwBI9mHVqrBrNrh/s4104/lee%20apples.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2334" data-original-width="4104" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFfqp-Sk0yK8Sr7QnNaDE50_WGH5hc544UAqNXl39ssHet6S-P6tIgw05_GR0idkDZzOCyhV0tkrWDCYfUXu29ppagTv_m8LwNMcM7uLGN_oMjIZ93XJ8-FogXrtiZYB-V_QKjSsXUDLVJDWI_c9ExAXAMbp58FUbHgsvgPQeKcwBI9mHVqrBrNrh/w640-h364/lee%20apples.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lee was just swimming around, keeping cool and finding snacks.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> The docents at the Louisville Zoo invited curious visitors to touch a polar bear claw to feel the coarse hollow hairs of a bear. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVHlNWCrS9b31TpVYKGfW-deFcjmfB3DqLdJBC4Kl_3OyrqlRjTbZ_g22uMEps-0QJYZgYoSWOWMjKT5_Q5PZfrdpigJ_C9gTn7AjqWJXieAW7_9e68VtoYCMlhBaRhCn-CGgBLUKnsye4e7wY4ov8NqSUV3aZGDQ8eMU11n20nfTplQl6TByhiOb/s4230/polar%20bear%20skull%20model.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4230" data-original-width="2871" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVHlNWCrS9b31TpVYKGfW-deFcjmfB3DqLdJBC4Kl_3OyrqlRjTbZ_g22uMEps-0QJYZgYoSWOWMjKT5_Q5PZfrdpigJ_C9gTn7AjqWJXieAW7_9e68VtoYCMlhBaRhCn-CGgBLUKnsye4e7wY4ov8NqSUV3aZGDQ8eMU11n20nfTplQl6TByhiOb/w434-h640/polar%20bear%20skull%20model.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A Louisville Zoo docent shows off the model of a polar bear skull, pointing out the space behind the fangs. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Visitors could also examin a resin model of a polar bear skull, and see how the open jaws have a space that is just the right size for a seal head, to grab and hold it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqQEUmNQd8JYi3uGa5ejnU3YcaXPGYi-xPJmDuTL_pO5V0DcYV65QIwUzU1SENdpNpcuu49p3IfQex2IUXpZyVhWSOuo0ZiJCSuI75qziDR07DsIkkXvA97F8atLzy1adGRLjkK3ArR-SzuvvCpIPdjlfXsGK7QZ5niqrB_nYJNhdx74sQZXpK3cp/s5184/Arki's%20paw%20print.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqQEUmNQd8JYi3uGa5ejnU3YcaXPGYi-xPJmDuTL_pO5V0DcYV65QIwUzU1SENdpNpcuu49p3IfQex2IUXpZyVhWSOuo0ZiJCSuI75qziDR07DsIkkXvA97F8atLzy1adGRLjkK3ArR-SzuvvCpIPdjlfXsGK7QZ5niqrB_nYJNhdx74sQZXpK3cp/w426-h640/Arki's%20paw%20print.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Arki's paw print<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is also a cast taken from former Louisville Zoo resident Arki's paw, to show how the wide pads help support a polar bear walking on ice and snow, like a snowshoe. Arki, mother of Hudson, Payton, and the late Marty, lived most of her life in Brookfield Zoo, and retired to Louisville in 2011. She died in 2013. She was the grandmother or great grandmother of nearly all the younger polar bears we have in the USA.</span></span><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpKXIPn4EBdFsyeuF0qzsFDTrFwEDrl9y2rdCPzvxTtGLgRbXV7IIERKSpNTKgS4kBkQRVverf74uvQYbJUY6VxRy8jqfFvq42dW4ybetd7KrH_Z35Us_f4eXjGhXu6oPWSpKzwcGtegoCHgSUQp4ew1MoHKgcegABzja6H3HXqBhZX3nRCwnBoT1/s3588/docent%20polar%20bear%20paw.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3414" data-original-width="3588" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpKXIPn4EBdFsyeuF0qzsFDTrFwEDrl9y2rdCPzvxTtGLgRbXV7IIERKSpNTKgS4kBkQRVverf74uvQYbJUY6VxRy8jqfFvq42dW4ybetd7KrH_Z35Us_f4eXjGhXu6oPWSpKzwcGtegoCHgSUQp4ew1MoHKgcegABzja6H3HXqBhZX3nRCwnBoT1/w640-h608/docent%20polar%20bear%20paw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A zoo docent shows a polar bear claw with fur to a visitor.<br /> The educators explained the importance of Arctic Sea Ice, and how polar bears depend upon it to survive.<br /> The Arctic Sea Ice forms later every year, and melts earlier,<br /> giving the polar bears less time to find the food they need.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Arctic is now warming at three times the rate as the rest of the planet, causing changes to this crucial environment.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sea ice is the foundation for the ecosystem of marine life, the food chain that includes plankton, fish, seals, beluga whales, walrus, polar bears and everything in between. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Polar bears hunt mainly on the ice, especially ringed seals and bearded seals. Without the ice, there will be fewer seals. And the polar bears are not agile enough to catch their dinner in the water. With less food for the polar bears, there will be fewer cubs. The loss of sea ice is devastating to the polar bear population.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The loss of sea ice also drives the polar bears to human communities, where they rummage through the garbage and roam the streets in search of food, bringing the bears into conflict with humans. It is dangerous for the bears and the humans.</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DLTqfTl5sSJwFl54Aierjqjcr7VfCDULcYM3h6ITIMKobRVDk3T48RuBx1e2k1Vc7rAd3526TcyYuxoJLipRbQLfgS28L4WFdqMG02Q3nxpUt6UbsjSNtpe6oYovKfucdOqGr2HPSkn4KQ_0qWu-jKEChSfAC_07SUaxuAf_pQuoXHudOxXmm4S9/s4854/ice%20board.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4854" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DLTqfTl5sSJwFl54Aierjqjcr7VfCDULcYM3h6ITIMKobRVDk3T48RuBx1e2k1Vc7rAd3526TcyYuxoJLipRbQLfgS28L4WFdqMG02Q3nxpUt6UbsjSNtpe6oYovKfucdOqGr2HPSkn4KQ_0qWu-jKEChSfAC_07SUaxuAf_pQuoXHudOxXmm4S9/w640-h430/ice%20board.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since the Arctic, which serves as the "air conditioner" for the rest of the planet, is warming and losing sea ice, we are now seeing temperatures rise for the rest of us as well, with drought, wildfires, stronger storms and flooding as a result. Currently, parts of the US and Europe are suffering through deadly heatwaves and devastating wildfires. </span></span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6tj6Gg22uOTAq0YtroKrcWJQpNwdjZ2kUDjHbfd9N_zwE-ZvR2jmC2-OTtFpWmN2K7JnS72qxrgyFRyPP3mF_zFCEf4LHPCtAu2Y89zwuFzxCFU5ZIFDr_2fpO77AW5r1ja5E3lNCSezGd9tjcoWnG97zXNiny42gZ-Bh7FndEUqWldCGS8mNwZP/s3270/lee%20float.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3270" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6tj6Gg22uOTAq0YtroKrcWJQpNwdjZ2kUDjHbfd9N_zwE-ZvR2jmC2-OTtFpWmN2K7JnS72qxrgyFRyPP3mF_zFCEf4LHPCtAu2Y89zwuFzxCFU5ZIFDr_2fpO77AW5r1ja5E3lNCSezGd9tjcoWnG97zXNiny42gZ-Bh7FndEUqWldCGS8mNwZP/w602-h640/lee%20float.jpg" width="602" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lee imitates and iceberg, under a See Ice Day sign.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM3hdkBKOZQ6mljs5j_-UQbxnXzzySBU3UoXn-0iqe4ZELGM75MhY53PpC_xx1dlMzsYkMc1d_mcR3ARPpg2K7OWod5jwFM3x_t7TZfxLulPA8sycQ24Q-1wASq0l6EWVhPY1s8MI6p0umCWuIOGvRG8hcpnJZ8R8aaAookHGaPTkVGvW6uSuJ9vk/s5184/lee%20lettuce.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM3hdkBKOZQ6mljs5j_-UQbxnXzzySBU3UoXn-0iqe4ZELGM75MhY53PpC_xx1dlMzsYkMc1d_mcR3ARPpg2K7OWod5jwFM3x_t7TZfxLulPA8sycQ24Q-1wASq0l6EWVhPY1s8MI6p0umCWuIOGvRG8hcpnJZ8R8aaAookHGaPTkVGvW6uSuJ9vk/w640-h426/lee%20lettuce.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lee captures retrieves some lettuce. <br />Yes, polar bears like fruits and vegetables.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231885879612348728.post-73833478702694730382022-07-14T19:19:00.000-07:002022-07-14T19:19:45.220-07:00Little Hippo Matilda is one year old<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDQKxpTn_oyhfnCnfUklOpOpti3_qWBa3HgVpWbb-MFy8qKlFgtfQLqwIgGWzYiR318Xy7qX-jwNULY9ba0TrBo9wRNsYQ6_avM2CNqvoAhLtpTWgQXHuJkKx6_-tPsSpGW7gqAypWiQvEwpv9w0vlVscHKeQSlUABuBRkjb0EQc3EGzLDgMFq5Vh/s2926/Matilda%20love%20green%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2926" data-original-width="2289" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDQKxpTn_oyhfnCnfUklOpOpti3_qWBa3HgVpWbb-MFy8qKlFgtfQLqwIgGWzYiR318Xy7qX-jwNULY9ba0TrBo9wRNsYQ6_avM2CNqvoAhLtpTWgQXHuJkKx6_-tPsSpGW7gqAypWiQvEwpv9w0vlVscHKeQSlUABuBRkjb0EQc3EGzLDgMFq5Vh/w500-h640/Matilda%20love%20green%20ball.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Little Matilda of ABQ Biopark in Albuquerque NM</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sy_tTn6thb9q8aESSv0pBbPgJo_5kF5WPorQfB4wdlNxFiOlmok2XKK4cYPh8XhrLq5DLb_hhsatXEpLdLhwsbya9auoxkT3meqIzFVY87r-GkqM5xdzfxmEuPywnICxjtWUMMOOkVKxGnhC7VpQ7E8t_FDlbSqBUFpBPharhrrHT241e52MklOA/s2779/matilda%20chase%20green%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2779" data-original-width="2184" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sy_tTn6thb9q8aESSv0pBbPgJo_5kF5WPorQfB4wdlNxFiOlmok2XKK4cYPh8XhrLq5DLb_hhsatXEpLdLhwsbya9auoxkT3meqIzFVY87r-GkqM5xdzfxmEuPywnICxjtWUMMOOkVKxGnhC7VpQ7E8t_FDlbSqBUFpBPharhrrHT241e52MklOA/w502-h640/matilda%20chase%20green%20ball.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda with her favorite toy. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Matilda, the Nile Hippo baby of the ABQ Biopark, will celebrate her first birthday on July 19, 2022, </span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkRNf7grI7M91WLHCD3_wlVJjWE3RaSr7b-VdrcbelVLYbQfXc-qZVuobRUSR6AgkWe5n1bjn4e0OgA2Opqg-hkeygYdY9K4eg2RBX9xpzhjZaXTxeKJaA0j3r1ipoa1rr0g30bvl5xCsr_G05HqLlIu5FHg00Dtunx2thQcg-s-I8eRCu0LDHSof/s5184/Matilda%20and%20ball%20hippo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkRNf7grI7M91WLHCD3_wlVJjWE3RaSr7b-VdrcbelVLYbQfXc-qZVuobRUSR6AgkWe5n1bjn4e0OgA2Opqg-hkeygYdY9K4eg2RBX9xpzhjZaXTxeKJaA0j3r1ipoa1rr0g30bvl5xCsr_G05HqLlIu5FHg00Dtunx2thQcg-s-I8eRCu0LDHSof/w640-h426/Matilda%20and%20ball%20hippo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda loves her green ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Matilda is the third offspring of parents Karen and Moe at the Biopark. </span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxTYNZhcxHKZRoBTQxtO8YsDnXi9MWqiT8VM4vsuZWTqE8SY6bvyvDyfl7hJNL5hn6sctb1LRiot-LMKUWRVIPkoOGBl2iAUCuHAhxjBjPsBR9lGPYR-qVjIDblq-qjDsRWeOuPm3r1hr0TEie_8nO08s8-x96RwE-t34MAzyKg7PAlUZYZWAZ9Ok/s5184/Karen%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxTYNZhcxHKZRoBTQxtO8YsDnXi9MWqiT8VM4vsuZWTqE8SY6bvyvDyfl7hJNL5hn6sctb1LRiot-LMKUWRVIPkoOGBl2iAUCuHAhxjBjPsBR9lGPYR-qVjIDblq-qjDsRWeOuPm3r1hr0TEie_8nO08s8-x96RwE-t34MAzyKg7PAlUZYZWAZ9Ok/w640-h426/Karen%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Mama Karen plays with Matilda and her ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Karen and Moe's first baby was a little girl named Boopie, now going by the name of Biopelo, who is in Dallas now and is mother of a little hippo born in 2019.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Their second baby, born in 2015, was named Brynn, until he moved to San Antonio Zoo to be with Karen's mother Uma, who is his grandmother, and now he goes by Timothy. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Karen's late father Tumbo (Matilda and Timothy's grandfather) was a little bit famous too. He was featured on the cover of National Geographic in 2016 as the hippo photographed at San Antonio Zoo by Joel Santore for his well known Photo Ark. Tumbo was 41 when he was photographed. He died at almost age 43, sadly. Click on the link below to see Tumbo.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/photo-ark/animal/hippopotamus-amphibius/">Tumbo in Joel Santore's Photo Ark</a><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Timothy is well known for his many charming and lovelorn letters to a famous little hippo girl in Cincinnati, Fiona. Maybe those two will get together someday.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOMCrde669us1V8UjvPt0QcIo-Od4cs7UyrqWispDPBrLZrsjmoUVAD660WwmDMnORFAx0ZBVc6d2h2QzWfUJBf56rFbY2h-OQ6-QymYq4mM9uwb760hwGk6OorhQHzg_K_93wVqSEphcj2C_wDy0Z77Tg2vBC4Q614gyyd49JDZmpH15Vnds176h/s3870/beach%20green%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2856" data-original-width="3870" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOMCrde669us1V8UjvPt0QcIo-Od4cs7UyrqWispDPBrLZrsjmoUVAD660WwmDMnORFAx0ZBVc6d2h2QzWfUJBf56rFbY2h-OQ6-QymYq4mM9uwb760hwGk6OorhQHzg_K_93wVqSEphcj2C_wDy0Z77Tg2vBC4Q614gyyd49JDZmpH15Vnds176h/w640-h472/beach%20green%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda on shore with the beloved green ball. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I visited Matilda at the end of June at the ABQ Biopark, and found her playing with her big green ball. She loved to roll it around, and try to bite it. Her mom Karen seemed to like the ball too.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ikiyMsmdo7CoPszysTGIuVQuggqRCY2QwwW-Z6KfnLipxmNMQMtxNQ-G4itIcBV1wi_tF-3kJyejWGJiw6-_QSjn6kxQRDs7jw5VZPWg9TRgqXeEBgWHRDt2Z56TrTHp_Y8_X6vQqa6Jk2OtVwiygQocg1tFtXOEvtPlTSEmtfjQo5QxPpxhRtTA/s3288/matilda%20ball%20left%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1974" data-original-width="3288" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ikiyMsmdo7CoPszysTGIuVQuggqRCY2QwwW-Z6KfnLipxmNMQMtxNQ-G4itIcBV1wi_tF-3kJyejWGJiw6-_QSjn6kxQRDs7jw5VZPWg9TRgqXeEBgWHRDt2Z56TrTHp_Y8_X6vQqa6Jk2OtVwiygQocg1tFtXOEvtPlTSEmtfjQo5QxPpxhRtTA/w640-h384/matilda%20ball%20left%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda uses her open mouth to steer the ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ezTe8XIw56w-7ICRa9Giag9CcgK3jnTXUzBhk8wJg7GVU9Ew-4ehSQ6pU-gDk_EiBwCrdK3eS5ywItBJMeoQVPBqZFRf8A9gEmjFmCeXO8qwc1ePemr2xBoIMEsFjAhg-EguLB9E92o_52QR50Bd64jING7aA0JavYG124vfriJmjN7oiPI34jUR/s5184/matilda%20ball%20left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ezTe8XIw56w-7ICRa9Giag9CcgK3jnTXUzBhk8wJg7GVU9Ew-4ehSQ6pU-gDk_EiBwCrdK3eS5ywItBJMeoQVPBqZFRf8A9gEmjFmCeXO8qwc1ePemr2xBoIMEsFjAhg-EguLB9E92o_52QR50Bd64jING7aA0JavYG124vfriJmjN7oiPI34jUR/w640-h426/matilda%20ball%20left.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda noses the ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7AM6wCBvwXeHIJUZX9lfxV2MA_1j8PI7dS0guPgIKuuiUHWDfxoBOIjLa9NyQEcfkEUg2_oE_-URHO6byz9LSMi3h1-QRSIQkFC9xnCMJ_kOCewGWP-mb7R2_aD0zHLGUhDOJClpMCagp5hMjzlC56aGWevCOgF63Ds6fz1YXLt7fHECnFqtVGGz/s3984/matilda%20ball%20mouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2946" data-original-width="3984" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7AM6wCBvwXeHIJUZX9lfxV2MA_1j8PI7dS0guPgIKuuiUHWDfxoBOIjLa9NyQEcfkEUg2_oE_-URHO6byz9LSMi3h1-QRSIQkFC9xnCMJ_kOCewGWP-mb7R2_aD0zHLGUhDOJClpMCagp5hMjzlC56aGWevCOgF63Ds6fz1YXLt7fHECnFqtVGGz/w640-h474/matilda%20ball%20mouth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">She has learned to use her mouth to aim the ball,<br /> almost like she wants to eat it.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpO6baEahczGkb6SPjLdCs9Dh4VEF5sX6FtJCNZckpxlVcA4bOaTsE6TUI8N1BY2ToSljeX-S4DVxCI-9CFLug0Uuzx6C7srI4tCXw-YTZzXrBg2Kwjn_UfInZW6lme79KBLvVdTdux6oVR9lnP_wHs7CO1S6A2200kUdyLGUxs-KtDAjR6CfSSzip/s4206/matilda%20karen%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3294" data-original-width="4206" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpO6baEahczGkb6SPjLdCs9Dh4VEF5sX6FtJCNZckpxlVcA4bOaTsE6TUI8N1BY2ToSljeX-S4DVxCI-9CFLug0Uuzx6C7srI4tCXw-YTZzXrBg2Kwjn_UfInZW6lme79KBLvVdTdux6oVR9lnP_wHs7CO1S6A2200kUdyLGUxs-KtDAjR6CfSSzip/w640-h502/matilda%20karen%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Karen chases Matilda and Matilda chases the ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL0dHP4Wvz3ZjYZvwK2e0L5XkaQ6TQhLLN13uAu3H07SiKTORTn6k5B06ygryX81LGbEe2bos58sXCEq3mIojEp12ULqTKupRS5zX81ec1sQOw68zEegtdw2qSFgm0b8BuJOwUIPzmUTT14ROUmZQleWZTtjThJ6UypBrT2B4S4MtvXcJOOh_wZsz/s3966/Matilda%20chase%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2652" data-original-width="3966" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL0dHP4Wvz3ZjYZvwK2e0L5XkaQ6TQhLLN13uAu3H07SiKTORTn6k5B06ygryX81LGbEe2bos58sXCEq3mIojEp12ULqTKupRS5zX81ec1sQOw68zEegtdw2qSFgm0b8BuJOwUIPzmUTT14ROUmZQleWZTtjThJ6UypBrT2B4S4MtvXcJOOh_wZsz/w640-h428/Matilda%20chase%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda has a large flat area, perfect for a game of ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Babies and toddlers all seem to love playing with a ball. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiif23ZvNf3qy-w_JqE-roA13RDbsuYM-2WqA-CR-3lStAl6M4cR6iwl3CfrXtfMkJZ-M_jb2ViRzVharsPn2vIckFqbthTMYFmN0l6NlN-dktrdQQgqxS1I5r3m1pjKF5-ZCJiRodtkF9JYv4ZKHOsEAoIH_O7Yt_8vV4YY652NT8uYTeotJatZusK/s4044/matilda%20and%20mom%20ball%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2142" data-original-width="4044" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiif23ZvNf3qy-w_JqE-roA13RDbsuYM-2WqA-CR-3lStAl6M4cR6iwl3CfrXtfMkJZ-M_jb2ViRzVharsPn2vIckFqbthTMYFmN0l6NlN-dktrdQQgqxS1I5r3m1pjKF5-ZCJiRodtkF9JYv4ZKHOsEAoIH_O7Yt_8vV4YY652NT8uYTeotJatZusK/w640-h338/matilda%20and%20mom%20ball%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There is no underwater hippo viewing at ABQ Biopark, <br />but it was easy to see Matilda flying around the pool with her ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKRrEE-iRI2ySuGlzpBrKSI7ayMvWRcpuGRZq-FrzGcWu0KglWXpr82zhU3fJ5Li4KBGAE1JJbKu-0qleDZrA3QLXBdiC9911SDHDQnog_cDkYvAoNkJIvW3BMjWEDeGd-vVfBNvGLpzWLlpFK9u-wMOaPGNGU-9aIXvJo2l8yyzzAYrYUdhMcFlO/s3960/matilda%20and%20mom%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="3960" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKRrEE-iRI2ySuGlzpBrKSI7ayMvWRcpuGRZq-FrzGcWu0KglWXpr82zhU3fJ5Li4KBGAE1JJbKu-0qleDZrA3QLXBdiC9911SDHDQnog_cDkYvAoNkJIvW3BMjWEDeGd-vVfBNvGLpzWLlpFK9u-wMOaPGNGU-9aIXvJo2l8yyzzAYrYUdhMcFlO/w640-h420/matilda%20and%20mom%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Attack mom and the ball at the same time.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3S7F5Gpk2Oz5E8kKIS4ShESqIkI3ttIq65HpphPWDjnsaX2Rm7L-kFF4iv953I4MgzJ8o6cw6tADVIU4davXeBDwEUmh5anQyfFuX24mOLs7mhRUZ3rPS7VtyU2mX2M844AKnZmHzaAraR2YpRWllHxPQT-FJRBQ_4xNLsFWc1loXkXcBj0u4Gwh/s3234/Matilda%20Karen%20hippo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="3234" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3S7F5Gpk2Oz5E8kKIS4ShESqIkI3ttIq65HpphPWDjnsaX2Rm7L-kFF4iv953I4MgzJ8o6cw6tADVIU4davXeBDwEUmh5anQyfFuX24mOLs7mhRUZ3rPS7VtyU2mX2M844AKnZmHzaAraR2YpRWllHxPQT-FJRBQ_4xNLsFWc1loXkXcBj0u4Gwh/w640-h532/Matilda%20Karen%20hippo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Like a tug of war, Matilda and her mom go for the same prize.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When Matilda pushed the ball into the pool, it was even more fun. She could splash and push it all around. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXn3EqhEcqCPomS9IaOEDCT0fxV34Ua-xMPhQzOXq-mElCLVG2I31JpxdsnSG5ez5tk-3H6D_Dxfsc9UXM5NfLoE8WNo_0aY46Bd6Wv-Wr8LCryuvBHi8gS0p-sOMML9VcZiZs9jr2fUzBC33UUAKDMremMq4WN9KmrCEczpYll1Pv7EX8vtayXGD/s4188/mlatilda%20poirpose%20ball%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="4188" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXn3EqhEcqCPomS9IaOEDCT0fxV34Ua-xMPhQzOXq-mElCLVG2I31JpxdsnSG5ez5tk-3H6D_Dxfsc9UXM5NfLoE8WNo_0aY46Bd6Wv-Wr8LCryuvBHi8gS0p-sOMML9VcZiZs9jr2fUzBC33UUAKDMremMq4WN9KmrCEczpYll1Pv7EX8vtayXGD/w640-h456/mlatilda%20poirpose%20ball%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda would "porpoise" out of the water to get the ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hippos will often "porpoise" to the top of the pool, and Matilda liked to leap out at the ball, pushing it here and there.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZkKszFCiAcjYxonOGSBypP_7wbJgTncM8gd6nvnwbJdY2_ghblkL5RsyMTyeoyKeLg26YtqUdvH9gSe5VuGFuL2yF9b5cvbcgB5tc09NWUkzKlI1ddJmolhsutMAYpzE6qYVKCKDqlb1MhcfxF-APiojL0Mh4EE9oS8vPc_eq9Jp9b_2m9eS-vR9/s3168/matilda%20swoop%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2826" data-original-width="3168" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZkKszFCiAcjYxonOGSBypP_7wbJgTncM8gd6nvnwbJdY2_ghblkL5RsyMTyeoyKeLg26YtqUdvH9gSe5VuGFuL2yF9b5cvbcgB5tc09NWUkzKlI1ddJmolhsutMAYpzE6qYVKCKDqlb1MhcfxF-APiojL0Mh4EE9oS8vPc_eq9Jp9b_2m9eS-vR9/w640-h570/matilda%20swoop%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So much splashing in the game of water polo.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-xSQ3pg0HjAIBpa0xf6sI31d7IZekRVSlhd_qaFJDjYafIb0wUCVEbGFGrGGeieE8vYc7znJ81VqA1Ki5403fFUA1x7fVQjPNZ2nC-Uqwe8F-QHYgmH93NDjkv6oEWe2ticoEvKU0FiVdIqGgA1qMdEkn4D0bhgc-tDdRVAqsNA785rsNp53A_ob/s3336/Matilda%20tip%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3336" data-original-width="2982" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-xSQ3pg0HjAIBpa0xf6sI31d7IZekRVSlhd_qaFJDjYafIb0wUCVEbGFGrGGeieE8vYc7znJ81VqA1Ki5403fFUA1x7fVQjPNZ2nC-Uqwe8F-QHYgmH93NDjkv6oEWe2ticoEvKU0FiVdIqGgA1qMdEkn4D0bhgc-tDdRVAqsNA785rsNp53A_ob/w572-h640/Matilda%20tip%20ball.jpg" width="572" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matilda thinks she is a seal, going to balance that ball on her nose.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Sometimes mom Karen got into the game, but daddy Moe seemed to just want to chill out.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidM1ktDbOrPk8Q7w6LhejOyhaUuAlDNFX46HC4oWBICjETIdlP-lCRip6fkTiLG-OfVqUWSDPL9PUJ7sa_bdbN4JiToQaWL97fGOUDIh6qMQKtP-jQU1vm145ewZTCYeYHUtyjBTSM6PoFaH6LCjUiqVGPbzASIj9mSfBKpvGghCjvD9IT60nsucb/s5184/Karen%20Matilda%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidM1ktDbOrPk8Q7w6LhejOyhaUuAlDNFX46HC4oWBICjETIdlP-lCRip6fkTiLG-OfVqUWSDPL9PUJ7sa_bdbN4JiToQaWL97fGOUDIh6qMQKtP-jQU1vm145ewZTCYeYHUtyjBTSM6PoFaH6LCjUiqVGPbzASIj9mSfBKpvGghCjvD9IT60nsucb/w640-h426/Karen%20Matilda%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Maybe Mom Karen wants to play too.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Matilda just wanted to play all day. Many zoo visitors gathered on the bridge to watch the little hippo play in the pool. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd2dNzQ5eCD9UQB6Vosei06J9idEib2PQ6gNdV0x0wcACmk0xThyLK1jRzMt_poSuwPwRnEKy5Js74GOM4ohVzOwz4lj8sLvEDhj3tIykvV27zGFwc9atWP1U4bhiNhcbMSJaND4LnQ8inMii8zhdd7p8e_VkDgyDX7pM0hqxRtuY6V7O1KpfNzFS/s5184/Matilda%20dive%20for%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd2dNzQ5eCD9UQB6Vosei06J9idEib2PQ6gNdV0x0wcACmk0xThyLK1jRzMt_poSuwPwRnEKy5Js74GOM4ohVzOwz4lj8sLvEDhj3tIykvV27zGFwc9atWP1U4bhiNhcbMSJaND4LnQ8inMii8zhdd7p8e_VkDgyDX7pM0hqxRtuY6V7O1KpfNzFS/w640-h426/Matilda%20dive%20for%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sometimes Matilda seemed to be biting the ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBnI1x8rhsnOM07nDPiKBxdDXjLtuWH5HNcPSbrZepWv_bbc272rj_WAAXfBXpIKB739AQi52gt0mW8-M5m1iK3Xtf6PopI7kWjnbTB487fvhs0ZAF1X5Yuej4S_-pv82TyYHUDTxVRFfD9M1hX331K15Mp_Xf_DCowcUMIb_zQ6aqkInF1s_mTx5/s2922/matilda%20top%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1812" data-original-width="2922" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBnI1x8rhsnOM07nDPiKBxdDXjLtuWH5HNcPSbrZepWv_bbc272rj_WAAXfBXpIKB739AQi52gt0mW8-M5m1iK3Xtf6PopI7kWjnbTB487fvhs0ZAF1X5Yuej4S_-pv82TyYHUDTxVRFfD9M1hX331K15Mp_Xf_DCowcUMIb_zQ6aqkInF1s_mTx5/w640-h396/matilda%20top%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A content child.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvhU11vY6rOpK1TLKPEh7NtVcJqSyfJ8BHkl2PmWykd9oBitfDN4iF931M4snW73K28yRmOHXalSU1HbCL-x5SAXgEczxO6_GjhkZMSYoQBOqyR6gfVuEZk5wEUhItvZjdACGG3FIBWNg5DpeU9zsUjcEptsOYSSEJBQfD47hfiSa4NZXsu9PQwNI/s4308/matilda%20porposing%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2982" data-original-width="4308" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvhU11vY6rOpK1TLKPEh7NtVcJqSyfJ8BHkl2PmWykd9oBitfDN4iF931M4snW73K28yRmOHXalSU1HbCL-x5SAXgEczxO6_GjhkZMSYoQBOqyR6gfVuEZk5wEUhItvZjdACGG3FIBWNg5DpeU9zsUjcEptsOYSSEJBQfD47hfiSa4NZXsu9PQwNI/w640-h444/matilda%20porposing%20ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Another score for Matilda.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx7X7YafbvNrhCq2i_57ACdmVIGVoKQt_dUwDT1SJY94-sM5wPrh7bdqkBlH5yq-OOPJdFRpETpibWbSnQeWr2cbEQ0ATA-7mGoZowcaUaOUk_Gyurv4F-ZjDWbJDJ0JNg1kqE0uji9n-ZSbr6Vr_ge7rhZmyrezhrioQTH_PRELOEJ2lo3oVJDCZ/s4830/matilda%20family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2922" data-original-width="4830" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx7X7YafbvNrhCq2i_57ACdmVIGVoKQt_dUwDT1SJY94-sM5wPrh7bdqkBlH5yq-OOPJdFRpETpibWbSnQeWr2cbEQ0ATA-7mGoZowcaUaOUk_Gyurv4F-ZjDWbJDJ0JNg1kqE0uji9n-ZSbr6Vr_ge7rhZmyrezhrioQTH_PRELOEJ2lo3oVJDCZ/w640-h388/matilda%20family.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And here's the whole family. Daddy Mo is behind Matilda,<br /> and Mom Karen has the ball.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy first birthday to Matilda. Have a ball, little girl.</span></div><div><br /></div>Molly Merrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668328330513756633noreply@blogger.com0