Showing posts with label Corinna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corinna. Show all posts

Friday, February 14, 2020

A look at polar bear LOVE for Valentine's Day

 For Valentine's Day,
 some glimpses of romantic love between polar bears.

Flocke and Raspi
 Marineland, Antibes France - 2018


Little One and Anana
Cincinnati Zoo - 2018

Little One and Anana
 Cincinnati Zoo - 2018

"The Coy Lady"
Little One and Berit
Cincinnati Zoo - 2013



Little One runs away wit Berit's icy heart
 Cincinnati Zoo - 2015 

Yoghi and Giovanna
Hellabrunn Tierpark, Munich - 2011

Yoghi and Giovanna
Tierpark Hellabrunn, Munich - 2011

Nord and Malik
Aalborg Denmark - 2019

Little One and Anana
 Cincinnati Zoo - 2019



Corinna and Anton - The Wilhelma - Stuttgart Germany - 2011
Every afternoon, Anton would climb onto a jutting rock, and Corinna would come up next to him, and lick his ears. A sign of great love.

"Yin and Yang"
Raspi and Flocke
Marineland - Antibes France - 2018

"Love bite"
Flocke and Raspi
Marineland, Antibes France - 2018
"Two Ladies"
Nanuq and twin sisters Aurora and Anana
Columbus Zoo - 2013


Not polar bears, but these two hippos knew now to show love.
 Fiona's parents Henry and Bibi - Cincinnati Zoo - 2017

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Corinna and Anton together again

Corinna
 Today I received word from a friend that beautiful Corinna, with her lovely fluffy big ears, has left us. She was 28 years old.
Corinna
Corinna was born in Copenhagen in 1989, and spent most of her life in the elegant Wilhelma Zoological Park in Stuttgart, Germany with her adored Anton.

Corinna's half brother, with the same father, was the famous Wilhelm, or Willie, born in 1985, who had been sold by the Copenhagen Zoo at the age of 4 months to private owners and spent 16 years sweltering and being forced to perform in a poor Mexican circus. He was rescued in 20o2 along with six other polar bears when the circus overwintered in Puerto Rico, which is a territory of the U.S. Thankfully, Willie lived in comfort the rest of his life, in the North Carolina Zoo, and then the Milwaukee County Zoo, where he died in 2013. 

 Corinna was spared that fate, and was sent to Germany. Anton and Corinna arrived at the Wilhelma together, at the age of one, and grew up as playmates. As they matured, the zoo expected that they would have cubs. They waited and waited. No cubs.

Anton and Corinna
But then Corinna surprised the polar bear world when she gave birth to Wilbär in the fall of 2007 at the ripe old age of 18. The zoo kept his birth a secret, for fear of too much press attention as happened to Knut in Berlin, and was happening at the same time in Nuremburg with Flocke's birth.  Mother Corinna took good care of her only child, but there was an early separation in the spring of 2009, when Corinna and young Wilbär  engaged in some aggressive behavior, sometimes resulting in blood. Maybe it was because Corinna was anxious to get back to her Anton, for they truly were a love match.

Corinna and her beloved Anton

Every afternoon, for most of their lives together, Anton and Corinna would settle in for the famous ear licking ritual, something quite uncommon for polar bears. I have only seen one other pair engage in ear licking, best friends Nancy and Tosca in Berlin Zoo.
Corinna licking Anton's ear
Anton would climb onto the central rock perch in the left hand side, and lay there while Corinna spent long periods of time licking his right ear, while Anton closed his eyes with enjoyment.

Corinna shows her love

The pair seemed to never tire of this rite of affection.

How Anton loved it

They were separated for a period of several years when Corinna had her cub. During this time, Anton really missed Corinna. He pined away for her. The zoo painted the separating glass with whitewash so he couldn't see her, but still he pined, for he could hear her, and smell her.

Love in the afternoon
When young Wilbär left the Wilhelma, he moved to the polar bear Paradise of Orsa Bear Park in Sweden, where he was soon joined by a young girl bear named Ewa, but no cubs have resulted. This past fall, another young girl cub named Hope, the daughter of Flocke and Raspi, has arrived in Orsa so Wilbär now has two girlfriends. 

Swimming with Anton
With Wilbär gone north, Anton and Corinna were reunited, and lived together for many happy years and countless afternoons of ear licking.

Anton and Corinna

Corinna and Anton

Then there was a terrible tragedy in early 2014, when some thoughtless  visitor threw a backpack into the enclosure, Anton ate the contents, and it ended up killing him.

Pretty Corinna
Corinna lived alone in the ensuing years, with several suitors coming to call, but no one could replace Anton, her true love.

From 2014, Yoghi naps while Corinna swims, avoiding him
Yoghi came to the Wilhelma in 2014 when Giovanna, who had given birth to twins the previous fall, needed privacy and space to raise her family, so Yoghi stayed for seven months in Stuttgart, but then returned to his family in nearby Munich. Corinna tolerated Yoghi, but was happy when he left.

From 2015, Corinna on the left, Felix on the right
In 2015, Felix came to visit for 8 months, after Vera had baby Charlotte in Nuremburg. Again, Corinna tolerated him, but was happy when he moved on and she could be alone.

Corinna on the balancing rock

Corinna
After that, the zoo decided Corinna should have her privacy so she has lived alone for the past three years, happily enjoying her solitude.

Corinna and a play stick

I like to think of the beautiful Corinna being reunited with her Anton again, for they were so happy together.

Corinna follows Anton

More ear licking
The cause of death has not been announced.

Corinna on the balancing rock
 
Farewell, beautiful Corinna
 

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Yoghi returns to Munich


Yoghi ist zurück in München

Yoghi enjoyed his seven months in Stuttgart
After being away for seven months, Yoghi has returned to his family in Zoo Hellabrunn in Munich.

Nachdem er sieben Monaten fort war ist Yoghi in den Zoo Hellabrunn in München zurückgekehrt zu seiner Familie.

Meanwhile, Mother Giovanna has been raising Nobby and Nela in Munich
 Giovanna, who is almost 8 years old, gave birth to twins Nela and Nobby in December.

Giovanna, die fast 8 Jahre alt ist, brachte im Dezember 2013 Zwillinge zur Welt – Nela und Nobby.

Yoghi has had a nice vacation at Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart

When Polar Bear Anton died tragically in nearby Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart, Yoghi was taken there on March 12, so Giovanna could spend time with the babies in peace, and 14 year old Yoghi and 24 year old Corinna could keep each other company.

Als der Eisbär Anton auf tragische Weise in der Wilhelma in Stuttgart starb, wurde am 12. März 2014 beschlossen, daß Giovanna in Ruhe Zeit verbringen soll mit den Jungtieren, und so wurde der 14 Jahre alten Yoghi verlegt um der 24 Jahre alte Corinna Gesellschaft zu leisten.

Yoghi

Yoghi has enjoyed in time at the Wilhelma Zoo. Visitors have noticed how relaxed he has been.

Yoghi hat die Zeit in der Wilhelma genossen. Die Besucher haben bemerkt, wie entspannt er gewesen ist.

Yoghi has found a giant toothpick
 Except for a short time during Spring's mating season, Corinna and Yoghi tended to spend their time apart. Yoghi entertained himself very nicely.

Bis auf eine recht kurze Zeit, während der Paarungszeit im Frühling, waren Corinna und Yoghi geneigt, ihre Zeit meistens auseinander zu verbringen. Yoghi unterhielt sichauch allein sehr gut.


Yes indeed, Yoghi likes to play

He has had a very nice vacation home in Wilhelma

Yoghi - Always relaxing
 Now Corinna will be happy to have the enclosure all to herself in Stuttgart.

Jetzt ist Corinna sicher glücklich, die Anlage ganz für sich allein in Stuttgart zu haben.

Corinna asks "When is he leaving? Soon I hope."

Now that Yoghi has left, Corinna has the place all to herself

It will be nice to be alone again, says Corinna. Peace and quiet.

Yoghi is separated from his family for now. There are two large enclosures at Hellabrunn, and a solid door between them. The staff at the zoo may consider letting Yoghi be with Giovanna and the twins, if Giovanna accepts that idea. It will all be up to her.

Yoghi wird bislang noch von seiner Familie getrennt gehalten. Es gibt zwei große Gehege in Hellabrunn, und eine feste Tür ist zwischen ihnen. Die Mitarbeiter im Zoo lassen prüfen, ob sich Yoghi mit Giovanna und den Zwillingen verträgt, wenn Giovanna diese Idee annimmt. Es hängt alles von ihr ab.


Nela and Nobby play at Hellabrun

This is almost never even considered, but Yoghi is a gentle laid back bear. Giovanna was raised at the zoo in Fasano Italy where mother Marissa and father Felix (the Italian Felix) lived as a family together with cubs.

Das ist bislang noch nicht betrachtet worden, aber Yoghi ist ein sanfter entspannter Bär. Giovanna wuchs auf im Zoo in Fasano Italien, wo die Eltern- Mutter Marissa und Vater Felix (die italienische Felix) als Familie zusammen mit den Jungtierenlebten.

Nela (on the wall) is more independent than her brother Nobby

And back in Munich, Giovanna will have to decide herself
whether Father Yoghi will be included in the family

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Corinna gets a new companion: Yoghi

Yoghi plays at Zoo Hellabrun in Munich.

Yoghi is a sociable bear. He loves playing with his Giovanna. But they have been separated since last fall, and she gave birth in December to twins, a boy and a girl.

Yoghi ist ein geselliger Bär. Er liebt das Spiel mit seinem Giovanna. Aber sie sind seit Herbst letzten Jahres getrennt, und Giovanna gebar im Dezember Zwillinge, ein Junge und ein Mädchen.


Yoghi and his lovely Giovanna, now a new mother


Giovanna plays with a stick in the "river" at Hellabrun Zoo.
Yoghi has been lonely. Zoo Hellabrun  in Munich, home to 14 year old Yoghi and 7 year old Giovanna, has considered the unusual move to have Yoghi no longer separated from the mother and cubs, and he would help raise them as a family group. This is almost never even considered, but Yoghi is a gentle bear, and Giovanna was raised at the zoo in Fasano Italy where mother Marissa and father Felix (the Italian Felix) lived as a family together with cubs.

Yoghi war einsam. Der Zoo Hellabrunn in München, die Heimat von 14-jährigen Yoghi und die 7-jährige Giovanna sind seit dem getrennt-man hat den ungewöhnlichen Schritt nicht gewagt, sie als eine Familie aufwachsen zu lassen. Das ist fast noch nie betrachtet worden, aber Yoghi ist eine sanfte Bär und Giovanna wuchs im Zoo in Fasano Italien auf, wo Mutter Marissa und Vater Felix (der italienische Felix) lebten als Familie zusammen mit den Jungen.



The late Anton at Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden in Stuttgart

Corinna is now a grieving widow
Sadly, another option became available. It has been a month since wonderful Anton died at Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart, and his widow 24 year old Corinna has missed him. Corinna and Anton had been together for over 23 years.

Leider steht nun eine weitere Option zur Verfügung. Es war vor einem Monat, als der wunderbare Eisbär Anton starb im Zoo Wilhelma in Stuttgart, und seine Witwe 24-jährige Corinna vermisst ihn sehr. Corinna und Anton waren seit 23 Jahren zusammen.
Anton and Corinna at Wilhelma in happier days

Anton died because he ate a backpack, a doll and a jacket in January. The materials caused intestinal infection. Because of the actions of visitors, Corinna lost her beloved Anton.

Anton starb, weil er ein Rucksack, eine Puppe und eine Jacke fraß im Januar. Die Materialien verursacht Darm-Infektion. Durch die Unachtsamkeit der Besucher verlor Corinna ihren geliebten Anton.


Anton and Corinna
Yesterday, March 12, in a surprise move, Yoghi was taken from his home in Munich to Stuttgart, where he is now in the smaller enclosure. He will get to know Corinna through bars, and then they will be together.

Gestern, 12. März, in einem überraschenden Aktion, wurde Yoghi aus seiner Anlage in München nach Stuttgart gebracht, wo er jetzt im kleineren Gehge vorerst bleibt. Er wird sich dort eingewöhnen und Corinna durch ein *Schmusegitter* beschnuppern dürfen, und wenn alles friedlich verläuft werden sie zusammen sein können.


Corinna would lick Anton's ears every afternoon,
and Anton loved their little love ritual

This way, Yoghi will not be alone in the spring, which is breeding season. There is some hope that Corinna, even at age 24, could have another cub.


Auf diese Weise, Yoghi werden nicht allein in den Frühling, die Brutzeit wird sein. Es gäbe ebenso etwas Hoffnung, dass Corinna, auch im Alter von 24, ein weiteres Jungtier haben könnte.
Felix at Nuremburg Tiergarten, several years ago,
pining away for Vera

Felix lost a lot of weight, because he wouldn't eat because he was so lovesick for Vera, and Vera was busy with the cubs

It was very hard on Felix in the Nuremburg Tiergarten to have Vera close by with their cubs Gregor and Aleut, several years ago. As the zookeepers did in Wilhelma Zoo when Corinna gave birth to Wilbaer in 2007, the zookeepers had to paint the glass between the enclosures so Felix could not see Vera. Felix would not eat any food and became very thin.

Vor einigen Jahren war sehr schwer für Felix im Tiergarten Nürnberg nebenan zu sein, seine Vera in der Nähe mit ihren Jungen Gregor und Aleut. Das machten auch die Tierpfleger im Zoo Wilhelma, als Corinna Wilbaer geboren hatte 2007. Die Tierpfleger bemalten das Glas zwischen den Gehegen, somit konnte Felix seine kleine Familie nicht sehen. Felix nahm kaum Nahrung an und wurde sehr dünn.
Yoghi and Giovanna


Yoghi is a perfect companion for the grieving Corinna. He is gentle and sweet, and he will not mind if she offers to wash his ears every afternoon, as she always did with Anton.

Yoghi ist ein perfekter Begleiter für die trauernde Corinna. Er ist sanft und süß, und er wird vielleicht nichts dagegen haben, wenn sie sich anbietet seine Ohren zu waschen jeden Nachmittag, so wie sie es mit Anton immer tat.
Yoghi gives a little kiss to Giovanna.

Yoghi's fans in Munich will miss him, but there will be the twins to watch as they play and grow. Yoghi's move is temporary, and he will return to Munich in the fall.


Yoghi -Fans in München werden ihn vermissen, aber nun haben sie bald die Zwillinge zum beobachten, wie sie spielen und aufwachsen. Yoghi 's Umzug ist nur vorübergehend, und er wird nach München im Herbst zurück kommen.