Qannik, Bo, and International Polar Bear Day

 

Borealis of the Louisville Zoo

I traveled down to the Louisville Zoo on February 27 for International Polar Bear Day, and to see how Bo and Qannik were getting along. They have been together for two years.  

The chalk writings for the special day.

Scrawled in chalk on the floor and walls of the Alley room was  some wording for International Polar Bear Day and young Bo was in the Alley, just waiting for something to happen.  Most polar bears look white or grey, but Bo looked positively silver.

Qannik with her new toy.

Qannik floating.

Qannik inside the underwater culvert.

Qannik loves to manipulate the culvert to suit her underwater ballet.

Meanwhile, water girl Qannik was across the way in the big pool, playing with a giant black culvert tube. The keepers had placed several of these tubes around the enclosure, and Qannik got the bright idea that it would make a fun water toy. She was right, it was great fun to watch her maneuver the tube around, swim through it, roll it, toss it, and entertaining all her fans.

Bo and one of his keepers during keeper talk training.

Bo gets a syringe of yummy salmon oil during training.

We were treated to a couple of training sessions with Bo in the Alley, and Qannik at the big enclosure gate. Keepers explained how the bears are taught to present various parts of their bodies for inspection with the help of a bribe, that would be lettuce, fish, and in this case some vials of salmon oil. 

Qannik gets some lettuce during training.

In this way, the bears are taught to participate in their own health check ups, so keepers can see if there is some small injury or a problem somewhere. 

Bo keeps an eye on Qannik,
to be ready in case she wants to play with him. 

We were hoping for some interaction between the two bears, but it was a little disappointing. When Bo was brought over to share the big enclosure with Qannik, the two bears did seem aware of each other, and kept an eye on their companion, but Qannik was being coy. It seemed that Bo was interested in getting closer to his girl, but he has learned to take his cues from her.

Bo spent several years in Henry Vilas Zoo with older lady Berit, and she taught him good manners when it comes to affairs of the heart. While one of the Louisville Zoo docents reported that earlier in the season there had been some breeding between the two, nothing much was happening on the day we visited. Bo watched Qannik carefully, while pretending to keep busy with his own little projects.

Qannik finds a bag of treats, but abandons it.

Bo finds the bag of treats. 

The bears were given treats thrown down by keepers from atop the wall. Surprises included paper bags with some goodies inside.

Qannik rolling in the straw

Covered in straw, Qannik is golden.

Qannik was more interested in rolling in the straw and making a cozy nest. Many years ago, when Qannik was quite young, she got a spore infection which was caused by mulch, and she was very sick for a long time, possibly from an allergy, since other zoos use mulch without a problem for their bears. Now there is no mulch in the enclosure, just straw, mud, and grass. And lots of toys.

Qannik and a few of her toys.

Qannik and one of the giant culvert tubes,
like the one she hauled over to the pool to used as a pool toy.

I had several opportunities to get them in the same photo, but Qannik did not want to cooperate when it came to any actual interaction. 

Qannik in the simulated glacier-wrecked road below,
 watching her boyfriend Bo up top.

Qannik strolling by Bo, trying to ignore him. 

Qannik knows right where Bo is, even though she is ignoring him, and Bo knows right where Qannik is. 

Qannik eventually went inside, and Bo contented himself with swimming laps in the big pool, nothing creative like Qannik does, but it still thrills the visitors to see this large bear swimming vertical circles, pushing off with his giant paws, and blowing bubbles. 

Bo swimming his laps in the deep pool. 

Bo was born in 2018 in the Toledo Zoo, a single cub, with Crystal and Marty as his parents.  He moved to Henry Vilas when he was two years old, and moved again to Louisville in early 2024.  He was said to weigh a thousand pounds during the keeper talk.

Bo, looking all silvery. The keeper is above him, throwing down treats.

Qannik was wildborn on the North Slopes of the Alaskan oil fields. She and her mother and sister were tagged. A few months later, she was separated from her mother and sister, and found alone, starving. Little Qannik was brought to the Alaska Zoo, where she recovered for a few months, and then was flown to the Louisville Zoo. She has been near other polar bears: Arki, Siku, Lee, so she was familiar with their sight and scent, but never shared space since as a wildborn bear, she was property of Fish and Wildlife, and was not allowed to be part of the breeding program. She is reported to be about 500 pounds. Qannik recently celebrated her 15th birthday, although the actual date is not known. 

Qannik during her 14th birthday party.

That ban was lifted a few years ago, and Qannik was introduced to Bo. So far no cubs, but they are still getting acquainted. There may be results this fall/winter.

Bo in the sunlight, keeping an eye on Qannik.

Bo on the prowl.

Bo investigating the culvert.

Qannik so self assured.

Happy Mother's Day to Crystal

Crystal nibbles some watermelon at Kallik and Kallu's
 birthday party last November 11 at the Toledo Zoo.

Happy Mother's Day to Supermom Crystal, who is the mother or grandmother of just about every young polar bear in the U.S. (a problem when it comes to finding mates for them, but at least we have young polar bears).

Crystal is the mother of nine cubs, eight of whom are still living, and all born at the Toledo Zoo.

                             Crystal in September of 2022 - carrying twins

About a month ago, Crystal said goodbye to her twin boys Kallik and Kallu, and hello to a new suitor, the wildborn Kali.  The polar bear habitat in Toledo is undergoing renovations, so Crystal and Kali have spent their time behind the scenes, getting to know each other.

Kali was rescued as a cub in Alaska in early 2013 after a hunter shot his mother, thinking she was a male as she was such a large bear. The hunter realized there was a cub somewhere and followed the mother's tracks to her den where Kali was alone.

Kalli in the Buffalo Zoo as a fluffy cub

After a snowmobile ride to safety, Kali lived in the Alaska Zoo for a few months, then was brought to the Buffalo Zoo to be companion and playmate to young Luna of the same age, whose mother would not care for her, so Luna was raised by keepers. Luna and Kali helped each other grow up. They had so much fun together.

Kali and Luna in the Buffalo Zoo.

When they were older, Kali was sent to the St. Louis Zoo, where he had lived alone ever since, until recently coming to Toledo. Kali is a very large bear.

Kali in St. Louis

 Looking back to her 26th birthday last November, Crystal had her own party but had to share the spotlight with her two year old twins, who had their own party the next day. 

One of the cubs (Kallu?) with a birthday sign for Crystal.

Kallu, Kallik and Crystal enjoy the goodies at one of the parties.

Crystal is the mother or grandmother of almost all the younger generation of polar bears in the US. If we didn't have Crystal, we would only have a handful of aging polar bears in this country. Since 2008, a federal law has prohibited the import of polar bears from other countries. Crystal has done her best to fill that gap.

Crystal swimming in 2011

She was born in Monde Sauvage Safari Parc in Aywaille, Belgium in 1998, where she had an older sister, Blanche. Crystal came to Toledo when she was about a year and a half, in the spring of 2000, just as the fine new polar bear habitat at the Arctic Encounter was opening. A young male polar bear named Marty was waiting for her. Another female bear, wildborn Nanuyaak, usually called Nan, arrived in 2001.

Marty and Nan in 2014

Aurora and Anana

Twins Aurora and Anana were born to Crystal in 2006, and at the same time, Nan gave birth to Nikita, so there were three cubs at the Toledo Zoo. This was to be Nan's only offspring. Marty went to another zoo for a time to give his two little families room, but came back in 2008. Aurora and Anana moved to a gorgeous roomy new polar bear meadow at the Columbus Zoo and Nikita moved to the newly opened and very fine polar bear habitat at the Kansas City Zoo.

Aurora and Anana in 2011 in Columbus

Nikita now lives at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City with Crystal's granddaughter Neva.

Crystal and Siku in 2010

Siku

Next was Siku, born in 2009. Crystal did a fine job of mothering him, and in the fall of 2011 he moved to the Louisville Zoo where his grandmother Arki had retired from Brookfield Zoo. Siku currently lives in Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago with Talini.

Siku in Louisville in 2016

Suka and Sakari

In 2012 boy and girl twins Sakari and Suka were born.

Crystal, with kids Suka and Sakari bickering behind her.

Crystal nursing Sakari and Suka.

Sakari grew large quickly, but Suka was scrappy and always got her share.

Sakari and Suka in Toledo.

 When they were ready to leave, they moved to Como Zoo in Minnesota for awhile, where they lived with older gentlemen brothers Neil and Buzz. 

Suka and Sakari at Como Zoo in December 2014

Then, when their new place was ready, they moved to a brand new grassy habitat at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison Wisconsin.

Sakari and Suka in the meadow at Henry Vilas.
 That is a restaurant behind them.

After Sakari left Henry Vilas to move to Buffalo, old lady Berit of the Cincinnati Zoo moved in and she and Suka became best friends.

Berit and Suka at Henry Vilas Zoo in 2017.

Sakari now lives in the Buffalo Zoo with Luna, and Suka lives in the Detroit Zoo with Nuka, who is the father of Crystal's last set of twins Kallik and Kallu, as well as Suka's twins Laerke and Astra. 

Hope

Hope was born in 2015. She moved to Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City where she played with Aurora's daughter Nora. Hope now lives in Brookfield Zoo in Chicago with Hudson, brother of Marty.

                                                  Hope as a cub in Toledo.

                                                    Hope in Hogle Zoo.

Borealis

Borealis, usually called Bo, was born in 2018. Since he was a single cub, Crystal was designated playmate.  Mother and son spent a lot of time in the pool. 

                                               Bo and one of his many toys

Bo was probably the silliest of Crystal's cubs. He always had to be playing a game, tossing a toy, investigating a mystery. A very busy playful cub. Bo loves his toys.

                                                 Crystal nursing Baby Bo

In 2020 Bo moved to Henry Vilas to play with Berit.

                                         Bo and Berit at Henry Vilas

 Just this year, Bo moved to Louisville Zoo, where he hopes to mate with wildborn Qannik, who has just gotten permission from Fish and Wildlife to associate with boy bears.

Marty died in late 2021. Since Crystal's daughter Suka had given birth to twins in nearby Detroit, Suka's mate Nuka was on his own, so he was brought to Toledo, where he and Crystal got along very well.

Kallik and Kallu

Twin boys Kallik and Kallu were born in late 2022. Nuka had returned to Detroit, so it was just Crystal and her cubs. She took excellent care of the babies, but probably was happy they were twins and could entertain each other while she rested and watched. She looked worn out.

          
                                                        Kallik and Kallu

Kallik was much smaller, and also more independent. Kallu always had to be near mama, while little Kallik was off happily playing by himself.

Crystal nursing her twins in the den

Kallik and Kallu have just moved to the St. Louis Zoo, changing places with Kali, who just moved to Toledo to be with Crystal.

Grandchildren

Nora

Wildborn Nanuq arrived in 2012 in Columbus. Twins Aurora and Anana loved this big hunk, who was also father of Luna in Buffalo. Aurora gave birth to Nora in Columbus in 2015 but something was wrong, and Aurora lost interest in the cub, so the keepers raised her. Nora did have some medical issues, and bone development problems, but has done very well. Nora moved to the Oregon Zoo, then to Hogle Zoo where she played with her Aunt Hope for a few years.

Hope (up) and Nora in Hogle Zoo

Nora also broke her leg while in Salt Lake City, and had to have some serious surgery with metal pins and all. Nora is now back at the Oregon Zoo with her sister/cousin Amelia Gray.

Amelia Gray, Nuniq and Neva

Amelia Gray was born in the Columbus Zoo in 2016 to Anana and Nanuq. At the same time, Anana's sister Aurora was next door giving birth to twins Nuniq and Neva.

Anana and Amelia Gray in Columbus

 The zoo rotated the two families, so the three cubs never did play together. Old Nanuk, father of Nora, Amelia Gray, Nuniq and Neva, died the spring following the cubs' births.

Nuniq and Neva in Columbus

Neva, Nuniq and Aurora in Columbus

Amelia Gray and Neva moved to the Maryland Zoo for a time, then Amelia Gray moved to the Portland Zoo to live with Nora. Neva moved to Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, while Nuniq went to Henry Vilas Zoo to play with older lady Berit. He then moved to the Kansas City Zoo, where he lives today by himself. 

Kulu

Kulu was born to Aurora and to the new male polar bear in Columbus, Lee, in 2019. Lee moved to Louisville in the meantime, but has since returned to Columbus.

Kulu and his mom Aurora, Crystal's daughter

Kulu moved to Como Zoo in St. Paul Minnesota where he lives with the two oldest polar bears in the country, his mother's old friend Nan, and  old Neil, who doesn't seem to mind playing with the youngster. Nan is quite grandmotherly, and likes to watch them play.

Neil, Nan and Kulu in Como Zoo

Astra and Laerke

Suka gave birth to twin girls in Detroit in November of 2020, with Nuka as the father. Astra was strong and healthy, but Laerke needed medical intervention, and was taken away to be raised by keepers. Laerke grew at a slower pace, and will probably always be small but she is doing well. 

Laerke and Jebbie play

A young grizzly bear orphan named Jebbie was brought in to be a playmate, and great fun followed. Eventually, Jebbie grew to be too much larger and stronger than Laerke, so they were separated. Jebbie has gone to a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado.

                 Sisters Astra (far) and Laerke (close) separated by a moat.

When Astra was ready to leave her mom, the twins were reunited, and then they moved to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington, where they continue to develop their sisterly love.

The future

The story may continue this fall with possible expected births by Suka and Nuka in Detroit, and by Aurora and Lee in Columbus.

There is also an outside chance that Crystal will have cubs this fall after the arrival of new mate Kali. No word on how they are getting along, but Crystal will be 27 years old in November, and the oldest bear to give birth that I know of was Uslada in St. Petersburg, who had her 16th cub when she was 26 years old.

As for the future, there is a young  girl polar bear Kava, who was rescued and lives in the Alaska Zoo. If Fish and Wildlife would agree, she would be a good mate (unrelated) for Kallik or Kallu eventually.

I hear by the grapevine that there are some interesting moves planned soon, to make some new bear pairs. 

In Memoriam - We can't forget Crystal's longtime mate Marty, father of seven of her nine cubs.

    
                                                                   Marty

For those wondering about Crystal's overseas relatives, her sister Blanche died last year, but her daughter Qannik still lives in Monde Sauvage. Blanche's son Nanok lives in Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Denmark, and there he has a son Siku and a daughter Nuno, who also has twin daughters, Nivi and Anori.  Nanok's son Nanu lives in France.  

Happy Mother's Day, Crystal.