Flocke on top, gives Raspi a little kiss, or is it a bite? |
Mother Flocke, and Baby Hope, in 2015 spring |
I have visited Flocke and Raspi and their daughter Hope at Marineland in Antibes, France, four times, and for many days each time, over the past few years. I have talked to their keepers. I have observed them. This bear family is indeed fortunate to live in a comfortable, well managed environment where their needs are always taken care of by staff who love them. Flocke and Raspi were well loved in Nuremburg before they came to Marineland, and their former zoo caretakers visit them in their new home as often as they can. Flocke especially gets very excited when her "parents" come to visit, as they raised her with a bottle from a very young age.
During breeding season, Raspi chases Flocke. It is what boy bears do. |
Raspi guards Flocke, who takes a position on high ground and warns him to keep his distance if she is not in the mood. |
Raspi is quite the avid swimmer. |
Flocke and Hope in the mother-child enclosure below, when Hope small, before she moved to Sweden. |
Flocke plays Queen of the Mountain on one of the stone arches |
Years ago, Baby Hope takes a nap with her mom Flocke |
Behind Raspi, a closed utility door, falsely cited in the offending video. Behind Flocke, to the right, the doors are open. |
Raspi guards Flocke, who is in the interior hallway. |
Raspi chasing Flocke yet again. |
Raspi |
Flocke naps in the ice grotto |
Hope in the ice cavern, with Flocke behind. |
Flocke chills out. |
Flocke and Hope in the ice cave |
Flocke |
Raspi at the door of his ice cavern |
Baby Hope with her mom in the baby pool |
Raspi swims |
Flocke and Hope swim together in the old days, before Hope grew up and moved to a new home in Sweden. |
Here is a short video of Raspi chasing Flocke, and they end up swimming happily together. The video was taken in May this year.
Video: Raspi chases Flocke, catches her!
Flocke and Hope clown around in the ice cavern |
I will tell the story of Flocke and Raspi (and little Hope), and how they came to live in Marineland, in my next post, with many photos of their early years together, thanks to a dear friend in Nuremburg.
Happy Raspi |
Thanks for these wonderful pictures of Flocke, Raspi and Hope. I haven't had a chance to visit our dream-team from Nürnberg for quite a long time, so I'm very happy and grateful to see they are doing fine!
ReplyDeleteRaspi is an impressing polar bear giant and Flocke is just beautiful!
Thank you very much for your post and pictures Molly!
Love from Heidi from Erlangen
It is exactly as you write it Molly!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Greetings from Nuremberg
ManuELA