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.

Mother Olinka at rest now

                                                        Olinka and one of her cubs 

Olinka was a patient mother, and that quality served her well in raising eight cubs. 

Sizzel and Todz, with mother Olinka

At age 28, which is fairly senior age for a lady polar bear, she was diagnosed with an advanced liver tumor, and possibly kidney involvement, while under anesthetic on Tuesday, February 9, and in light of how unwell she had been lately, it was decided to not wake her.

She had lived at Diergaarde Blijdorp in Rotterdam since 2010, where she lived with Eric, father of all her cubs, until his death in 2015. 

Lunchtime in Rotterdam

Olinka was born November 21, 1992 in Cologne, Germany, the daughter of Olga and an American born male named Omaha.

I remember the first polar bears I ever saw, when I used to take my kids to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska, many times in 1980-83. At that time, Olaf and Olga had had a cub, named Omaha, born just after my son was born. Omaha grew up and was sent off to Europe. That cub was Olinka's father. Olinka was the only cub he fathered.

Young Olinka and her mother Olga moved to Vienna, where they met Eric. He would father two cubs with Olga, and eight with Olinka.

 There in Vienna, Olinka gave birth to twins Lloyd and Nika in 2000. In 2001, Olinka's mother Olga gave birth to Felix and Nord, so to make room in Vienna, in early 2002, Nika moved to Karlsruhe, and Olinka and young Lloyd moved to Bremerhaven, where Lloyd still lives.

Then back to Vienna, where Lara was born in 2004. Both Olinka and young Lara moved to Gelsenkirchen in 2005,  where they stayed for a year. Then back to Vienna again, leaving Lara in Gelsenkirchen.  Twins Arktos and Nanuq were born in 2007 in Vienna. Then in 2010 Olinka made her final move to Rotterdam, where she gave birth to Vicks at the end of the year. In 2014, Olinka had twins Sizzel and Todz. Shortly afterwards, Eric passed away.

Seven of her eight cubs are alive and well, and have produced eight grandchildren for Olinka.

Lloyd lives in Bremerhaven, and is the father of Lale, Lili, Anna and Elsa. Nika passed away last year in Karlsruhe. Lara still lives in Gelsenkirchen and is the mother of daughter Nanook. Arktos lives in Highlands Wildlife Park and is the father of Wee Hamish. Nanuq lives in Nuremberg. Vicks lives in Mulhouse France and is the father of daughter Nanuq and a brand new cub. Sizzel lives in Rostock, and Todz lives in LeVigen France.

Russian male Wolodja has lived in Rotterdam for the past few years, and now is the only polar bear there. 

Olinka keeping an eye on Todz and Sizzel

Twins Todz and Sizzel, with mom Olinka

Olinka and daughter Sizzel

Olinka and cub

Olinka was a patient mother, here with Sizzel and Todz

It's sad to think that Olinka is gone. She was a loving, attentive mother, happy to play with her cubs, and very affectionate. A beautiful lady. She leaves a lasting legacy in her children and grandchildren.

 There are only a few polar bears of the Olaf and Olga line left in the U.S., in spite of their having seven children. I am happy to know so many of their bloodline lives on in Olinka's cubs all over Europe.

Olinka has now strolled into history. Rest in Peace, sweet lady.

The cubs of 2019

Malik takes care of her new cubs in Aalborg, Denmark, December 2019

It is almost the end of the 2019 polar bear birthing season. While there may be a secret cub or two out there, and births could still take place, I have put together a list of this year's new cubs, subject to update! Currently there are 10 cubs, and some potential mothers, such as Anana in Cincinnati, are still denned up. (See update below).

Most polar bear births take place during the last two weeks of November, and the first two week of December. There is the rare October birth, and it does happen, rarely in early January.

Aurora with her last cubs, Nuniq and Neva, 

Lee is a new father

(1) The USA has one birth to report, the offspring of Aurora and Lee in the Columbus Zoo on November 28. Aurora is the mother of Nora, Nuniq and Neva. Lee is a first time father.

(1) In Europe, twins were born in Vienna, Austria to Nora and Ranzo on November 20. One died right away, but the other is doing well. This is the first offspring for both Nora and Ranzo.

Milana

Sprinter looks down upon young Charlotte in Hannover

(1) Also on November 20, Milana gave birth to her first cub in Hannover, Germany. The father is Sprinter, also his first cub.

Freedom, with little Akiak and Sura in 2015

Wolodja

(2) Twins were born to Freedom on November 27 in Ouwehands, Rhenen in the Netherlands. Father is Wolodja, who is father of one year old Hertha in Tierpark Berlin. Freedom is mother to Sprinter (who just became a father in Hannover), to Sesi and Taiko in France, to Akiak in Rostock, and to Sura still in Ouwehands. Grandmother of the twins is Huggies, mother of Freedom! Father Wolodja did his job, and has already moved on to Rotterdam.

Malik with Augo in 2012

Malik and Nord in June 2019

(2) Triplets were born in Aalborg Denmark to Malik and Nord on December 4. One died the day after birth, but the other two are strong and noisy. You can watch them on the zoo's dencam. Malik is mother to the late Augo, and three year old twin sisters Nuka and Qilak, still in Aalborg. Nord is father to one year old Imaq with mother Lynn in Copenhagen, and another just born to Noel in Copenhagen. Nord has already moved to Skandanavisk Dyrepark. 

Click on this link to check in on the little family.

Aalborg Zoo polar bear dencam

Noel in June 2019

(1) Yes, another cub in Copenhagen, born on December 6. Noel finally had her first cub, with Nord as the father.

Valeska with Lili

Lloyd at Zoo Am Meer, the zoo by the sea

(2) The most recent birth was in Bremerhaven Germany, in Zoo Am Meer. Valeska and Lloyd became parents of twins. They are already parents of Lale and Lili, now in Emmen.

Newborn polar bear cubs face daunting odds. They are born so unfinished, and even in the safety and shelter of zoos, there is a 50 percent mortality rate.

In Skandanavisk Dyrepark in Denmark, young Nuno gave birth to twins, and they died soon after birth. The father was Ivan/Boris.

I have heard that Suka in Detroit gave birth to twins, but they did not survive. Father was Nuka.

Some potential moms are still denned up, and we could have further births, so I will update this story if it happens.  

UPDATE:

Another cub  has been born in Russia, sometime in December. The mother is Kolymana, who was found as a wild cub in 2012. The father is Lomonssow, one of Uslada's many cubs born in St. Peterburg. The parents already had one cub, a girl named Chaartschaanna, born in 2016, now living in St. Petersburg. The zoo is in Yakursk in the Republic of Sacha in Russia.

FURTHER UPDATE:

(3) - Between Christmas and New Year's Day, Flocke of Marineland on the French Riviera gave birth to triplets. As of a month later, all three cubs are doing well. Father Rasputin moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park on January 29, so Flocke can have peace and quiet to raise the cubs, and Raspi will have friends to play with, not the frustration of being near Flocke. This brings the number of European cubs born in 2019 to 12.

Anana of the Cincinnati Zoo did not have cubs, and is moving to Detroit, where she may have better luck in becoming pregnant.

Aika, a grand lady makes her exit

Aika, die große alte Dame hat Ausgang 

The great lady Aika

Aika, grandmother and great grandmother to many cubs and the oldest polar bear in the world, has come to the end of her journey. For the past few weeks, she has not wanted to go outside, but just to sleep in her bedchamber, not far from Tonja and her new cub at Tierpark Berlin.

Aika, Großmutter und Ur-Großmutter von vielen Jungtieren und die älteste Eisbärin der Welt ist am Ende ihrer Reise angelangt. Seit einigen Wochen wollte sie kaum noch auf die Anlage kommen, verbrachte lieber schlafend in ihrer Höhle, unweit von Tonja und ihrem neugeboren Jungtier im Tierpark Berlin.

Aika on her throne

Today, Aika did not wake up. She had died in her sleep. Tomorrow would have been her 36th birthday, a very old age for a polar bear.

Heute wachte Aika nicht wieder auf. Sie war im Schlaf gestorben. Morgen wäre ihr 36. Geburtstag gewesen, ein sehr hohes Alter für eine Eisbärin.

Aika in the mulch pit, a favorite soft place to rrest

I last saw her six weeks ago, as she napped in the mulch pit. She woke up, and rolled around in the mulch, played with a bucket. She really enjoyed her day, in spite of the rain and the chill in the air. 

Ich sah sie noch vor nur sechs Wochen, als sie im Mulchbett ruhte. Sie erwachte und rollte sich im Mulchbett, spielte mit einem Eimer. Sie schien ihren Tag zu genießen,unabhängig vom Regen und der kalten Luft.

Aika waits at the door

That morning, Aika wandered over to the doors, but they were closed. She spent some time on her favorite perch, a rock high enough so she could see everything. It was a throne for Queen Aika. Visitors could often see her there, watching the world go by.

An dem Morgen wanderte Aika zu den Türen, die aber geschlossen waren. Sie verbrachte einige Zeit auf ihrem beliebten Ausguck, einem Felsen,der hoch genug war und sie alles überschauen konnte. Es war wie ein Thron für Queen Aika. Besucher konnten sie häufig dort finden, die Welt betrachtend. 

Sitting on her Rock Perch, Aika was content

 Then she retreated to the mulch pit for another nap.

Dann bewegte sie sich wieder auf das Mulchbett für eine weitere Ruhepause.

Ready for another nap in the soft mulch

She was alone that morning. Wolodja took her place in the afternoon when she went inside for more sleeping. 

An diesem Morgen war sie dort allein. Wolodja nahm dann am Nachmittag ihren Platz ein, während sie in der Höhle dann weiter ruhte.

Aika

Aika was born in Katowice on November 24, 1980, and came to Berlin when she was two years old. There she gave birth to three cubs, one in 1986, one in 1990, and Eric was born in 1993. It is through Eric than Aika's bloodline lives on in many cubs. Eric, who died in 2015, was father to 10 cubs, including Lloyd who has fathered Lale and Lili, and Felix who has fathered Milak (now in Canada), Flocke (now in France), Gregor and Aleut (now in Poland) and Charlotte, still in Nuremburg, as well as the late Augo (Denmark).  So Aika's legacy lives on.

Aika war in Katowice geboren, am 24. November 1980 und kam nach Berlin als sie zwei Jahre alt war. Sie brachte drei Jungtiere zur Welt- in 1986,in 1990 und Eric wurde 1993 geboren. Durch Eric, anstammend von Aikas Genen wurden diese an viele Jungtiere weiter gegeben. Eric, der in 2015 verstarb war der Vater von 10 Jungtieren, so auch Llyod, der Lale und Lili zeugte, und Felix, der Milak zeugte (Sie lebt mittlerweile in Kanada), Flocke (jetzt in Frankreich), Gregor und Aleut (nun in Polen), und auch Charlotte, die noch in Nürnberg lebt; sowie die verstorbene Augo in Dänemark. Aikas Vermächnis lebt weiter.

Tonja, Aika (center) and Wolodja were a happy family

Aika was also like a mother to Tonja, who arrived at Tierpark at the age of 2 from Moscow. Having a young bear to play with gave Aika a new energy, and she played again, to keep Tonja entertained. Later, when young Wolodja arrived, she was welcoming to him as well, and the three of them were like a family.

Aika war fast wie eine Mutter zu Tonja, die aus Moskau dann in den Tierpark kam als sie zwei Jahre alt war. EinJungtier zum Spielen zu haben brachte Aika viel neue Energie,sie begann wieder mit Tonja zu spielen. Später, als dann dann der junge Wolodja hinzu kam begrüßte sie auch ihn sehr freudlich und die drei waren wie eine Familie zusammen.

Aika going for some carrots

Breadsticks for Aika

So it is in Tierpark Berlin, that life goes on. We say farewell to Aika, but look forward to watching Tonja's cub grow up.

So ist es nun im Tierpark Berlin, das Leben geht weiter. Wir verabschieden uns von Aika, jedoch freuen uns Tonjas Nachwuchs aufwachsen zu sehen. 

Aika

     

Farewell, Aika

Aika's family

Aikas Familie

Aika

For International Polar Bear Day, I am paying tribute to that grand lady Aika, age 35, and her large family all over the world. She became the mother of three sons with Gorki at Berlin Tierpark, is matriarch to 10 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

Für internationale Eisbär Tag, zahle ich Tribut an diese großen Dame Aika, 35 Jahre alt, und ihrer großen Familie auf der ganzen Welt. Sie wurde die Mutter von drei Söhnen mit Gorki in Berlin Tierpark ist Matriarchin bis 10 Enkelkinder, 6 Urenkel und ein Ur-Ur-Enkel.

Aika in all her glory

Aika may very well be the oldest polar bear alive, too. She was born November 24, 1980, in Katowice, Poland, which makes her 35 years old.

Es ist sehr gut möglich dass Aika die älteste Eisbärin ist die noch am Leben ist. Sie war am 24 November 1980 geboren, in Katowice, Polen, sie ist nun schon 35 Jahre alt.

Aika loves to sit on her favorite rock at the Tierpark Berlin

When she was two years old, she moved the Tierpark Berlin: that was in 1982.

Als sie zwei Jahre alt war, zog sie um in den Tierpark Berlin, das war im Jahr 1982.

Aika

In 1986 she gave birth to Bjorn-Heinrich, who fathered three cubs. He lived for a time in Palic, Serbia, and finally died in 2011 at the age of 25. He fathered daughters Yuki (1999) and Paula (2004), who are in Japan, and son Yorik (2006), who lives in Palic, after a time in Sosto Zoo in Hungary. None of these three have had offspring so far. Paula has lived at the zoo in Sendai since 2005, and was there at the time of the Tsunami in 2012. Those were tragic times in Sendai  and they were lucky the Tsunami stopped short of the zoo.

Im Jahr 1986 gebar sie Bjorn-Heinrich, der dann später drei Jungen gezeugt hat. Er lebte eine Zeit lang in Palic, Serbien und starb schließlich im Jahre 2011 im Alter von 25. Er hat die Töchter Yuki gezeugt (1999) und Paula (2004), welche in Japan sind, und Sohn Yorik (2006), der in Palic lebt nach einer gewissen Zeit dann im in Sosto Zoo in Ungarn. Keiner dieser drei Nachkömmlinge hatte bilang Nachkommen. Paula lebt seit 2005 im Zoo in Sendai und war zum Zeitpunkt des Tsunami im Jahr 2012 betroffen. Das waren tragische Zeiten in Sendai, und sie hatten das große Glück, die Tsunamiflutwelle wurde kurz vor dem Zoo gestoppt.

Aika takes a stroll

.November 1990 – son Hokoto, originally named Banause (which means Philistine) in Berlin – lived in Kagoshima Japan, died in March of 2015 at the age of 24. 

November 1990 - Sohn Hokoto, ursprünglich genannt Banause (das bedeutet Philister ) in Berlin - lebte in Kagoshima Japan, starb im März 2015 im Alter von 24.

Aika on her favorite perch

And now we come to Eric, who was born December 8, 1993 in Berlin. When he was just under one year old, he was sent to Vienna, where he met a two year girl cub Olinka, and her mother Olga, who was wildborn.  Olinka had an American born father, Omaha.

Und nun kommen wir zu Eric, der 8. Dezember geboren wurde, 1993 in Berlin. Als er knapp ein Jahr alt war, wurde er nach Wien geschickt, wo er ein zweijähriges Eisbären Mädchen Olinka traf, und ihre Mutter Olga, die in der Wildnis geboren war. Olinka hatte einen in Amerika geborenen Vater namens Omaha.

Aika

 Eric lived happily with the mother and daughter, and in 2000, Olinka and Eric gave birth to twins, Lloyd and Nika in November of 2000. 

Eric lebte glücklich mit der Mutter und der Tochter, und im Jahr 2000, Olinka und Eric gebaren Zwillinge, Lloyd und Nika im November 2000.

Eric's son Lloyd, twin of Nika. He lives in Bremerhaven, Germany

Lloyd's daughter Lale. She now lives in Emmen, the Netherlands

Erick's daughter Nika, twin of Lloyd. She lives in Karlsruhe, Germany

Nika now lives in Karsruhe. Lloyd is the father of Lale of Bremerhaven, and a new daughter just born, with Valeska. Lale is now in Emmen.

Nika lebt heute in Karlsruhe. Lloyd ist der Vater von Lale aus dem Zoo in Bremerhaven und eine neue Tochter ist im Winter 2015 gerade geboren worden, von Valeska. Lale ist jetzt in Emmen in den Niederlanden.

Eric's son Felix, who now lives in Rhenen, Netherlands

The following year, in 2001, Eric fathered cubs with Olga, and that was Nord and Felix. These are the only cubs he had with the mother, Olga. Nord lives in Tallin, Estonia.

Im folgenden Jahr, 2001, zeugte Eric wieder Jungtiere mit Olga, und das waren Nord und Felix. Dies sind die einzigen Jungtiere, die er mit der Mutter hatte. Nord lebt in Tallin, Estland.

Felix's daughter Flocke and her daughter Hope.
 They live on the Riviera in France

 Felix is the father of Flocke, Gregor, Aleut and Charlotte, all born in Nuremburg with Vera, and also daughters Milak with Victoria and the late Augo with Malik in Aalborg Denmark. Milak now lives in Canada. Flocke gave birth to Hope last year in Antibes, France, with Rasputin, so Aika is Hope's great great grandmother.

Felix ist der Vater von Flocke, Gregor, Aleut und Charlotte, alle geboren in im Tierpark in Nürnberg mit Vera, und und er zeugte auch eine Tochter namens Milak mit Victoria und der leider verstorbenen Augo mit Malik im Aalborg Zoo in Dänemark. Milak lebt heute inm Zoo Sauvage St.Felicien Quebec, Kanada. Flocke gebar im vergangenen Jahr in Antibes, Frankreich Eisbärmädchen Hope, Vater ist Rasputin, somit ist Aika Hopes Ur- Urgroßmutter.

Milak, daughter of Felix. She was born in Denmark and now lives in Canada

Felix's daughter Charlotte. She is at home in Nuremburg

Felix's sons Aleut and Gregor. The twins now live in Warsaw, Poland

Felix's daughter Augo (sadly died from accidental fall)

Eric's daughter Lara. She lives in Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Olinka and Eric had daughter Lara in 2004 and twins Arktos and Nanuq in 2007. Lara lives in Gelsenkirchen, Arktos has moved to Scotland, and Nanuq lives in Hanover.

Olinka und Eric bekamen Tochter Lara im Jahr 2004 und die Zwillinge Arktos und Nanuq dann in 2007. Lara lebt in Gelsenkirchen, und man hat Arktos nach Schottland versandt, und Nanuq lebt in Hannover Erlebnis Zoo.

Eric's son Nanuq, twin of Arktos He lives in Hannover. 
Arktos lives in Scotland

Eric lived in Vienna until the end of 2008, when he moved to Rotterdam. Olinka moved to Rotterdam in the spring of 2010, and that fall, they had Vicks, who became famous when he playfully threw a rock at the expensive giant viewing window of the polar bear pool, and broke it. Naughty Vicks! 

Eric lebte in Wien bis Ende 2008, als er dann nach Rotterdam verlegt wurde. Olinka wurde ebenso nach Rotterdam im Frühjahr 2010 versandt, und im Herbst bekamen sie Vicks, der berühmt wurde, als er spielerisch einen Stein im Wasser warf und die große Fensterscheibe des Eisbären Pools traf und diese zersplitterte in viele kleine Scherben. Frecher Vicks!

Erick's son and daughter Todz and Sizzel. They live in Rotterdam

Olinka gave birth to twins again in the fall of 2014, but Eric was not well, and he died in February of 2015. The cubs were named Todz (boy) and Sizzel (girl), and they are still with their mother in Rotterdam.

Olinka gebar nochmals Zwillinge im Herbst 2014, aber Eric ging es gar nicht mehr gut, und er starb im Februar 2015. Die Jungtiere wurden Todz genannt (Junge) und Sizzel (Mädchen), und sie sind immer noch mit ihrer Mutter in Rotterdam.

Aika (left) watches Wolodja and Tonja in Berlin Tierpark

Aika has an adopted family too, in Berlin Tierpark. When two year old Tanja arrived from Moscow, old Aika became young again by playing games with the young cub. Later, another two year old cub Wololdja, arrived also from Moscow, and she made him feel welcome too.

Aika bekam dann eine Adoptivfamilie, im Berlin Tierpark. Als die zwei Jahre alte Tanja aus Moskau angekommen war, wurde dieschon getagte alte Aika wurde wieder jung durch Spiele mit der jungen Eisbärin. Später kam noch ein weiteres Jungtier hinzu, sein Name ist Wololdja, er kam auch aus Moskau, und sie nahm ihn auch willkommen.

 At  age 35, Aika stille plays and has fun with the toys that are now allowed in the Berlin zoos. She truly has an international family, with grandchildren all over the world.

Im Alter von 35, spielt Aika immer noch und hat Spaß mit dem Spielzeug, das jetzt in den Berliner Zoos erlaubt sind. Sie hat wirklich eine internationale Familie, mit Enkelkindern auf der ganzen Welt.

Thank you to Marga Andresen-Gransow for the German translation.