Anana heads to Detroit

Anana

 It has been announced to the public that Anana of the Cincinnati Zoo will be moving very soon to the Detroit Zoo, to the Arctic Ring of Life. This weekend is the last chance to see her before she goes north.

Anana in the pool, with Little One strolling by

In Detroit, Anana will meet up with 7 year old female Suka and 15 year old male Nuka. For the past two breeding seasons, Suka has gotten pregnant and delivered cubs, but the cubs were stillborn or lived only a day. This shows that Nuka can father cubs, in any case, so it was thought that Anana would have a good chance of having a cub if she moves to Detroit. At age 20, her biological clock is ticking. The only other male polar bears in the U.S. who have fathered cubs and are still living are Suka's father Marty, and now Lee of the Columbus Zoo, with a new cub just born.  

Suka was born at the Toledo Zoo. Her twin brother Sakari is the mate of Anana's daughter Luna in Buffalo. Suka lived for a time in Madison Wisconsin, first with her brother Sakari, and then with Berit, longtime resident of the Cincinnati Zoo.

Nuka was born in Denver. His twin brother Koda is in Pittsburgh and his sister Cranbearry is in Anchorage Alaska. Nuka is the nephew of the late Rizzo, who lived at the Cincinnati Zoo for many years with Little One and Berit.

Anana being sassy

Anana in the water with her ball, while Little One does a little more srolling

 With Anana leaving Cincinnati, Little One, age 30, will be in retirement, which is rather sad, especially because he has no living relatives in the U.S., and has never fathered a cub. He does have a sister Satuki who lives in Japan, and she has never had cubs either.

Rescued circus bear Bärle spent happy years at the Detroit Zoo,
loving the grassy area especially.

Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life has two large areas that can be separated if need be, so Anana can be on her own on one side while she gets accustomed to her new place.

There is a rolling meadow so big that you can't see it all at once, only by walking along a trail to get to the other side. It has caves, a lovely pool, and wildflowers. 

The Arctic Ring of Life in Detroit has a Tundra area,
 which looks like a frozen landscape.

The Tundra area offers a large diving pool with a marvelous view tunnel for visitors, and the sea lions are right there, seeming to share the pool but in fact separated by an invisible barrier. Talini's mother Bärle taught her to hunt sea lions there at the zoo, and Talini would make a game of it. The sea lions loved to tease her. Maybe Anana will learn the seal hunt game too.

Talini in her seal hunting days at the Detroit Zoo. She is in Chicago now.

The viewing tunnel in Detroit

 

Suka, left, lived in Madison Wisconsin for a time with Berit,
 formerly of the Cincinnati Zoo.

Suka's favorite game is basketball. She will spend hours tossing a ball about, diving down to get it, and balancing the ball.

Suka playing underwater ball, her favorite game, in Detroit

Nuka is a private bear. He often stays inside, and you are lucky if he comes out to greet you. He doesn't spend much time playing in the pool. 

Nuka

The Detroit Zoo has a great staff of volunteer docents, and someone is always in the polar bear tunnel to tell you about the bears and answer your questions.

After Anana leaves, Little One will no doubt be more quiet. She really made him feel young and active again. He will really miss her.

Here are some memories of Anana and Little One and their time together in Cincinnati. 

Anana eats lunch, but Little One only has interest in Anana.

Halloween is fun in Cincinnati, with pumpkins every weekend for Anana

Springtime and in love. Anana and Little One

Mr. and Mrs. Anana bear

Watermelon treat for Anana

Carrot - food or toy for Anana

Anana brought her own toys with her

Apples for snack

Anana hogs the ball

Fighting or playing. Little One enjoyed his time with lovely little Anana

Farewell Anana. We will see you in Detroit! You will love it there.

Talini - the Ice Princess of Detroit

Talini – die Eis-Prinzessin aus Detroit

Talini has found a prize, and is enjoying it

Talini is a princess, and she doesn't like to share.

Talini ist eine Prinzessin, und sie mag es nicht zu teilen.

Talini, above, and Nuka, below. Nuka is much larger than tiny Talini, but she is the boss

Since there are only two polar bears at the Detroit Zoo since Talini's mother Bärle died, Talini and Nuka have had the run of the place. They have had over four acres in which to nap, stroll, dig, run, and nap some more in the Arctic Ring of Life. The largest polar bear exhibit in North America, it was built with two large areas for the polar bears: grassy tundra and frozen pack ice.

Nun gibt es nur noch zwei Eisbären im Detroit Zoo seit Talinis Mutter Bärle starb. Somit haben Talini und Nuka das ganze Gehege für sich allein. Sie haben über vier Hektar, in denen sie schlafen, spazieren gehen, graben, laufen können, und einige Nickerchen machen im Arktis Ring, es gibt Grasbewachsenen Tundra und gefrorenes Packeis. Es ist die größte Eisbären Anlage in Nordamerika, sie wurde mit zwei großen Bereichen nur für die Eisbären gebaut.

Nuka wants a drink of water

When the Detroit Zoo decided to do repairs to the Grizzly Bear habitats earlier this summer, the three young rascal bears moved to an older stone exhibit, but the two elderly Grizzly bears were relocated to the grassy tundra of the Arctic Ring of Life, and the polar bears had to stay in the frozen pack ice and pool area.

Als der Detroit Zoo beschlossen, Reparaturen an den Grizzly Bear Anlagen auszuführen - früher in diesem Sommer, zogen die drei jungen wildenBären zu einer älteren Anlage mit Steinen, aber die beiden älteren Grizzly Bären wurden in den grasbewachsenen Tundra der Arktis Ring des Lebensverlagert, und die Eisbären mussten im Packeis und Pool-Bereich verbleiben.

A sign explains why there are temporarily Grizzly Bears in the Arctic Ring

The Grizzly bears, Kintla and Lakota, thought they were in heaven. They loved the grassy slopes filled with wildflowers, and roamed to their hearts' content.

Die Grizzly Bären, Kintla und Lakota, dachten sie sindim Himmel. Sie liebten die Grashänge mit Wildblumen, und durchstreiften die Gegend nach Herzenslust.

The Grizzly Bears loved being in the Grassy area

One of the Grizzly Bears patrols the perimeter.
Lakota and Kintla were rescued as orphaned cubs, and have spent most of their lives at the Detroit Zoo . The Detroit Zoo has young triplet Grizzly Bears, also rescued, and now just one elderly Grizzly, since Lakota died in July.

Talini, on the other hand, did not like the new neighbors. She did not like having intruders in right next door. She could smell them, and she could see them when she walked the dividing line. She did not care that they were only temporary. The princess was upset.

Talini, auf der anderen Seite der Anlage konnte die neuen Nachbarn nicht leiden. Sie mochte es nicht, die Eindringlinge gleich nebenan zu haben. Sie konnte sie riechen, und sie sehen, wenn sie an die Trennlinie gingen. Es kümmerte sie nicht, dass sie nur vorübergehend dort bleiben würden. Die Prinzessin war außer sich.

Talini pacing the edge of her half of the Arctic Ring.

The late Barle's favorite spot in the grassy area

Talini is the daughter of the retired circus bear Bärle, who was rescued in 2002, along with six other bears, from a horrible life in a Mexican circus. Bärle enjoyed 10 years of a much happier life at the Detroit Zoo. She even gave birth to a beautiful cub, Talini, in 2002, and was a good mother. Bärle died in July of 2012. Talini's father Triton died very young at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Talini ist die Tochter der verstorbenen Zirkusbärin Bärle, die im Jahr 2002 aus einem mexikanischenZirkus gerettet wurde, zusammen mit sechs anderen Bären, von einem schrecklichen Leben dort endlich befreit. Bärle genossen 10 Jahren ein sehr glücklicheres Leben im Detroit Zoo. Siebekam auch Nachwuchs, ein schönes Jungtier namens Talini, das war im Jahr 2002 und Bärle war eine gute Mutter. Bärle starb im Juli 2012. Talini's Vater Triton verstarb sehr jung im Zoo von Indianapolis.

Talini kept a close watch on the new neighbors

Talini has had some older male bears in her life. She really did like Neil and Buzz, twin brothers visiting from the Como Zoo in St. Paul, but they are not breeding bears. She liked them as playmates very much.

Talini hat einige ältere männliche Bären in ihrem Leben kennen gelernt. Sie sehr gut mit Neil und Buzz zurecht, Zwillingsbrüder zu Besuch aus dem Como Zoo in St. Paul, aber sie sind nicht die Zuchtbären. Sie mochte sie als Spielkameraden zu haben.

Talini

Talini was matched with two other older male bears, but she did not like them. Lee moved to the Denver Zoo, where he is lives with Nuka's older sister Cranbeary. Then the late Aquila, who was visiting Detroit while his home at the North Carolina Zoo was being renovated, was too domineering for Talini, and she wanted nothing to do with him.

Talini wurde mit zwei anderen älteren männlichen Bären zusammen gebracht, aber sie nicht mochte sie. Lee zog um in den Zoo von Denver, wo er lebt mit Nuka lebt, die ältere Schwester von Cranbeary. Dann kam der nun verstorbene Aquila, der zu Besuch war in Detroit, während seine Anlage im North Carolina Zoo renoviert wurde, er war zu dominant für Talini, und sie wollte nichts mit ihm zu tun haben.

Talini finds a piece of meat hidden by the keepers

Hidden food is part of the enrichment for the animals

Talini is not going to share

Talini now has a companion, Nuka, who is the same age. Nuka is the son of Voda and Kavek, and he is the twin brother of Koda of the Pittsburgh Zoo. Talini and Nuka get along very well. Nuka understands that Talini is the boss.

Talini hat jetzt einen Begleiter, Nuka, der im gleichen Alter ist. Nuka ist der Sohn von Voda und Kavek, und er ist der Zwillingsbruder von Koda aus dem Pittsburgh Zoo. Talini und Nuka verstehen sich sehr gut. Nuka versteht, dass Talini der Chef ist.

Nuka

Whatever am I going to do with her? Nuka seems to say

The keepers had been concerned that Talini not be too stressed because they hope she will have cubs this winter. Talini and Nuka were mating this past spring, so it is a possibility.

Die Pfleger hatten auch dafür gesorgt, dass Talini keine Aufregung und wenig Stress bekommt, weil sie hofften, dass sie Jungtiere haben würde in diesem Winter. Bei Talini und Nuka wurden Paarung im vergangenen Frühjahr beobachtet, so ist es eine Möglichkeitgibt.

Nuka

Nuka

Lakota, the 28 year old Grizzly bear, died shortly after my visit in July. He broke his ankle and had to be put to sleep. There is just 29 year old Kintla now. Kintla moved back to her old habitat in mid July and left the Arctic Ring to Talini and Nuka.

Lakota, der 28-jährige Grizzly Bär, starb kurz nach meinem Besuch im Juli. Er brach sich den Knöchel und musste eingeschläfert werden. Es ist nur 29 Jahre alt. Kintla ist nun allein und zog zurück zu ihrem alten Gehege Mitte Juli und verließ den Arctic Ring von Talini und Nuka.

An overhead view of The Arctic Ring at the Detroit Zoo.
 The polar bears share the area with seals and Arctic Foxes

Now the Princess Talini has her entire kingdom back. She must be happy about that.

Nun ist die Prinzessin Talini froh, sie hat ihr ganzes Reich zurück. Sie muss glücklich darüber sein.

Talini was taught to swim and "hunt" seals by her mother

The Arctic Ring has a wonderful viewing tunnel

Talini cools off on a hot July day

Talini

Talini

You can read more about Talini's remarkable mother Bärle in Elsie Paulsen's new book, “Bärle's Story: One Polar Bear's Amazing Recovery from Life as a Circus Act.”

Sie können mehr über Talinis bemerkenswerte Mutter Bärle in Elsie Paulsen neues Buch zu lesen, “Bärle die Story: Ein Eisbär ist erstaunlich, Erholung von Leben als Zirkusnummer.”

The late Bärle in one of her favorite spots in the Grassy Tundra

Farewell to beautiful Aquila

Aquila at the Detroit Zoo

It has been a time of great loss in the polar bear world. In a period of two weeks, we have said goodbye to three well-loved and iconic polar bears. Aquila was one of these iconic bears.

Es war eine Zeit großer Verlust in der Eisbär Welt. In einem Zeitraum von zwei Wochen haben wir Abschied von drei gut geliebt und ikonischen Eisbären. Aquila war einer dieser legendären Bären.

Aquila in the Detroit Zoo

 We lost 21 year old Aquila on September 9, a sudden and unexpected tragedy. He had returned to his home in the North Carolina Zoo in May, after part of the enclosure renovations were completed. and his fans were so happy to have this playful bear back home. Well known photographer Valerie Abbott was his biggest fan, and was thrilled to have Aquila back. Aquila seemed to be fine and healthy on Monday, but was found dead Tuesday morning. He died from a ruptured stomach.

Verloren wir 21-jährige Aquila am 9. September, eine plötzliche und unerwartete Tragödie. Er hatte seine Heimat in der North Carolina Zoo im Mai zurück, nachdem ein Teil des Gehäuses Renovierungsarbeiten abgeschlossen wurden. und seine Fans waren so glücklich, diesen spielerischen Bär wieder nach Hause müssen. Namhafte Fotografen Valerie Abbott war sein größter Fan, und war begeistert, Aquila wieder zu haben. Aquila schien in Ordnung zu sein und gesund am Montag, sondern tot aufgefunden wurde Dienstag Morgen. Er starb an einem geplatzten Bauch.

Aquila in the shady cave at the Detroit Zoo

I saw Aquila in the Detroit Zoo two years ago, on a sleepy summer afternoon. It was time for his nap, so I did not get very many photos of this magnificent bear. He was lazing around in the sun, not far from his good friend Bärle.  They got along well. The zoo staff thought that Aquila would be a good mate for Bärle's young daughter Talini, but Talini found this older guy intimidating, so there were no cubs.

Ich sah Aquila im Detroit Zoo, an einem verschlafenen Sommernachmittag vor zwei Jahren. Es war Zeit für seine Nickerchen, so dass ich nicht sehr viele Fotos von diesem herrlichen Bären gemacht habe. Er lag faulenzend in der Sonne , nicht weit entfernt von seiner guten Freundin Bärle. Sie kamen gut miteinander aus. Das Zoo Personal hatte gehofft, dass Aquila würde ein guter Kumpel für die junge Tochter von  Bärle -Talini - werden, aber Talini fand diese älteren Mann einschüchternd, so gab es keinen Nachwuchs.

Aquila

Aquila was one of triplets born at the Louisville Zoo in November of 1992 to parents Irsinaki (1973-2000) and Skeena (1974-2002). He and his siblings, Aurora and Arkturus, went to live at the North Carolina Zoo in 1994. Aurora died in 1999 and Arkturus died in 2002. Aquila had also spent time in the Louisville Zoo again, and in the Cleveland Zoo.

Aquila war einer von Drillinge im November 1993 im Louisville Zoo geboren, Eltern Irsinaki ( 1973-2000) und Skeena ( 1974-2002 ). Er und seine Schwester Aurora und Bruder Arkturus gingen im Jahr 1994, um im North Carolina Zoo zu leben. Aurora starb im Jahr 1999 und Arkturus starb im Jahr 2002. Aquila hat auch Zeit im Louisville Zoo verbracht  und im Cleveland Zoo.

In 2011, when the North Carolina Zoo decided to make renovations in their enclosure, Wilhelm (Willy, Willie) was moved to the Milwaukee County Zoo, and Aquila spent two years in the Detroit Zoo with another rescued circus bear, Bärle. Aquila had returned to North Carolina in May, to great fanfare. His fans had missed him, and welcomed him back with cheers. He was to live only four more months in his newly renovated home.

Im Jahr 2011, als die North Carolina Zoo Renovierungsarbeiten in ihrem Gehege machen beschlossen wurde Wilhelm ( Willy , Willie ) an den Milwaukee County Zoo zu übersiedeln  und Aquila verbrachte zwei Jahre im Detroit Zoo mit einem anderen Zirkus geretteten Bären, Bärle. Aquila kam dann nach  North Carolina im Mai zurück , zu großem Tamtam. Seine Fans hatten ihn vermisst, und begrüßte hiim wieder mit Jubel . Er war nur vier Monate in seinem neu renovierten Hause.

Aquila

Valerie remembers her wonderful bear friend, saying "Aquila OWNED his exhibit, being one of the first inhabitants at the zoo, he had been there the longest.”


She recalls, “He loved to show off by diving off his rock, he must have really enjoyed the "oohs" and "aws" that always followed. Even though he left us a couple times he was always a favorite when he returned. One of my best memories of him was from years ago when he got a pumpkin as an enrichment treat. He carried it around while swimming with it, and just dared anyone to try and take it from him. He had a funny way of tilting his head and wriggling his nose as a new aroma invaded his exhibit. He just returned in May to thrill the crowds.”
“Though the exhibit had been empty for almost two years (expansion) it never seemed so empty as when I first returned after his death." NOTE, he was the first one I used my perfume trick with. I would put on a little of my favorite so he would smell me coming. He would always give me that little nose wiggle letting me know he knew I was there,” Valerie remembers. 

Valerie erinnert sich an ihren wunderbaren Bärenfreund und sagte: "Aquila war BESESSEN  von seinem Gehege, als einer der ersten Bewohner im Zoo, hat er  die Zeit dort am  längsten verbracht."

Sie erinnert sich: "Er liebte es, das Tauchen vor seinem Felsen  vorzuführen ,und er  muss  es wirklich genossen haben die"Ohs" und "aws" , die immer folgten. Auch wenn er uns ein paar Mal verlassen  musste, so war er immer der Favorit, wenn er zurückkam. Einer meiner besten Erinnerungen an ihn war vor Jahren, als er einen Kürbis als Bereicherung zur Unterhaltung  bekam. Er trug ihn herum beim Schwimmen mit ihm, und keiner hat gewagt ,zu versuchen ihm den Kürbis wegzunehmen.  Er hatte eine lustige Art und Weise zu ki den Kopf  zubewgen und  seine Nase zu kräuseln,wenn ein neues Aroma  in das Gehege eingedrungen  war. Er war gerade  im Mai zurückgekommen um die Massen zu begeistern."

"Obwohl die Anlage seit fast zwei Jahren (Expansion) leer  stand schien es nie so leer zu sein wie  nach seinem Tod." Hinweis, er war der erste, an  dem ich mein Parfüm Trick verwendet  habe . Ich habe nur wenig von meinem Lieblingsparfum benutzt, so konnte er es und mich riechen.Und mit dem leicheten Wackeln seiner Nase gab er mir zu verstehen daß er wußte,ich bin da!" erinnert sich Valerie .

Aquila

Irsinaki and Skeena were parents of seven cubs, but now, after the death of Aquila, only Neil and Buzz survive. Neil and Buzz live in the Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota, but also spent two years at the Detroit Zoo during renovations to their Minnesota home. The only other remaining members of the family are Berlin of the Kansas City Zoo, and Berit of the Cincinnati Zoo; Aquila was their uncle. Also the children of Berlin's late brother Yukon: Lee in the Denver Zoo, Haley in the Memphis Zoo and (Lincoln Park Zoo) Anana.

Irsinaki und Skeena waren Eltern von sieben Jungen, aber jetzt, nach dem Tod von Aquila, haben nur Neil und Buzz überlebt. Neil und Buzz leben im Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota, davor  auch zwei Jahre lang im  Detroit Zoo  während  der Renovierungen ihrer Anlage in  Minnesota. Die einzigen anderen übrigen Mitglieder der Familie sind Berlin  im  Kansas City Zoo und Berit  im Cincinnati Zoo;  Aquila war ihr Onkel. Auch die Kinder des verstorbenen Bruders Berliner Yukon: Lee im Denver Zoo, Haley im Memphis Zoo und (Lincoln Park Zoo) Anana.

We have also been saddened by the news of two other polar bear deaths.

Wir haben auch durch die Nachricht von zwei weiteren Eisbären Todesfälle traurig.

Gus of the Bronx Zoo was euthanized on August 28 due to deteriorating health caused by a thyroid tumor. He was born in the Toledo zoo. Gus was 27 years old, and is said to have been visited by 20 million fans.

Gus der Bronx Zoo wurde am 28. August aufgrund der sich verschlechternden Gesundheit durch eine Schilddrüsen- Tumor verursacht eingeschläfert. Er wurde in der Toledo Zoo geboren. Gus war 27 Jahre alt, und soll von 20 Millionen Fans besucht wurden.

And now we have just learned that Aquila's nephew Klondike, age 18, was found dead in his enclosure at Sea World in Florida on September 13.

Und jetzt haben wir gerade gelernt, dass Aquila Neffe Klondike, Alter 18, wurde tot in seinem Gehege im Sea World in Florida am 13. September gefunden.

We will miss you, Aquila. We will miss all the wonderful bears we have lost this year.

Wir werden dich vermissen, Aquila. Wir werden sie vermissen all die wunderbaren Bären, die wir in diesem Jahr verloren haben.

Aquila takes a nap at the Detroit Zoo