Antonia was unique in all the polar bear world

 

The famous Antonia

Today we heard the sad news that little old Antonia, the rare dwarf polar bear of Gelsenkirchen ZOOM, had reached her end. She had enjoyed some active days recently, but then her elderly body suddenly showed signs of failing due to old age, just as I saw last week with my 19 years old cat Pumpkin. When the body has run its course, there is nothing to be done to fix it.

Antonia was known for her big personality.

She was born November 24, 1989, in Karlsruhe Zoo, to Nadine and Willie, the same year that her half brother Anton was born there.  Antonia and Anton, along with two other cubs, were moved before their first birthday to nearby Stuttgart, in the Wilhelma. Antonia's stunted growth was obvious by her first birthday, and even so she was more aggressive and playful than the other cubs.  She was removed from the group for her own safety, and by the time she was three years old, sent to Gelsenkirchen, where she occupied a barren platform surrounded by a moat, near the entrance, for a time. Eventually, Gelsenkirchen ZOOM built the new Alaska habitat, and designed an enclosure just for Antonia.

Antonia by her personal little pond.

Despite her size, she was feisty, and keepers knew that for her safety she could not be kept with other adult polar bears. She loved to play with her keepers, though, and they would throw balls and rings back and forth. 

Antonia in her usual spot, at the edge of her pond

Antonia's dwarfism is a mystery. Her parents and siblings were all normal size. Her sister Katyusha, who lived in Berlin, reached her 37th birthday, so good genes may explain Antonia's long life, but certainly being small meant less stress and strain on bones and circulation for the little bear, less arthritis, less heart disease.

Antonia liked to admire her own beautiful reflection

Visitors often thought she was a cub, exclaiming, "kleines Eisbärbaby!" A sign was erected to explain Antonia's condition and size differences, although it is a little misleading because female polar bears usually weigh 500 to 700 pounds.. 

I have translated the sign for pounds and inches.

Length - normal bear a little over 7 feet  - Antonia 4.43 feet

Shoulder - normal bear 60 inches - Antonia 27 inches

Weight - normal bear 900 pounds - Antonia 287 pounds 

                                   Little Antonia on the big cliff 

                             

Antonia sometimes was able to experience one of the larger enclosures. When old Fanny (Hamburg's Victoria's mother) became infirm due to old age, she was given Antonia's smaller enclosure, and Antonia was given the big meadow, where she enjoyed digging at old logs.

Digging at an old log, looking for bugs, in the big enclosure.

When she was in her regular enclosure, Antonia liked to sit at the edge of the pond and gaze at her visitors.

Antonia and her reflection

Of course Antonia never did have cubs, living away from other polar bears, but her half brother Anton was father of the late Wilbär, who in turn was father of  Hope's sons in Peak Wildlife Park, and of Otis in Eindhoven. 

Wldflowers in her custom enclosure at Gelsenkirchen ZOOM.

With the recent departure of Lara for Bremerhaven Zoo Am Meer, the only polar bear in Gelsenkirchen (which has three enclosures) is Bill.

Antonia on the prowl

Antonia was the most famous resident of Gelsenkirchen, and she will be greatly missed.

Farewell, little Antonia. We were so happy to have met you.

Kap leaves a legacy

Kap, always curious

 

Kap was a handsome bear

Kap was born in the Moscow Zoo on October 16, 2000. He had many relatives, including some half brothers. He leaves behind a daughter, Anouk now in France, and a son, young Mika, still living with his mother Nuka in Karlsruhe.

Kap's son Mika, and his mother Nuka.
Photo with permission by Petra Ballon.

Kap's father was Uold, brother of the famous Uslada, mother of 16 cubs, and also of Maleishka, mother of new father Pim in Sao Paulo.

Kap's mother was Murma, who was also mother of  new father Gota of Japan (father of the late Milk and also 4 year old Fubuki),  Boris/Ivan of Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Denmark (father of Nuna's cubs), and  Rasputin of Aalborg (father of Hope and the triplets Tala, Indie and Yuma). 

Kap in his empire. My photos from 2017.

He lived in Karlsruhe three times, and Neumünster twice. He also live in Hannover for a short time. While in Hamburg, he became a father of daughter Anouk, born in 2022 to Viktoria. Then just last fall, his mate in Karlsruhe, Nuka, gave birth to twins, one of whom survived and is a boy named Mika. Kap spent many years alone in Neumünster, so I was glad when he was given the chance to live with another bear, and to father some cubs.  

In Karlsruhe, Kap had a nice big pool, with an underwater viewing area.

Kap shaking it off.

Kap - King of the Mountain.

Kap and the cave

Kap rather suddenly became ill about two months ago, and the vets examined him under anesthesia to find the cause, and it seems there were a number of illnesses. He would get a little better, then worse again. At the end, he could barely walk and had trouble lifting his head. He was confined to the mother-cub enclosure, which was a lot smaller and safer for him in his condition.

Smiling Kap

It became clear that his condition had deteriorated to the point when the kind thing was to put him to sleep. At age 24, he was the oldest male polar bear in a European zoo. Worldwide, the oldest in Neil in Como Zoo, who is 29 years old. In the wild, a polar bear would be lucky to live to be 15 years of age.

Sharing his lunch with the herons

Kap and feathered friend

Kap was a gentle bear, always curious. He was happy to share his food with the herons who liked to visit the polar bears in Karlsruhe. 

It's a sad time in Karlsruhe. Kap was well loved. 

Kap in his swimming days

The zoo published this on their facebook page, to announce the death of Kap.

At 24 years old, he was the oldest male polar bear in the European Conservation Breeding Program (EEP). However, after his health deteriorated further, Kap was euthanized today at the Karlsruhe Zoo. The two zootists and two external veterinarians had previously placed the polar bear in anesthesia for further examination.

Kap has been strangely worse in the past few days. Among the previous complaints, he had had trouble walking, and also kept his head very low in a kind of good posture. That's why the polar bear was put on pain medication. Zoo doctors Dr. Marco Roller and Dr. Lukas Reese opted for another examination in anesthesia.

During this, it was found that liver levels had deteriorated despite special medication. In addition, the study, conducted in collaboration with AniCura Karlsruhe, showed major changes in the gallbladder and liver in the ultrasound. Since there was no positive prognosis, it was decided to redeem Kap. The body of the animal will now be examined in pathology. "A section is generally made for such zooters, we hope for even more clarity from it. Unfortunately, on living large animals, the possibilities for examination are limited, so pathology always has a special importance for us," says Roller.

About eight weeks ago, it had begun that the general state of  Kap changed from one day to the next and the responsible concern was prepared. The polar bear's health has become increasingly critical. Subsequently, he was already examined under anesthesia. However, the investigation at that time did not bring a clear conclusion to the cause. Meanwhile, Kap was also getting better, which gave the zoo team hope. The situation had to be re-evaluated due to the problems that have now been added.

Farewell, handsome Kap.

Polar bear cubs have names (updated)

The eight polar bear cubs born this past birthing season have passed the half year mark, and all now have their names. The eight cubs include two sets of twins, and four single cubs. There are five boys and three girls. Three of the cubs live in Japan. Alas, no cubs in the US zoos this year. As I have not visited any of the new babies, I have borrowed photos from the zoos' facebook pages, and also I send thanks to several friends who have been lucky enough to visit some of the cubs and allowed me to share their photos here. 

Mika and Nuka in Karlsruhe Germany. Photo by Petra Ballon.

Mika in Karlsruhe. Photo from zoo's facebook page.

MiKa, a little boy pronounced MeeKah, was born in Karlsruhe on November 2 to Nuka and Kap. Nuka gave birth to twins outside the den, but in a sheltered part of the mother-cub enclosure. Polar bear babies are fragile and have a 50 percent survival rate in the wild and in zoos, but these babies were even more at risk because they were not safely in a den. But one of the cubs did survive. Mika is doing well, and is now exploring the large enclosure with his mom Nuka, who was born in Aalborg. Mika's father Kap is unwell, and at the moment is resting inside. MiKa's name includes the Ka for Zoo Karlsruhe.

Mika's mother Nuka is half sister of the late famous Knut, as they share the same father Lars. So Mika is Knut's nephew.

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Milka (Yumki) and her cub in an early photo provided by the zoo.

Milka (Yumki) and Seridu had a girl cub in Perm Zoo in Russia on November 15. There has not been a lot of information about this little family. I do have an update, thanks to a friend in Russia. I have just found out that her name is Parma!

Milka is half sister of Pim, father of Nur, the cub in Brazil, on their mother's side. Milka is also half brother of Gogo, father of new cub Rai in Japan. 

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Shilka and Rai. Photo from the zoo's facebook page.

A boy named Rai was born November 18 to Shilka and Gogo in Yokohama Zoorasia in Japan. Rai is the second cub for the couple. Their first cub was Hochan, who lives in Tennoji Zoo in Osaka.

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Nur and Aurora - Aquario de Sao Paulo facebook page

On November 25, wildborn Aurora and Russian born Pim had a girl who was quickly  named Nur in The Aquarium of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is the only cub born in the Western Hemisphere this year, also also the Southern Hemisphere. Aurora and Pim both came from Russia originally. This is their first cub.

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Jorek and Ootek at play in Sosto Hungary
 Photo from the zoo's facebook page 

A kiss for mama Sznezsana, - photo from the zoo's facebook page - 
Monika Czombané Nádasdi

Sznezsana nursing her boys - photo from the zoo's facebook page
Monika Czombané Nádasdi

On November 27 ,  Moscow born Sznezsana and Vienna born Lloyd had twin boys Jorek and Ootek in Nyíregyházi Állatpark (Sosto Zoo) in Hungary. 

Jorek is named for the armored "panzerbear" in the Golden Compass books and movies. Ootek is an elderly Inuit character in the movie "Never Cry Wolf."

The boys' father Lloyd is also the father of Lale, Lili, and twins Anna and Elsa born in Bremerhaven Germany. Lloyd is the grandson of Aika of Tierpark Berlin and also the grandson of Omaha of the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska.

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Paula and her twins. Photo from zoo's facebook page.

Paula with daughter Sora and son Umi. Photo by Hasumi Nobuo.
You can see Paula has her grandmother Aika's big round ears.

Twins were born in Yagiyama Zoological Park in Sendai Japan on December 20 to Paula and Kai. The boy is named Umi and the girl is name Sora. Paula is the granddaughter of Aika of Tierpark Berlin. 

Umi means "sea" and Sora means "sky" in Japanese.

Eight polar bear cubs this season

For International Polar Bear Day, February 27, I have put together a story about this season's polar bear cubs, born in November and December of 2024.

For several months, we though there were only four cubs, the baby in Karlsruhe, and the three in Japan. Then just a few weeks ago, we learned of four more: twins in Hungary, a cub in Perm Russia, and a little girl in Brazil!

So now eight polar bear cubs in zoos have been announced this year worldwide, four singles and two sets of twins. Here, I try to give some family lineage, and how these cubs might be  related.

We only know the gender of three of the cubs, the boy in Karlsruhe, the girl in Brazil, and the girl in Perm, but further  announcements should be coming soon. So far, Nur in Brazil is the only one to make her public appearance, today, which is Polar Bear Day. None of the other cubs have made a public debut, but that also should be coming soon. And just one name so far, again, that of Nur in Brazil.

Family connections

Nuka and Kap's son is nephew of the famous late Knut, as Nuka is half sister, through their father Lars. 

The late famous Aika of Tierpark Berlin would have been great grandmother to both Lloyd's twins in Hungary and Paula's twins in Japan. Aika was mother of Lloyd's father Eric, and Paula's father Bjorn-Heinrich. 

The twins in Sosto Hungary are descendants of the famous American pair Olaf and Olga of the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska, through their grandmother Olinka.

The cub in Karlsruhe is nephew of my favorite bear Raspi, through his half brother Kap, the father. Raspi is also great uncle of Shilka's cub, as Raspi is half brother of Shilka's mother Gerda.

Many of the cubs are descendants of Uslada, the famous mother of 16 cubs of St. Petersburg Russia.

Sisters and Brothers

Among the proud parents are (half) brother and sister Pim (Brazil) and Milka (Russia), now living halfway around the world and in different hemispheres from each other, but they do share the same mother, Maleishka. Pim was born three years before Milka, both born in Kazan.

Milka is also (half) sister of Gogo, the new father in Yokohama Japan, as they share the same father, Yukon. And Yukon is also grandfather of Pim, whose father is Milka and Gogo's brother Permjack.

Born in the wild

Two of the parents were Russian wildborn, rescued as cubs: Seriku in Perm Zoo and Aurora in Brazil.

I have given the cubs' details listed in order of date of birth. The photos of the parents are mine, the photos showing the cubs are from the respective zoos.

Nuka and Kap's son in Karlsruhe

Nuka and Kap - Zoo Karlsruhe Germany

- November 2 - It's a boy

In early November, Nuka gave birth to twins in the outside part of the mother cub enclosure in Karlsruhe. Zoo staff were not optimistic about their survival, especially because Nuka chose to give birth in a somewhat sheltered half cave, but still exposed to the elements. The single camera did not have a good view, but there were baby sounds coming from the birth area. We know now that only one cub survived, The area was cordoned off to give Nuka peace and quiet, and keepers threw in bags of straw for bedding and for barriers so the cub wouldn't fall into the drained pool. When the cub began to explore, Nuka coaxed the little one inside, to the safety of the den. That little boy is thriving, and will be seen by visitors in about two weeks.

Nuka and her twin sister Qilak were born in Aalborg Denmark in 2016 to mother Malik and father Lars, who was also the father of the famous Knut as well as Anori and Fiete. Malik's other twins are Imaq and Inuk, who have just moved to Tallinn Estonia.

Father Kap was born in Moscow in 2000 to wildborn Murma and Uold (brother of Uslada). Kap is also the father of young Anouk in Hamburg. Kap is half brother to Gota (in Japan), Boris/Ivan (in Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Denmark) and Raspi/Rasputin, who has just moved to Aalborg.

There's an American connection too, as Malik's grandfather Nanook of Copenhagen was also father of Wilhelm (Willy), the rescued circus bear in the US.,  as well as father of Corinna, mother of Wilbär.

The public can now vote for a name for the Karlsruhe cub among three: Manuk, Maximus or Mika.

anslation results

Translation resu

Milka's cub in Perm, Russia

Milka (also called Yumki) and Seriku - Perm Zoo Russia - November 15

This cub's existence was kept secret until a few weeks ago, and it was just announced that the cub is a girl.

Mother Milka was born in 2012 in Kazan. Her mother was Maleishka (sister of Uslada and Uold and others), who was also mother of Pim, father of the Brazil cub. So Pim is Milka's half brother. Milka's father was Yukon, who was also the father of Gogo, father of Shilka's newest cub in Japan. 

The cub's father Seriku was born in December of 2012 in the wilds of Northwestern Siberia, on the island of Bely, and found alone.  He has been in the Perm Zoo since he was rescued in August of 2013. Milka arrived in Perm several months later, so the youngsters grew up together and are devoted to each other. This is their first cub.

Shilka and Gogo's cub in Yokohama

Shilka (Ichaan) and Gogo - Yokohama Zoo Japan - November 18

Shilka, born in Novosibirsk Russia in December of 2013,  is the daughter of Gerda and Kai (Krassin). Shilka and Gogo are also parents of Hochan, born in 2020.

Shilka's mother Gerda is the granddaughter of Uslada and Menshikov, and is daughter of Untai and Simona. Through her father, Gerda is half sister of Gota, Raspi, and Boris/Ivan. Through her mother, Gerda is half sister of nine other bears including Flocke's mother Vera. Kai (Krassin), the father of all of Gerda's cubs in Novosibirsk, is also son of Uslada, so he is Gerda's uncle. Gerda and Kai are also parents of Rostik, twins Shauna and Nordi, and twins Belka and Strelka. Shilka's father Kai (Krassin) has an older brother Lagodor, also called Kai, who is the father of Paula's cub. 

Father Gogo, always playing with toys and doing amusing things, was born in 2004, the offspring of Amderma and Yukon. Amderma was also mother of  Gogo's brother Menshikov, the mate of Uslada and father of many bears. Amderma was also grandmother of  Sao Paulo's new father Pim.  

Aurora and Nur in Brazil

Aurora and Pim - Sao Paulo Brazil 

- November 25 - a girl named Nur

We did not know about Nur until a few weeks ago. Just today, she made her public debut, playing in piles of snow with her mother Aurora.

Aurora and her twin sister Victoria were born in the wild in 2009. They were found at the age of 4 or 5 months near Lake Taymyr in the northern Krasnoyarsk region of Russia. They lived at Krasnoyarsk Zoo for much of 2010, then Aurora moved to Izhevsk Zoo, where Pim was already living. I have no more information on Victoria.  

Aurora and Pim were great playmates in the Izhevsk Zoo and then in 2014, the pair moved halfway around the world to Sao Paulo Aquarium in Brazil. 

Pim (Pilgrim)was born in 2009 in Kazan, to Uslada's sister Maleishka (also mother of Perm Zoo's new mom Milka born in 2012 with Yukon as the father), and Permjak (brother of Gogo, who is father of Shilka's cub). Permjak's parents were Amderma and Yukon. Pim spent a few months in Novosibirsk when he was less than a year, then a few more months in Moscow, finally moving to the Izhevsk Zoo in early 2011. A few months later young Aurora arrived in Izhevsk, and they two of them finally were moved to Brazil in 2014, where they have just now produced a cub.

This is the first polar bear cub born in Brazil. I do not know of any others ever born in South America.

Lloyd, father of the twins in Hungary,
 in 2016 in Bremerhaven.

The twins in Sosto Zoo

Lloyd and Schnezana (Sznyezsana) 

 - November 27 - Twins

Nyíregyháza Animal Park, Sóstó Zoo Hungary

The twins in Hungary were also kept secret until just recently.

Sznyezsana was born in 2014 in Moscow to Uslada's daughter Simona and wildborn Wrangel. In 2017 Sznyezsana moved to Sosto Hungary.

As daughter of Simona, Sznyezsana (there are various spellings) is sister of many bears we know, including Nord (of Aalborg), Vera, Gerda and many others. 

Lloyd was born in 2000 in Vienna to Olinka and Eric. Olinka's father Omaha was born in Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska to Olaf and Olga, so Paula's cubs are related to some American bears. Eric was the son of Aika in Tierpark Berlin, so he was brother to Bjorn-Heinrich, father of new mother Paula in Japan.

Lloyd has lived in Bremerhaven, Karlsruhe, Budapest and Sosto. In Bremerhaven he fathered Lale, Lili, and twins Anna and Elsa with Valeska.

Paula's twins in Sendai Japan
To me, they look like boys.

Paula and Kai - Sendai Japan - December 20 - Twins

Paula's twins were announced in January.

Paula is closely related to many bears we know in Europe. Paula was born in 2004 in Palic, the daughter of Simba and Bjorn-Heinrich. Bjorn-Heinrich was born in Tierpark Berlin in 1986, the son of the famous Aika and Gorki, and thus was the brother of Eric, a bear we are all familiar with as father of Olinka’s children and a few others. So Paula is first cousin of Lloyd, Nika, Nord, Felix, Lara, Arctos, Nanuq, Vicks, Todz and Sizzel. 

The father of Paula's cubs is another bear also named Kai  (Ladogor), also son of Uslada and Menshikov. He was born in 2004 in St. Petersburg. He is brother of the other Kai (Krassin) of Novosibirsk.

I remember that Paula was announced as having a cub last year, but nothing more was heard, so I am guessing that it did not live long.

So it was great news to hear that she had twins this year, and they are doing well.

Nuka, the new mom in Karlsruhe,
 when she was young in 2019 in Aalborg.

Kap, the new father in Karlsruhe.

Farewell to Nika

Nika, such a beauty

We lost Nika today. She spent most of her life in Karlruhe, where she had a good life, with sand and grass in which to roll, and good friends with whom to play. 

Today was her 19th birthday.

Nika

Some time ago, she injured her right back leg, and the wound would not heal. She would lick and chew on it, and made it worse, even though the zoo veterinarians did everything they could to bring her back to health. Recently the infection became much worse, and she had to be euthanized. 

Nika watches over a sleeping Larissa

She  and her twin brother Lloyd were born in Vienna to Olinka and the late Eric on November 27, 2000. Nika came to Karlsruhe when she was a little over a year old, and had lived there ever since. Nika's twin brother Lloyd went to live in Bremerhaven in Zoo am Meer.

Olinka and Erik went on to have many other cubs. Olinka lives in Rotterdam, and Erik died a few years ago.

Nika and Larissa

Nika and Lloyd descended from an American family of bears. Olinka's father was Omaha, son of Olaf and Olga of the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska.

The three bears playing in the grassy area. Nika is in the center

For most of her time in Karlsruhe, she lived with Vitus, who is the same age as Nika, and Larissa, who is a decade older. Nika and Larissa never did have cubs. It was discovered in recent years that Vitus is sterile. 

The three bears having a stand-off. Nika is at left, leading the way

The three bears got along very well, sometimes having little play fights for fun. The two girls took naps together.

The three bears

Vitus and Larissa moved to Neumunster a couple of years ago, and Kap moved in with Nika. Now Kap is all alone again.

Larissa and Nika

Nika

Nika

She was a lovely bear, and I know her keepers are heartbroken. 

We will miss you, Nika.

The three bears playing Ring around the Rosy in the sandpit,
in the glory days. Nika is at left.