Best friends in the Highlands

Arktos and Walker

Best Buddies in Scotland, that defines Team Walker and Arktos.

Arktos and Walker have quite a bromance going on

Walker and Arktos in the large habitat at HWP.

 The bears could choose to put plenty of space between them,

 but they would rather be close together.

Arktos with a bit of meat

Arktos and Walker are inseparable

 They do not like to be separated, and when Arktos went to the other side of the park to stay for a few months with Victoria last year (for breeding), Walker really missed his friend, and was so happy to have him back.

Arktos at left, and Walker at right

 That is not to say that they don't have their squabbles, but they quickly make up.

Walker and Arktos in a mini-battle at lunchtime.
 It was over in about two minutes.

Click on this link below to see a very short squabble between the best friends.

Video: click on link to see Arktos and Walker in little dispute!

When we were there at feeding time on a windy afternoon in mid May, they growled and tussled and stood up to each other, and then it was over, and they were friends again. We were told that it was because it was the end of breeding season, and they are still a little competitive, as males living together might be. Even though Victoria and baby Hamish were all the way across the park, the two male bears could still smell her. It's instinct.

Arktos and Walker at the fence during keeper talk

 Unlike some polar bears who live together but don't really interact much, Walker and Arktos seemed to be always together, even cuddling up to sleep. When one goes this way, the other one follows.

Mercedes

A little history: Highland Wildlife Park was founded in a wild national park northwest of Edinburgh in 1972 and populated with native species. As years went by, the mission changed to include northern and mountainous species. The first polar bear in Highland Wildlife Park was elderly Mercedes in 2009. At that time she was living in Edinburgh Zoo, the only polar bear in the U.K.

Her story: At the age of three, back in her native Churchill, Manitoba in Canada, Polar Bear Number 39 had been deemed a nuisance bear for raiding garbage and hanging around town. They painted the number on her, took her a great distance away, and hoped for the best, but she returned, caused trouble, and returned again. And again.

File photo of Mercedes in Canada

Under the three strikes and you're out rule, she was sentenced to be shot. However, the Mercedez-Benz company offered to pay for the transportation for this young bear, and Edinburgh Zoo offered her a home to live with their male polar bear Barney.  In 1984 she was flown to Scotland, where she lived for 25 years as the main attraction of Edinburgh Zoo. She even had two cubs. She was quite famous. Barney died after choking on a child's plastic toy thrown into the enclosure, and then she was alone.  Her hillside habitat at the Edinburgh Zoo was small, and she paced. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which oversees both Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park, looked for a better solution for Mercedes. 

In 2009 Mercedes was moved to Highland Wildlife Park to enjoy her retirement years, where she had a beautiful spacious area of over four natural acres in which to roam. The Scottish Army even pitched in to help build the enclosure designed just for her. Mercedes loved the deep snow and the ice on the pond during her first winter.

The enclosure was designed to be much lower in cost to build and operate than a standard zoo habitat, taking advantage of the natural terrain, and also having much less of an environmental impact, while giving the bears a great deal more space to roam in one of the most beautiful spots on Earth.

Walker and Arktos

In 2010,  two  year old Walker arrived from the Netherlands to keep her company, but she was not anxious to play with an active young cub. Her arthritis was bothering her, so after some rocky introductions, zoo staff decided to keep the bears separate. 

In 2011, due to rapidly failing health and signs of senility, Mercedes was put to sleep at the age of 30, a good age for a polar bear to reach. And thus Walker was alone.

But not for long. Arktos, about a year older than Walker, was living in Hannover Germany with his twin brother Nanuq and another young male, Sprinter. In 2012 Arktos moved to HWP as a companion to Walker. The boys quickly became best friends and playmates.

Arktos in front, and Walker

Walker was born in Ouwehands Zoo, Rhenen, the Netherlands in December of 2008. Walker was famous from birth, for his birth (and that of his twin), was filmed and featured in the David Attenborough BBC television series, "Frozen Planet." Walker and little brother Swimmer (both named after Kimberly Clark diapers, the rescue sponsor of their mother Huggies) made their public debut in March, and tiny Swimmer captured many hearts, for he was about one third the size of his brother. About a week later, poor Swimmer died during a swimming lesson, as some inborn weakness caused something to burst. Huggies and Walker were seen grieving for hours.

Walker's father Victor, who now lives in retirement
in Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
 He is younger brother to Victoria, mother of Hamish at HWP. 

Walker, whose father was Victor (now living in Yorkshire Wildlife Park), grew into a healthy young bear, and went to live in HWP next to Mercedes, as we said, in 2010. Walker's mother Huggies had been rescued at the age of five months off the coast of Siberia, and brought to safety in Ouwehands Zoo courtesy of the diaper company.  Walker's father Victor came from the Churchill-Vienna dynasty of Rostock Germany.

Walker's mother Huggies in Ouwenhands

Arktos, living with his twin brother Nanuq in Hannover, Germany, were born a year before Walker, in 2007. Mother Olinka's father was Omaha, son of Olaf and Olga of the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Father Eric's mother was Aika of Tierpark Berlin. Arktos has inherited his Grandmother Aika's large round ears.

Aika, grandmother of Arktos.
She also had beautiful big round ears, like Arktos has.

When Victoria arrived, it was Arktos who spent spring months with her, since she is Walker's aunt, and Arktos is unrelated to Victoria. 

 

Arktos, in front, and Walker have enjoyed a wade in the muddy pool.

 How to tell Arktos from Walker? A keeper tells me that, in addition to the difference in ears, Walker has smaller eyes, and wrinkles up his nose more. 

Arktos and Walker spend their days together, sometimes swimming in their large pond, wading in the mud, foraging for the treats (often thrown into the pond for enrichment), and snuggling up for a nap. Where you see one, the other is never far away. Although polar bears are said to be solitary animals in the wild, it is beautiful to see such a friendship in the Highlands.

Arktos, left, and Walker on the rock.

 

Walker and Arktos

 

Good bye and see you next time.

Vilma dies suddenly, such a tragedy

Vilma verstarb unerwartet, welch eine Tragödie.

Vilma's sweet smile

Vilma, at the age of almost 14, has died suddenly at Aalborg Zoo in Denmark, a few weeks after her move there from Rostock. The move went well, and she was getting along well with her old friend Lars. We don't know why, but she was only sick for a few hours and then she was gone. We wait for a medical report.

Vilma, im Alter von fast 14 Jahren ist unerwartet im Aalborg Zoo in Dänemark gestorben, nur wenige Wochen nach ihrem Umzug vom Rostocker Zoo. Der Transport klappte reibungslos, und sie verstand sich sofort mit ihrem alten Freund Lars. Wir wissen nicht wie es geschah, sie fühlte sich nur eine Stunden unwohl -dann war alles vorbei. Wir warten auf die Autopsie.

Vilma and Lars at Zoo Wuppertal, before Anori was born.

Vilma was born December 3, 2002 in Rostock. She was one of the many "V" cubs of Vienna and Churchill in Zoo Rostock. The others are Victoria, Victor, Vitus, Venus and Valeska. Churchill died a few years ago, and mother Vienna has just moved to France.

Vilma wurde am 3. Dezember 2002 im Zoo in Rostock geboren. Sie war eine der vielen *V* Eisbärenkinder von Vienna und Churchill im Rostocker Zoo. Die anderen waren Victoria, Victor, Vitus, Venus und Valeska. Churchill verstarb vor einigen Jahren, Vienna ist gerade nach Frankreich verlegt worden.

Vilma and Anori

Vilma lived for four years in Nuremburg, with Vera and Felix. In that time, she bore twins, who did not live, not uncommon in a mother so young. About the same time, Vera gave birth to Flocke. Felix had left, and the extra room was needed for Flocke, so Vilma returned to Rostock for several years. Vilma then went to Wuppertal, where she had a daughter Anori, with Lars, who was the father of the famous Knut.

Vilma lebte vie Jahre im Zoo in Nürnberg,  zusammen mit Vera und Felix. Während dieser Zeit gebar sie Zwillinge, die aber nicht überlebten, nicht ungewöhnlich bei einer sehr jungen Mutter. Gleichzeitig wurde Vera Mutter und Flocke wurde geboren. Felix wurde verlegt, und die extra Anlage wurde für Flocke benötigt, somit wurde Vilma wieder einige Jahre nach Rostock verlegt. Vilma kam dann nach Zoo Wuppertal, wo sie mit Lars, dem Vater des berühmten Knut das Eisbärenmädchen Anori zeugte.

Vilma giving a little love bite to Anori

Anori with a toy, and Vilma

Vilma in back, Anori in front

Anori and Vilma. We all remember Vilma teaching
Anori to swim in the big pool

Vilma and little daughter Anori

 Lars moved to Rostock, and the Vilma followed him when Anori was old enough to be separated from her mother,  and Vilma and Lars had a son, Fiete in Rostock.

Lars zog zurück nach Rostock und Vilma folgte ihm später als Anori alt genug war und ihre Mutter nicht mehr benötigte. Vilma und  Lars zeugten wieder ein Sohn, sein Name ist Fiete.

Vilma and Fiete in Rostock

Lars had moved from Rostock to Aalborg Zoo last year, after Fiete was born, so there would be more room for mother and child. With the Rostock Zoo polar bear plant construction coming very soon, Vilma, her mother Vienna and son Fiete had to move. Vilma followed Lars to Aalborg just a few weeks ago. When Vilma came to Aalborg in mid-October, everyone expected that they would have more cubs, and it was a harmonious reunion. They were a happy couple.

Lars zog danach von Rostock in den Aalborg Zoo in Dänemark, damit Vilma und Fiete mehr Platz zur Verfügung hatten. Da der Zoo von Rostock Planungen hatte die Eisbärenanlage umzubauen mussten Vilma, ihre Mutter Vienna und Fiete bald umziehen. Vilma folgte Lars nur wenige Wochen nach Aalborg.  Als Vilma Mitte Oktober dort im Zoo eintraf hoffte man auf mehr Eisbärjungtiere, und es war eine harmonische Wiedervereinigung. Sie waren ein glückliches Paar.

Fiete and Vilma in Rostock, on October 8.

 Fiete is still there at Rostock for a few days more and then he is going to Hungary. It was thought best to give him time to be without his mother while still in a familiar place.

Fiete verbleibt noch ein wenig im Rostocker Zoo, dann wird er nach Ungarn umziehen. Es war angedacht, in eine Weile ohne seine Mutter zu belassen, jedoch noch in der vertrauten Umgebung.  

Vilma and Fiete wait for feeding time in Rostock

It is a sad mystery why Vilma died so suddenly at such a young age. We will have to wait for answers. There are still two bears at Aalborg Zoo, Lars and Malik, who may be having cubs this winter.

Es ist eine traurige Tragödie warum Vilma so jung schon sterben musste. Wir werden auf die Antworten warten müssen. Es sind noch zwei weitere Eisbären im Aalborg Zoo-Malik und Lars, die eventuell Jungtiere haben werden im Winter diesen Jahres.

Vilma waiting for a chunk of meat to be thrown her way

In her almost 14 years, she won many hearts in Rostock, Nuremburg, Wuppertal and Aalborg. It is especially heartbreaking for the keepers who knew her so well, and loved her.

In ihrem fast 14 jährigem Leben hat Vilma viele Herzen gewonne in Rostock, Nürnberg, Wuppertal und Aalborg. Ganz besonders ist es Herzergreifend für die Tierpfleger, die sie so gut gekannt haben und sie sehr lieb hatten.

Vilma in Rostock

Rest in Peace, sweet Vilma.

Ruhe in Frieden süße Vilma.

Thank you to Marga Andresen Gransow for the German translation.

A farewell party in Rostock - for Fiete, Vilma and Vienna

Fiete stands up, ready to catch a fish thrown his way

Fiete and his beloved big blue barrel

Sunday, October 16, was a day of farewell for three beloved bears in Rostock, and also for the sturdy old "Castle" where so many bear cubs were born and grew up. Soon the bear enclosure will be demolished to make way for the new Polarium, to be finished in spring of 2018.

Sonntag, 16. Oktober, war ein Abschiedstag für drei geliebte Bären in Rostock, und auch für das stabile alte "Schloss", wo so viele Bärenjungen geboren und aufgewachsen sind. Bald wird die Bärenburg abgerissen, um Platz für das neue Polarium zu schaffen, das im Frühjahr 2018 fertig gestellt werden soll.

Fiete and his mother Vilma

 So the resident bears must move to other homes.

Deshalb müssen die ansässigen Bären in andere Zoos umziehen.

Vilma catches a fish, and Fiete waits for his turn

I visited Rostock just one week before the final day.

Ich besuchte Rostock nur eine Woche vor dem letzten Tag.

Vienna peeks out

Elderly Vienna, who is almost 28, seldom comes out these days. She might peek out to say hello once in awhile.

Die ältere Vienna, die fast 28 ist, kommt selten während dieser Tagen heraus. Sie war nur ganz kurz zu sehen um *Hallo* zu sagen. 

Vienna does a little grooming

Elderly Vienna, who is almost 28, seldom comes out these days. She might peek out to say hello once in awhile.

Die ältere Vienna, die fast 28 ist, kommt selten während dieser Tagen heraus. Sie war nur ganz kurz zu sehen um *Hallo* zu sagen. 

A manicure?

She was born in Vienna in December of 1988, but has lived in Rostock most of her life, and gave birth, with the late Churchill, to many cubs here: Victoria of Aalborg,now in Scotland: Victor of Rhenen, now in England: Vitus now in Karlsruhe, Vilma of Nuremburg, Wuppertal and now in Rostock; and twins Venus and Valeska. Venus is in Finland and Valeska is in Bremerhaven. 

Sie wurde im Dezember 1988 in Wien geboren, lebt aber in Rostock die meiste Zeit ihres Lebens und gebar mit dem verstorbenen Churchill viele Jungtiere hier: Victoria, später in  Aalborg, DK, jetzt in Schottland. Victor kam nach Rhenen, jetzt in England. Vitus lebt jetzt in Karlsruhe, Vilma ging erst nach Nürnberg, dann nach Wuppertal und kam danach dann nach Rostock; Und die Zwillinge Venus und Valeska. Venus ist in Finnland und Valeska ist in Bremerhaven.

Lars and Vienna in Rostock in 2013. This week they will be back together again, in Aalborg Zoo.

 Vienna has been living in the mother-cub enclosure, and also enjoying the extra room of another bear enclosure next door, but she mostly keeps to the interior.

Vienna wohnt in der Mutter-Kind -Anlage und genießt auch das Nebenzimmer eines anderen Bärenhauses nebenan, aber meistens bleibt sie im Inneren.

The mother cub enclosure in Rostock,  also used for retirement. Churchill lived here, and later Vienna

Vienna in 2013, stretching for a treat

Vienna is to go to France, they say. As she is elderly, she may not be well enough to return when the new bear enclosure is ready.

Vienna soll nach Frankreich gehen, sagen sie. Da sie schon älter ist, kann sie dann schon zu alt sein um wieder zurückzukehren, wenn das neue Bärengehäuse bereit ist.

Vienna has a severe injury on her left hind leg, from Churchill biting her. It never healed. Her keepers give her therapy for it.

The Castle, October 2016, in its final week. That is Fiete in front, ready to pounce on his blue barrel.

Vilma and her son must soon say goodbye to each other. Polar bears in the wild usually leave their mothers at about this age.

Vilma und ihr Sohn müssen sich bald verabschieden. Polare Bären in der Wildnis verlassen in der Regel ihre Mütter in etwa diesem Alter.

Vilma and her little son Fiete

 But Fiete is something of a baby. He cries and moans a lot, even in his play, and seems to always want to be near his mother. He is a smart little cub, and has many games and loves to play with all his toys. 

Aber Fiete hat noch etwas von einem Baby. Er weint und jammert viel, auch in seinem Spiel, und scheint immer in der Nähe seiner Mutter zu sein. Er ist ein kluges kleines Eisbärjunges und hat viele Arten von Spielen und liebt es, mit all seinen Spielsachen zu spielen.

Fiete over a barrel

Fiete at play. He is always up to something.

No doubt he will cry for his mother for a little while. He is going to Sóstó Zoo in Hungary, where there is an old lady bear, but a young girl bear from Moscow will soon come to be a playmate for Fiete, which will make him happy.

Zweifellos wird er für eine Weile um seine Mutter weinen. Er geht in den Sóstó-Zoo in Ungarn, wo ein alte Eisbärin lebt, aber ein junges Bären Mädchen aus Moskau wird bald ein Spielkamerad für Fiete sein, das ihn glücklich macht.

Vilma and Fiete are ready for feeding time

Fiete

 Vilma has a journey to meet up with Lars, the father of her two cubs, Anori and Fiete. He has been living in Aalborg Zoo in Denmark for several years, and she will now move there to be with him. There is another lady bear there, but all are hopeful that Malik will be denning this fall and have cubs.

Vilma geht auf eine Reise, um sich mit Lars, dem Vater ihrer beiden Jungen Anori und Fiete, zu treffen. Er lebt seit mehreren Jahren im Aalborg-Zoo in Dänemark und sie wird nun dort hin gebracht. Es gibt eine andere Eisbärin dort, aber alle sind hoffnungsvoll, daß Malik im Herbst sich recht bald in den Innenbereich begeben wird und Jungtiere zur Welt bringt.

Fiete still wants to be with mommy

     Aalborg Zoo has two enclosures, so Malik can have her own place, and Lars and Vilma can share the other.

Aalborg Zoo hat zwei Gehege, so kann Malik ihren eigenen Platz haben, und Lars und Vilma können sich die anderen  Anlageseite teilen.

A view of the big polar bear pool at Aalborg Zoo in Denmark

Another view of the big pool at Aalborg Zoo.

 

Vilma begs for a fish

 At Aalborg, there is also a webcam, so those in Rostock who miss Lars and Vilma can watch them. If there are cubs for Malik and Lars, there is a dencam, to watch the little ones grow up.

In Aalborg gibt es auch eine Webcam, so dass alle in Rostock, die Lars und Vilma vermissen, sie beobachten können. Wenn es Jungtiere für Malik und Lars gibt, gibt es eine Dencam, um die Kleinen aufwachsen zu sehen.

Vilma

Vilma and Fiete

Vilma rolls in the dirt. Fiete watches

At age 2, Fiete is still much smaller than his mother

 The Aalborg Zoo is unique in its design. The bears love it, and also the visitors for there are so many vantage points above and below water.

Der Aalborg Zoo ist einzigartig in seinem Design. Die Bären lieben es, und auch für die Besucher  gibt  es so viele Aussichtspunkte über und unter Wasser.

Vilma and Fiete

 While it was a day to say goodbye to the beloved bears, it was also a day to say goodbye to the magnificent "Castle," built in 1958. In its place, Rostock Zoo will have a wonderful modern new polarium.

Während es ein Tag war, sich von den geliebten Bären zu verabschieden, war es auch ein Tag, um sich von dem herrlichen *Schloss*, das 1958 erbaut wurde, zu verabschieden. An seiner Stelle wird der Zoo Rostock ein wunderschönes modernes neues Polarium haben.

Vilma and Fiete

So Fiete says goodbye with his signature paw in the air above the water, one of his favorite moves.

So verabschiedet sich Fiete mit seiner Signaturpfote in der Luft über dem Wasser, eine seiner Lieblingsbewegungen.

Fiete paw

Thanks to Marga Andresen Gransow for the translation.