Lady Patches has left us

Lady Patches hat uns verlassen

Patches, photos taken in Erie Zoo

 Just weeks short of her 27^th birthday (she was born November 29, 1987), Patches lost her short battle with suspected lung cancer on Sunday. She had been lethargic and not eating in the past few weeks.

Nur wenige Wochen Kurz vor ihrem 27. Geburtstag, verlor Patches ihren kurzen Kampf gegen Lungenkrebs am Sonntag. Sie war lethargisch und hatte in den letzten Wochen kaum etwas gefressen.

 Patches goes for a fishy ice ring
 in her pool at the Erie Zoo

Patches had moved just a year ago from a small old-fashioned enclosure at the Erie Zoo to a spacious new polar bear enclosure – Rocky Coast - at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.

Gur vor einem Jahr wurde Patches von einer kleinen altmodischen Gehegeanlage am Erie Zoo in eine geräumigen neuen Eisbärenanlage im North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro verlegt.

Patches was a curious, friendly bear

Patches had come to the Erie Zoo December 11, 2007 from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, where she had lived with her twin sister Bam Bam (officially called Fanny, but everyone calls her Bam Bam). Patches was named for the dark spot on her head when she was born.

Patches kam in den Erie Zoo am11. Dezember 2007 aus der Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, wo sie mit ihrer Zwillingsschwester Bam Bam gelebt hatte (offiziel genannt Fanny, aber jeder nannte sie hier Bam Bam). Patches bekam ihren Namen von dem dunklen Fleck auf dem Kopf bei der Geburt.

Patches' sister Bam Bam
is still at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha,
 which has a very large polar bear habitat with a huge pool.

Patches

She was 20 at the time she moved to Erie Zoo, and had lived her entire life with her sister at the zoo in Omaha.

Sie war 20 Jahre zu der Zeit zog sie nach Erie Zoo, und hatte ihr ganzes Leben hier mit ihrer Schwester in dem Zoo in Omaha gelebt.

Patches

At the Erie Zoo, she lived in an antiquated, cramped enclosure with a tiny pool. Her caring keepers tried to keep her entertained with enrichment activities and treats. She lived with three different males in her years in Erie, but each died an early and tragic death.

Am Erie Zoo lebte sie in einer veralteten, engen Gehege mit einem winzigen Pool. Fürsorgliche Pfleger versuchten sie mit Aktivitäten zur Anreicherung und Leckereien zuunterhalten und zu beschäftigen. Sie lebte mit drei verschiedenen männlichen Eisbären in ihren Zeit im Erie Zoo, aber alle drei Eisbären starben einen frühen undtragischen Tod.

Patches rests on the ledge over her tiny pool at the Erie Zoo

After she moved to Asheboro, she enjoyed playing with her many new toys, and swimming in a large pool. She had always been a people watcher, and she continued that in Asheboro, making many new friends in the beautiful new polar bear area. Last month the second new area opened, and Patches was there to entertain the Governor, and supervise the refreshment table. She had always been playful, friendly, and easy to work with.

Nachdem sie nach Asheboro verlegt wurde, genoss sie das Spiel mit den vielen neuen Spielsachen und das Schwimmen in einem großen Pool. Sie hatte schon immerviel Spass daran die Menschen zu beobachten, und sie tat dies auch in Asheboro, sie fand viele neue Freunde in der schönen neuen Eisbären-Anlage. Letzten Monat wurde der zweite neue Bereich eröffnet und Patches unterhalten auch den Gouverneur, und überwachte das Erfrischung Buffet. Sie war immer sehr verspielt, freundlich und es war einfach mit ihr zu arbeiten.

Patches has found a twig

Patches had twice given birth to cubs that did not survive. She had been all alone for several years before she moved to North Carolina.

Patches brachte zweimal Jungtiere zur Welt, die aber nicht überlebt habent. Sie war lange Zeit allein mit sich bis sie nach North Carolina verlegt wurde.

Patches stretching

Now sister Bam Bam is the only surviving bear of the seven cubs raised by the famous breeding pair Olaf and Olga of the Omaha Zoo.

Jetzt ist Schwester Bam Bam die einzige überlebende Bärin der sieben Jungtiere von dem berühmten Zuchtpaar Olaf und Olga des Omaha Zoo.

She was named Patches for the dark spot
 on her head when she was born

Wistful

Patches was a clown,
always making funny poses and funny faces

The North Carolina Zoo had just welcomed Anana from Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, who will be living there while her habitat is being renovated, so there is still currently a polar bear at the zoo.

Der North Carolina Zoo nahm gerade Anana aus dem Lincoln Park Zoo auf, während die Eisbärenanlage dort renoviert wird, so dass es immer noch einen Eisbären im Zoo Asheboro gibt.

Goodbye to Patches. You will be dearly missed

Patches is packing her bags, and moving to North Carolina

Patches

It was just announced today that 25 year old Patches will be moving from the Erie Zoo to a beautiful new polar bear enclosure at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.

Es wurde gerade heute angekündigt, dass die 25-jährige Patches aus dem Erie Zoo in ein schönes, neues Eisbärengehege in den North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro umziehen wird.

Patches will enjoy the star treatment when she gets to North Carolina.

Patches will make the move in time to celebrate her 26^th birthday on November 29 in her new home.

Patches wird den Umzug in der Zeit zu ihrem 26. Geburtstag am 29. November in ihrem neuen Zuhause feiern.

Patches plays with a fishy ice ring

Chewing on a stick

Patches came to the Erie Zoo December 11, 2007 from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, where she lived with her twin sister Bam Bam (officially called Fanny, but everyone calls her Bam Bam). She was 20 at the time, and had lived her entire life with her sister at the zoo in Omaha.

Patches kam in den Erie Zoo 11. Dezember 2007 aus dem Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, wo sie mit ihrer Zwillingsschwester Bam Bam lebte (offiziell genannt Fanny, aber jeder nennt sie Bam Bam). Sie war 20 zu der Zeit, und lebte ihr ganzes Leben mit ihrer Schwester im Zoo in Omaha.

Pretty girl Patches

She had previously given birth to a cub at the Henry Doorly Zoo, but it did not survive. There were expectations that she would become a mother after the move, but it just never did happen. She had several male bears live with her, but they died of various medical problems. She has been all alone for several years.

Sie hatte ein Eisbärjunges im Henry Doorly Zoo geboren, aber es hat nicht überlebt. Man hatte die Erwartungen, dass sie nach dem Umzug Mutter werden würde, aber es ist nie passiert. Sie lebte mit mehreren männlichen Bären zusammen, aber sie starben an verschiedenen medizinischen Problemen. Sie blieb ganz allein für einige Jahre.

A lazy afternoon nap for Patches at the Erie Zoo.
She is known for her amusing facial expressions.

The North Carolina Zoo was home to Willy and Aquila for many years. The much loved Willy moved to the Milwaukee County Zoo and the popular Aquila moved to the Detroit Zoo in 2011 when renovations began at their old home Aquila returned home last spring, but died suddenly in September. Willy died a few weeks later in Wisconsin. These two bears left behind many heartbroken fans.

Der North Carolina Zoo war die Heimat von Willy und Aquila für viele Jahre. Der viel geliebte Willy wurde in den Milwaukee County Zoo verlegt und die beliebte Aquila zog in den Detroit Zoo in 2011, als Renovierungsarbeiten begannen. In ihre alte Heimat kehrte Aquila im letzten Frühjahr zurück, starb aber plötzlich im September. Willy starb wenige Wochen später in Wisconsin. Diese beiden Bären hinterließen viele Fans mit gebrochenem Herzen.

Patches

So the question was, who would live in the newly renovated polar bear home in Asheboro?

Also die Frage war, wer würde nun in der neu renovierten Eisbärenanlage in Asheboro leben?

Patches naps on the ledge in her current home at the Erie Zoo.

The polar bear enclosure in the Erie Zoo is old and the pool is very small. In addition, the Erie Zoo is closed during the winter months, and Patches loves to watch the people come and go, so it must have been a little lonely every winter. The zoo staff took wonderful care of Patches, and always tried to make everything a game for her. They are very fond of her at the Erie Zoo, but this sweet lady bear will enjoy an improved lifestyle in her new home.

Das Eisbärengehege im Erie Zoo ist alt und der Pool ist sehr klein. Darüber hinaus wird der Erie Zoo während der Wintermonate geschlossen und Patches liebt es zu beobachten. Die Leute kommen und gehen, also muss es ein wenig einsam gewesen sein in jedem Winter. Das Zoo Personal machte wunderbare Betreuung von Patches und versuchte immer, aus Allem ein Spiel für sie zu machen. Sie sind sehr lieb im Erie Zoo, aber diese süße Eisbärdame wird eine verbesserte Lebensweise in ihrem neuen Zuhause genießen.

Patches relaxes on a ledge

Patches has a lot to smile about

Patches watches her visitors at the Erie Zoo

Patches is watching her guests

Sweet Lady Patches is the Queen of the Erie Zoo. She is going to be 26 years old on November 29.

Süße Dame Patches ist die Königin des Erie Zoo. Sie wird 26 Jahre alt sein am 29. November.

Patches

For the past few years, she has enjoyed the use of two enclosures, using the old polar bear enclosure plus sometimes being rotated into the corner spot. She loved sitting on the corner, watching the visitors go by. She is a “People Watcher.”

Während der letzten Jahren hat sie die Verwendung von zwei Bärengehegen genossen, mit dem alten Eisbärengehege und manchmal durch Umzug in die Ecke des anderen Bärengeheges. Sie liebte es, an der Ecke zu sitzen und beobachtete die Besucher beim  Vorbeigehen. Sie ist ein "People Watcher."

This is where Patches lives

The Black Bears have moved into the corner spot,
 an enclosure she used to be able to use.

But now the black bears from the Akron Zoo have taken over the corner enclosure, and Patches has only the one place with a small pool and a silly useless slide. 

Aber jetzt haben die schwarzen Bären aus dem Zoo Akron  das Eck - Gehege übernommen und Patches hat nur dies eine Gehege mit einem kleinen Pool und einer nutzlosen Stein- Rutsche.

A frozen ring of fishes floats in Patches' pool

Grab the ring before it melts!

Got it!

Time for a snack

Yummy!

 Still, she has a great attitude. She enjoys the playful games with her keepers. She watches her visitors. She enjoys the small pleasures of life, such as a frozen ring of sardines to play with and other enrichment treats.

Dennoch hat sie eine tolle Einstellung . Sie genießt die verspielten Spiele mit ihrem Tierpflger. Sie beobachtet ihre Besucher . Sie genießt die kleinen Freuden des Lebens , wie zum Beispiel mit einem gefrorenen Ring aus Sardinen zu spielen und weitere Anreicherung  mit Leckerbissen.

Patches gives a wink and a curious look to her visitors

Patches looks fantastic. Her fur is clean and fluffy, and she isn't plagued with the scabs caused by biting flies two years ago. She still likes to scratch on various corners. She has a cool pool and air conditioned quarters to beat the heat.

Patches sieht fantastisch aus. Ihr Fell ist sauber und flauschig , und sie ist nicht mit den Schorf von Stechfliegen behaftet,welches sie vor  zwei Jahren  sehr geplagt hat . Sie kratzt sich immer noch gerne an verschiedenen Stellen. Sie hat einen kühlen Pool und  ein klimatisiertes  Quartier während der Sommerhitze.

The keepers close the door
to hose down the inside quarters,
and Patches wants to get in

Cleaning time is over

Her pool is small, but the water is clean. Patches enjoys the daily hosing down of her enclosure, playing in the spray. I think the Erie zookeepers make a game of it.

Ihr Pool ist klein, aber das Wasser ist sauber. Patches genießt das tägliche Abspritzen von ihrem Gehege, sie spielt in der Gischt . Ich denke, die Erie Tierpfleger machen ein Spiel daraus.

Patches' sister Bab Bam at the Omaha Zoo

Patches came to the Erie Zoo December 11, 2007 from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, where she lived with her twin sister Bam Bam (officially called Fanny, but everyone calls her Bam Bam). She was 20 at the time, and had lived her entire life with her sister at the zoo in Omaha. She had previously given birth to a cub at the Henry Doorly Zoo, but it did not survive. There were expectations that she would become a mother after the move, but it just never did happen. And now she is alone.

Patches kam in den Erie Zoo 11. Dezember 2007 von der Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, wo sie mit ihrer Zwillingsschwester  Bam Bam lebte (offiziell genannt Fanny, aber jeder nennt sie Bam Bam). Sie war 20 Jahre alt zu der Zeit, und lebte ihr ganzes Leben mit ihrer Schwester in den Zoo in Omaha. Sie hatte zuvor  ein Junges im Henry Doorly Zoo geboren, aber es hat nicht überlebt. Man hatte  die Erwartungen, dass sie Mutter werden würde nach dem Umzug, aber es  ist nie passieren. Und jetzt ist sie allein.

Patches keeps her eyes on her visitors

At the time Patches arrived, the Erie Zoo had just lost Alcor, one of twin brothers, and only Mizar, age 9, was left. It was hoped that Mizar and Patches could have a family. Unhappily, Mizar died a few months later of a ruptured spleen.

Zu der Zeit ,alsbPatches ankam hatte der Erie Zoo nur Alcor, einen der Zwillingsbrüder verloren und  Mizar, 9 Jahre,  war übrig  . Man hoffte, dass Mizar und Patches eine Familie  gründen könnte . Unglücklicherweise starb Mizar ein paar Monate später an einem geplatzten Milz.

Patches sometimes  has trouble with biting flies.
Scratch, scratch.

Later that year, Norton arrived on loan from the Detroit Zoo. The staff at the Detroit Zoo loved Norton, and hated to see him go. Patches did become pregnant, and in the winter of 2009, Patches gave birth to a stillborn cub. Norton, at age 23, died in early September, 2010, from a hernia, a tear in the abdominal wall. He had lived at the Erie Zoo for two years. Again, the Erie Zoo had hoped that Patches would give the following winter, but that just didn't happen.

Später in diesem Jahr, kam Norton Leihgabe der Detroit Zoo. Das Personal an der Detroit Zoo geliebt Norton, und hasste ihn gehen zu sehen. Patches haben schwanger zu werden, und im Winter des Jahres 2009, gab Patches Geburt ein totes Jungtier. Norton, im Alter von 23, starb Anfang September 2010, von einer Hernie, ein Riss in der Bauchdecke. Er hatte am Erie Zoo für zwei Jahre lebte. Wieder hatte der Erie Zoo gehofft, dass Patches ein Junges haben würde im folgenden Winter, aber das ist einfach nicht passiert.

Patches

Patches and Bam Bam are the only bears still living of the seven cubs raised by the famous breeding pair Olaf and Olga of the Omaha Zoo. Their older sister Mishka died this past May at the Henry Villas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin.

Patches und Bam Bam sind die einzigen noch lebenden  der sieben Jungen  des berühmten Zuchtpaares Olaf und Olga  aus dem  Omaha Zoo . Ihre ältere Schwester Mischka starb im vergangenen Mai im Henry Villas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Erie Zoo has some
 fantastic architectural features.

The Erie Zoo is a small but beautiful zoo, cut through by a river chasm. Here you will find architectural wonders as homes for some of the animals.

 Der Erie Zoo ist ein kleiner, aber feiner Zoo, durch  einen Flusstal durchtrennt . Hier finden Sie architektonische Wunder  als Häuser für einige der Tiere .

Patches and her pool. Two frozen treats are floating

The polar bear enclosure is old fashioned, and really should be upgraded, but the zoo in general is a treasure for this community, although it is closed for several months in the winter, because Erie gets so much lake effect snow. It is open March through November, and closed for December, January and February.

 Die Eisbärenanlage ist altmodisch, und sollte wirklich aufgerüstet werden, aber der Zoo im Allgemeinen ist ein Schatz für diese Gemeinschaft, obwohl sie für mehrere Monate im Winter geschlossen ist, weil Erie bekommt so vielSchnee;bedingt durch den Effekt des Sees. Es ist geöffnet von März bis November, und schloss für Dezember, Januar und Februar.

Pretty Patches

Patches is the queen, watching as her people come by to admire her.

Patches ist die Königin und beobachtete, wie ihr Volk  kommt um sie zu  bewundern.

Patches of the Erie Zoo

Patches the Polar Bear

The Erie Zoo in Erie Pennsylvania is home to Patches, a sweet-natured 24 year old lady bear.

The enclosure is old, but the zoo has expanded the polar bear area by making available the corner enclosure next door, formerly used by other bears. On the day I visited, in mid-July 2011, the corner enclosure was empty, and the pool was empty too, so Patches was in the original area. I was told that she prefers the corner enclosure, so she can watch the people. She is a real “People Watcher.”

She looks great except that in recent weeks, she has been bothered by biting flies, and she has scratched several itchy spots raw by rubbing on the walls. Then they itch some more, and she rubs on the walls some more, and the sores open up. The zoo is treating the sores, but it is hard to keep the ointment on when she swims and rubs against the rocks.

Patches rubs on the rocks, scratching the itch

Patches

More scratching for Patches

Swatting flies

Patches seems quite content

Her pool is small, but the water is very clean, as is her enclosure. When I was there, a zookeeper was hosing down Patches' area from above, and Patches didn't mind getting sprayed. I was told that Patches gets enrichment activities in the afternoon. There were no toys in sight, but there is a dry moat in the front of the enclosure, so that limits what the keepers can put into the area. There is a nice resting area above the pool, and Patches seems to like that spot. There is also some sort of stone slide going down to the pool, but I can't imagine a bear using it.

Patches on the ledge

Washing down the rocks

Patches

Patches and her little pool

If she gets too hot, she can get into the pool, or retreat to her air-conditioned quarters.

Patches the Polar bear arrived December 11, 2007 from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, where she lived with her sister. She was 20 at the time, and had previously given birth to a cub at the Henry Doorly Zoo, but it did not survive.

The Erie Zoo had just lost Alcor, one of twin brothers, and only Mizar, age 9, was left. Alcor had broken his leg in August, 2006, and had surgery, but died shortly afterwards. It was hoped that Mizar and Patches could have a family. Unhappily, Mizar died a few months later of a ruptured spleen.

Later that year, Norton arrived on loan from the Detroit Zoo. The people at the Detroit Zoo doted on Norton, and hated to see him go. Patches did become pregnant, and in the winter of 2009, Patches gave birth to a stillborn cub. Norton, at age 23, died in early September, 2010, from a hernia, a tear in the abdominal wall. He had been there two years. The Erie Zoo had hoped that Patches would give birth last winter, but that just didn't happen.

It is so hard to find a zoo polar bear in the United States, so Patches, twice a widow, may be alone for some time.