Farewell to Payton

 

Payton in Memphis in 2012.

We heard today of the sudden passing of Payton, son of Arki and Aussie. He had been living in the North Carolina Zoo with Aurora and Yukon's daughter Anana since January of 2021. He died two hours into a transport to the Louisville Zoo yesterday, October 25. 

Payton in 2012

He would have been 20 years old on November 8. Payton was named for NFL running back Walter Payton. 

Payton

I visited him in October of 2012, when he was living in Memphis with Haley. He had moved to the Memphis Zoo with Aurora and Yukon's daughter Haley, who had come to Chicago from the Seneca Park Zoo in New York to get to know him. The two moved together from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in January of 2006. There were never any offspring from these two.

Payton with the kids

Arki and Aussie were the parents of five cubs. Marty, who was born in 1996, moved to Toledo and went on to father many cubs there, all but one with Crystal. Marty died in Toledo in 2021. Arki and Aussi's daughter Tiguak, who was hand raised, went to Canada and died in 2011 while undergoing a procedure under anesthetic.  Kinepak, born in 2000, died in Buffalo in 2007. Payton was born in 2003 and Hudson, the only offspring still alive, was born in 2006 in Brookfield. 

Payton was well loved in Memphis, and also in North Carolina, a cooperative and laid back bear who always had a good relationship with his keepers.

Payton was a playful boy.

I only visited him once, but noticed he had the same kind of dance as his mother Arki, only in the water. He seemed to enjoy interacting with the youngsters who visited him.

Payton interacting with the visitors in Memphis

Payton did the reverse dance, like his mom Arki.

Payton loved to see the kids at the window

Payton at the window in Memphis

Payton

This leaves only 39 polar bears in US zoos, and there is a law preventing the import of polar bears from outside the US.

Payton

Payton was destined for the Louisville Zoo, where wildborn Qannik lives, but she is property of Fish and Wildlife, and cannot be part of the breeding program.

Farewell, Payton. You were such a good bear.

A fond farewell to our favorite Australian

Aussie

As 2017 draws to a close, the end of the year has brought us news of another loss. Aussie, father and grandfather of so many American cubs, has died at his home at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, just two days before Christmas.

Aussie with Anana, a few years ago

 At the age of 32 and a half, he was the oldest male polar bear in a North American zoo. He suffered from the ailments of old age, arthritis and other degenerative diseases that required treatment with painkillers. His health had deteriorated to the point that his caretakers thought it was best to euthanize him, to end his suffering.

Aussie relaxes in the grassy meadow of Great Bear Wilderness

 He was quite a character, sometimes gentle, but sometimes bossy. He and his mate Arki got along well enough to produce a good number of cubs over the years. He was beloved by his many visitors, who came to know him well over the years.

Aussie stands lookout

 Aussie was born on June 20, 1985, in Adelaide, Australia, and thus celebrated a rare summer birthday. His original name was BIAZ, for Born in Adelaide Zoo, but when he arrived at Brookfield at about the age of a 18 months, he quickly was nicknamed Aussie, because of his birthplace. And that became his name.

Aussie

 At the end of 1986, Aussie joined young polar bear Arki, only six months younger than Aussie, at Brookfield Zoo. Arki had been born at the zoo, and her mother Trisha had died only a few months before Aussie's arrival. 1986 had been a tragic year, with the loss of three female polar bears, including Tricia and her daughter Penny, from unrelated causes.

Aussie

Brookfield Zoo wanted to rebuild its breeding program, and Aussie would play his part.

Aussie loved his naps

Over the years, Aussie and Arki became parents to Marty in 1996, Tiguak in 1999, Kinepak in 2000, Payton in 2003, and Hudson in 2006. Today, Marty lives in Toledo, Payton lives in Memphis and Hudson still lives at Brookfield. Tiguak and Kinepak grew up, but died in other zoos, sadly.

I visited Aussie several times, and the photos above are mine. However, my dear friend Kim Pruim is a devoted and frequent visitor of Brookfield, and kindly provided the photos below, taken over the years.

Aussie in the old Bear Grotto at Brookfield - photo by Kim Pruim

The outmoded bear grottoes at Brookfield were closed and the polar bears moved to the spacious and lush Great Bear Wilderness in 2010, where the bears enjoyed open spaces, grassy meadows, pools, waterfalls, and privacy if they so desired.

Aussie - photo by Kim Pruim

Arki retired from motherhood and moved to the Louisville Zoo in 2011, and that left just Aussie and Hudson. Then Female Anana joined them for a time, while her habitat in Buffalo was being rebuilt.  Aussie and Anana had a complicated relationship, not always seeing eye to eye. 

Aussie at his 30th birthday party - photo by Kim Pruim

Of their cubs, only Marty has produced offspring, but he has been prolific, making Aussie a grandfather to Aurora and Anana, Nikita, Siku, Suka and Sakari, and Hope. Aurora has produced three cubs in the Columbus Zoo: Nora, Nuniq and Neva, and Anana has produced one cub, Amelia Gray.

Thoughtful Aussie - photo by Kim Pruim

While it is wonderful that Aussie is responsible for so many cubs, one has to wonder where the mates will be for these bears, since most of the cubs under the age of 10 in this country come from Aussie and Arki. Only Luna and the two Alaskan cubs, Qannik and Kali, are not related to each other.

Enrichment - photo by Kim Pruim

Recently Nan, who is mother to one of Marty's cubs, came to Brookfield as a mate for Hudson. Aussie and Nan got along fairly well.

Aussie chases Nan, just this past May - Photo by Kim Pruim

My friend Kim has known Aussie since she was a baby. She visited Aussie often, and in the past few years, each time wondered if it would be the last time she would see him. She and another friend visited Aussie the day before he left us, not realizing the end was so near.

Aussie sneers - photo by Kim Pruim

Kim writes, "Aussie has been a part of my life since 1996, when I was a year old. When I met his last offspring Hudson for the first time in 2008, that's when I really began to appreciate Aussie (as well as other polar bears) more. Through the years, I have made many visits to the Brookfield Zoo to visit Aussie and to photograph him.

"A highlight for me was the one and only time I got to see him behind the scenes, back in 2012. I shared a brief one-on-one moment with him. I quietly called his name as I knelt down next to the mesh, and we looked into each others eyes. That was a sweet moment I'll never forget.

"With no knowledge of his arthritis worsening, I managed to see him the day before he was euthanized. Though it made his passing harder for me, I feel very lucky that is was among the last of his visitors. He was my favorite old man and Brookfield Zoo will not the same without him."

Aussie daydreams - photo by Kim Pruim

Aussie reflection
- Kim's last photo the day before he died
Photo by Kim Pruim

A complicated game of love at the Cincinnati Zoo

Ein kompliziertes Spiel von Liebe im Cincinnati Zoo

Anana keeps busy with a blue ball while Little One naps.
They are very busy pretending to ignore one another.

When Berit left the Cincinnati Zoo in November, and a

stranger appeared in her place, 27 year old Little One sniffed 

the air with excitement. He knew there was a new girl in town. 

Als Berit den Zoo von Cincinnati im November verließ betrat ein Fremder ihren Platz, und der 27 Jahre alte Little One schnüffelte ganz aufgeregt in der Luft. Er wußte, da war ein neuens Weibchen in der Stadt.

Little One admires Anana on the first day they met

A few weeks later, Little One and Anana, who had just arrived from the Buffalo Zoo, met face to face. The pair's interaction was positive. Everyone smiled and said "this went well." For a few minutes. And then two bears began to test each other. There has been a lot of huffing and puffing and growling, and a few face-to-face challenges.

Einige Wochen später trafen Little One und Anana, die gerade aus dem Buffalo Zoo angekommen war zum ersten Mal zusammen. Die ersten Begegnung war sehr positiv. Alle freuten sich und sagten *Das ist ja gut gegangen*: Dann, nach einigen Momenten begannen die Bären sich zu testen. Es gab sehr viele Schnaufen und Püffe und Grummeln und auch einige sehr nahe Herausforderungen.

Little One, in back, warily watches Anana.

Anana wants to be the boss. When she first met wild born Nanuq at the Buffalo Zoo in 2009, she resisted as with Little One. They eventually became friendly, and she gave birth to Luna in 2012, Anana had lived with an older dominating bear, Aussie, at the Brookfied Zoo from 2013 to 2015, She does not want a repeat of that.

Anana möchte der Boss sein. Nachdem sie mit dem in der Wildnis geborenen Nanuq 2009 im Buffalo Zoo zusammen kam war sie auch zurückhalten wie jetzt Little One. Dann bekamen sie Freunde und sie brachte 2012 Luna zur Welt. Anana wohnte dann mit einem weiteren dominanten Eisbärenmann namens Aussie zusammen im Brookfield Zoo von 2013 bis 2015, dies möchte aber so nicht wiederholen.

Anana and Aussie at Brookfield Zoo in May of 2013

Good friends Berit and Little One in the old days

Little One had been bossed around by his good friend Berit for years. She always got first choice with the food, and pretty much told him what to do. He wants to get off on the right foot in this new relationship. That means he wants to be the boss this time.

Little One wurde von seiner seit Jahren befreundeten Berit unterdrückt. Sie bekamm meistens zuerst das beste Futter und zeigte ihm auch immer wo es lang ging. Diesen Weg möchte er nun nicht wieder gehen-diesmal, in dieser neuen Beziehung. Das bedeutet, nun möchte er der Boss werden.

Little One secretly watches Anana in the swimming area

Anana plays with a pig's ear, as Little One spies on her

Both Anana and Little One are small bears. Anana is under 500 pounds, and Little One is about 800 pounds. 

Beide Bären-Anana und Little One sind relativ kleine Bären. Anana wiegt um die 500 pounds, Little One ungefähr 800 pounds.

Anana explores, as Little One naps.

Since the day they first met, the two bears have been sizing each other up, and carefully dancing around each other, each one wanting to be dominant.  

Seit dem ersten Treffen messen die beiden Bären ihre Kräfte, tanzen sorgsam um einander, jeder möchte dominieren.

Little One has a new toy. Anana can't take her eyes off him.

Anana pretends to relax, and Little One notices every move.

Each bear might play with a toy, or be involved in some activity, but is always watchful of the other one.

Jeder Bär spielt für sich mit einem Spielzeug, oder ist anderwie aktiv, aber immer im Auge haltend und den anderen beobachten.

Little One distracts himself with toys.

Anana is watching

When Anana goes to the swimming pool area, Little One pretends he isn't watching. 

Wenn Anana in den Poolbereich geht macht Little One den Eindruck als ginge es ihn nichts an.

Little One is spying on his new girlfiriend

A watchful eye. Little One is keeping track

Little One plays with a crate or a spool or a log, while Anana pretends she isn't watching.

Little One spielt mit einem Kanister oder Holzspule oder einem Holzklotz, und Anana tut als wäre sie nicht interessiert.

Anana keeps a watchful eye as well.

 Anana will pace back and forth near Little One, each time getting closer until he signals his dominance with a growl or some huffing, and then she backs off.

Anana läuft immer wieder hin und zurückganz nahe an Little one, immer ein wenig näher dran, bis er er dann mit Dominanz anfängt zu grollen oder zu schnaufen,dann begibt sie sich wieder zurück.

Here she comes, strolling back casually , pretending to ignore Little One.

Anana teases Little One with her half eaten rawhide chew

And the chase is on!

They have little pretend play battles, and then they go to their corners.

Sie beide liefern sich kleine Showkämpfe und begeben sich dann wieder in ihre Bereiche.

Some serious growling, and a battle of the bears

There she goes, and Little One pretends to chase.

It is a game of chase and then ignore

It is a prelude to romance, as the spring mating season approaches, and their hormones will begin to bring them together.

Es wird ein romantisches Vorspiel, nun da die Paarungszeit beginnt und ihre Hormone sie wohl hoffentlich zusammen bringen wird.

Anana

16 year old Anana was brought to Cincinnati because she has already been a mother, to 4 year old Luna. Little One has fathered no offspring, and his genes are valuable, as he is not related to other bears. Little One and Berit have been great friends for years, but there was no mating activity between them last spring.

Die 16 Jahre alte Anana kam in den Cincinatti Zoo weil sie schon eine Mutter war von der 4 Jahre alten Luna.  Little One hatte noch keinen Nachwuchs gezeugt, seine Gene waren sehr wichtig da er mit keinen anderen Bären verwandt war Little One und Berit kamen seit Jahren sehr gut miteinder klar, aber es kam während der Paarungszeit zu keinen Aktivitäten.

Little One

Anana's shy glances at Little One when she thinks he is not looking show that she is interested. Little One spies on her with great interest too. 

Anana blickt immer wieder zu Little one wenn sie denkt er bemerkt es nicht, sie zeigt ihr Interesse. Und Little One beobachtet sie auch sehr genau.

Little One gives Anana a smile on the day they first met.

Spring is almost here, and we will see what that brings.

Der Frühling kommt immer näher und wir werden dann sehen was geschehen wird.

Thanks to Marga Andresen Gransow for the German translation.