Kap leaves a legacy

Kap, always curious

 

Kap was a handsome bear

Kap was born in the Moscow Zoo on October 16, 2000. He had many relatives, including some half brothers. He leaves behind a daughter, Anouk now in France, and a son, young Mika, still living with his mother Nuka in Karlsruhe.

Kap's son Mika, and his mother Nuka.
Photo with permission by Petra Ballon.

Kap's father was Uold, brother of the famous Uslada, mother of 16 cubs, and also of Maleishka, mother of new father Pim in Sao Paulo.

Kap's mother was Murma, who was also mother of  new father Gota of Japan (father of the late Milk and also 4 year old Fubuki),  Boris/Ivan of Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Denmark (father of Nuna's cubs), and  Rasputin of Aalborg (father of Hope and the triplets Tala, Indie and Yuma). 

Kap in his empire. My photos from 2017.

He lived in Karlsruhe three times, and Neumünster twice. He also live in Hannover for a short time. While in Hamburg, he became a father of daughter Anouk, born in 2022 to Viktoria. Then just last fall, his mate in Karlsruhe, Nuka, gave birth to twins, one of whom survived and is a boy named Mika. Kap spent many years alone in Neumünster, so I was glad when he was given the chance to live with another bear, and to father some cubs.  

In Karlsruhe, Kap had a nice big pool, with an underwater viewing area.

Kap shaking it off.

Kap - King of the Mountain.

Kap and the cave

Kap rather suddenly became ill about two months ago, and the vets examined him under anesthesia to find the cause, and it seems there were a number of illnesses. He would get a little better, then worse again. At the end, he could barely walk and had trouble lifting his head. He was confined to the mother-cub enclosure, which was a lot smaller and safer for him in his condition.

Smiling Kap

It became clear that his condition had deteriorated to the point when the kind thing was to put him to sleep. At age 24, he was the oldest male polar bear in a European zoo. Worldwide, the oldest in Neil in Como Zoo, who is 29 years old. In the wild, a polar bear would be lucky to live to be 15 years of age.

Sharing his lunch with the herons

Kap and feathered friend

Kap was a gentle bear, always curious. He was happy to share his food with the herons who liked to visit the polar bears in Karlsruhe. 

It's a sad time in Karlsruhe. Kap was well loved. 

Kap in his swimming days

The zoo published this on their facebook page, to announce the death of Kap.

At 24 years old, he was the oldest male polar bear in the European Conservation Breeding Program (EEP). However, after his health deteriorated further, Kap was euthanized today at the Karlsruhe Zoo. The two zootists and two external veterinarians had previously placed the polar bear in anesthesia for further examination.

Kap has been strangely worse in the past few days. Among the previous complaints, he had had trouble walking, and also kept his head very low in a kind of good posture. That's why the polar bear was put on pain medication. Zoo doctors Dr. Marco Roller and Dr. Lukas Reese opted for another examination in anesthesia.

During this, it was found that liver levels had deteriorated despite special medication. In addition, the study, conducted in collaboration with AniCura Karlsruhe, showed major changes in the gallbladder and liver in the ultrasound. Since there was no positive prognosis, it was decided to redeem Kap. The body of the animal will now be examined in pathology. "A section is generally made for such zooters, we hope for even more clarity from it. Unfortunately, on living large animals, the possibilities for examination are limited, so pathology always has a special importance for us," says Roller.

About eight weeks ago, it had begun that the general state of  Kap changed from one day to the next and the responsible concern was prepared. The polar bear's health has become increasingly critical. Subsequently, he was already examined under anesthesia. However, the investigation at that time did not bring a clear conclusion to the cause. Meanwhile, Kap was also getting better, which gave the zoo team hope. The situation had to be re-evaluated due to the problems that have now been added.

Farewell, handsome Kap.

Happy Mother's Day to Crystal, Gerda and Victoria

 Of course all polar bear mothers deserve appreciation, especially on Mother's Day. But this story will focus on the new moms who gave birth last November and December, even though we didn't hear about Victoria's secret surprise until just a few weeks ago. 

Kallu and Kallik  - photo by the Toledo Zoo.

Crystal

In December news came of  the birth of twins in the Toledo Zoo, to veteran mother Crystal and her companion Nuka. The cubs were born on November 11, but kept secret for a few weeks, announced on December 1. For a time, it seemed like those might be the only cubs born worldwide in a zoo this year.  And there was a public dencam so we could watch the babies grow. Interestingly enough, one of the cubs was much larger than the other.

We later learned that the twins are boys, given the names Kallik and Kallu (Thunder and Lightning). Little Kallik has recently caught up and now is almost as big as his brother. It has been observed that the little one has grown into the bolder and braver brother, the first to take to the pool inside, and willing to wander away from mother for longer periods. Kallu, the bigger brother, was quite hesitant to step into the kiddie pool, and his little brother kept trying to persuade him, maybe even giving him a little push sometimes. Now, both brothers seem comfortable in the water.

The Toledo Twins were make their public debut on Friday, April 28, and everyone was so excited. However, when the big day came, the boys were intimidated by the bigger space outside, and wanted to play with their toys in the familiar areas of the dig yard and inside pool room. The interior dencam was turned back on, so the fans could see that the cubs were fine. Their public debut was rescheduled for the following Friday, May 5, and this time the cubs were ready and raring to go.

Crystal and her cubs - Photo by the Toledo Zoo.

Crystal is already the mother of twins Aurora and the late Anana, son Siku, twins Suka and Sakari, daughter Hope and son Borealis, all with the late Marty as the father. Crystal is also the grandmother of seven cubs.

Crystal with her cubs in the den, dencam photo

The father of Kallik and Kallu is Nuka, who is also the father of 2 year old twin girls in Detroit, with the mother being Crystal's grown daughter Suka. Papa Nuka is now back in Detroit.

Nuka (my photo)

For several months, we all thought that Crystal's twins might be the only cubs born in a zoo worldwide. But there were two other mothers who were denned up with little ones after having secretly given birth in December. 

Gerda and her daughters. (photo by оксана калинина)

Gerda

In early February, we learned that Gerda in Novosibirsk in Siberia, Russia had given birth to twins on December 16. These cubs made their public debut in the middle of March, with much snow still on the ground. We have learned that these twins are girls, but no names have been announced yet. There is a naming contest. The father is Kraisin,  better known to his friends as Kai.

Gerda is an experienced mother, having raised Shilka (who now lives in Japan), Rostik (who was sent to China), and twins Shauna and Nordi, a girl and a boy, who are now about four years old and living somewhere behind the scenes in the Novosibirsk Zoo. Gerda is a grandmother, since Shilka has a two year old daughter Ho-chan.

Gerda was born in Moscow in 2007 to Simona and Wrangel. She is sister to Vera, mother of the famous Flocke, Gerda's grandmother was Uslada of St. Petersburg, who was the mother of 16 cubs so there are many cousins throughout Europe and Russia.

Victoria's cub - Photo by Hagenbeck Zoo

Victoria

Because the European polar bear breeding program has been a little too successful, and there is a shortage of suitable zoo homes, there has been a halt to breeding, with many of the bears moved to all girl or all boy groups. So we expected there would be no cubs in Europe this season.

But at the very end of April, we had a surprise. Victoria and Kap of Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg Germany produced a mysterious secret cub born December 19. This cub still has no name, we don't know if it is a boy or girl yet, and the cub is still not in the public eye.

Victoria in 2014 (with Blizzard)

At 20 years of age, Victoria is an older lady who had never given birth up until now, so of course everyone thought that a cub was out of the question. Older lady bears can become mothers, of course, but almost always they have had cubs before. Victoria had been for many years with Blizzard, who was later found to be sterile. Then Kap arrived in the spring of 2020, but still no cubs, until now. This is a first cub for Kap too, who has spent much of his life alone in Neumünster, then a short time in Karlsruhe, where I finally met him. Kap is half brother of Raspi, and several other bears. 

Kap when I visited him in Karlsruhe in 2017

Victoria's genes are especially valuable since she isn't related to other bears. Her mother Fanny gave birth to Victoria in Hagenbeck, and Victoria lived there most of her life except for a short stay in Zoo am Meer in Bremerhaven, while the zoo was building the new walrus-polar bear-penguin complex.

Fanny did have another cub, Victoria's older brother named Charly, who lived out his life in SeaWorld San Diego, and died in 2012. 

Victoria is the product of several generations of inbreeding, as zoos were not so careful in those days. One again, it is a miracle that she had this cub.

European polar bear cubs usually start appearing in public in mid-March. So why is the Hagenbeck cub still behind the scenes? My theory is that the enclosure, while fairly new, was not designed with young cubs in mind, being rocky and sort of steep. There is limited space for visitors who want to see the bears. The complex, made for polar bears, penguins and walruses, gave much more emphasis to the walruses, and most polar bear fans are disappointed in the new enclosure.

Mother Victoria and the keepers may be waiting for the cub to mature a bit more before letting it wander around the rocky habitat. There seems to be a pool accessible to the cub at the top, for there is a video with the cub swimming in the background, and I believe there is a flat area up there, but it is out of sight from visitors. The cub is about five months old, so hopefully he or she will make a public debut before too long, and we will learn a bit more.

The Hagenbeck polar bear enclosure. - my photo

Happy Mother's Day to all the polar bear mothers. I hope to visit Crystal and her little family one day very soon, and maybe make a trip to Hamburg to see Victoria and her offspring too.

Blizzard gone too soon

 

Blizzard's signature smile

Zoo Karlsruhe in Germany has announced the death of Blizzard, their 15 year old male polar bear. He was discovered dead in the indoor facility yesterday.

Viktoria and Blizzard

It was recently discovered that Blizzard's kidney values were very poor. He had been examined for a minor leg injury, and routine blood tests revealed Blizzard's kidney failure. Animals can be very good at hiding health problems.

Blizzard and his reflection

Blizzard was born December 16, 2006, in Pistoia Italy, in a zoo that no longer keeps polar bears. His father was the late Yoghi, and his mother was Yoghi's mother Bimba. The family tree is rather twisted, as Yoghi's father Romeo was also Bimba's father. Romeo was an American bear, born in Colorado Springs.

Blizzard top, finding treats smeared on the walls by the keepers

Blizzard lived in Pistoia until he was four years old, then moved to Rostock for several years, where he had a lovely time hanging out with old Mother Vienna. In 2012, he moved to Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg, where he lived with Fanny's daughter Viktoria until May of 2020, when he moved to Karlsruhe, where he lived with young Charlotte, Flocke's sister.

Blizzard chasing Viktoria

Blizzard, like his father Yoghi, was a laid back, friendly and gentle bear. He seemed to like to stick his tongue out, more than the average polar bear, and was sometimes a bit silly. He always got along well with his lady companions.

Blizzard was a happy bear

Blizzard's father Yoghi also died fairly young of kidney failure. 

Blizzard never had any cubs, but he did have siblings fathered by Yoghi. He was half brother to twins Nela and Nobby, and also to Quintana. Nela now lives in Emmen in the Netherlands, Nobby lives in Yorkshire Wildlife Park in the UK, and Quintana lives in Zoo La Fleche in France. 

Viktoria in front, and here comes Blizzard

I visited Blizzard several times in Hagenbeck, where he lived a lazy, content and life with Viktoria. 

It is sad to lose him at such a young age. I will miss him. 

Blizzard up top in Hagenbeck

Farewell Blizzard.

 

A fond farewell to Fanny

Ein Lebewohl an Fanny

Fanny at Gelsenkirchen Zoom in 2011. She died September 13, 2014

The world's oldest polar bear, Fanny, died just a little more than two weeks week after I visited her at Gelsenkirchen Zoom in Germany. She would have been 36 years old this November.

Der weltweit älteste Eisbär, Fanny, starb nur ein wenig mehr als  zwei Wochen, nachdem ich besuchte sie im Gelsenkirchen Zoom in Deutschland. Sie wäre 36 Jahre altin diesem November 2014 geworden. 

Fanny naps in the little enclosure built for Antonia

She had been moved to the small enclosure built for the dwarf polar bear Antonia, and Antonia was given the spacious lakeside enclosure. The keepers wanted to be able to monitor Fanny closely, and because her teeth were worn out, they fed her polar bear soup.

Sie war zu dem kleinen Gehege verlegt,welches für die Zwergenüchsige Eisbärin Antonia gebaut wurde, und Antonia wurde das geräumige Gehege am See gegeben. Die Pfleger wollten in der Lage sein, Fanny genau zu beobachten, und weil ihre Zähne so abgenutzt waren, gab man der Eisbärin Suppe um sie zu füttern.

Fanny in 2011

While I was there, Fanny mostly napped. She did lift her head a couple of times, and yawned once, then back to sleep. I knew she would not be with us much longer.

Während ich dort war, hat Fanny meistens geruht. Sie tat den Kopf anheben, ein paar Mal, und gähnte einmal, um dann wieder zu schlafen. Ich vermutete schon, siewürde nicht mehr viel länger bei uns sein.

Fanny in 2014. She woke up for a few minutes, yawned and went back to sleep

Fanny in 2011

I visited her in 2011, when she was still living with the legendary American polar bear Elvis, and she was somewhat more active, but still seemed to be slowing down. They made a nice elderly couple.

Ich besuchte sie im Jahr 2011, als sie noch mit dem legendären amerikanischen Eisbär Elvis lebte, und sie etwas aktiver war, aber auch dann schien sie sich langsamer zu bewegen. Sie waren wie ein nettes, älteres Ehepaar. 

Elvis in 2011

 When Elvis died in June of 2013, Fanny continued on and didn't seem to mind that she was alone.

Als Elvis starb im Juni 2013, machte Fanny weiter und es schien sie nicht zu stören, dass sie nun allein war.

Fanny in 2011

She was born November 22, 1978, in the Cologne Zoo. Her parents were brother and sister. Theo II and Helga.

Sie wurde am 22. November 1978 geboren, im Kölner Zoo. Ihre Eltern waren Bruder und Schwester. Theo II und Helga.  

She lived in Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg from 1981 to 2008, where she lived with Theo III, who was the brother of her father.

Sie lebte in Hagenbecks Tierpark in Hamburg von 1981 bis 2008, wo sie mit Theo III, welcher der Bruder von ihrem Vater war lebte. 

Fanny in 2014, a few weeks before her death

This pair had two cubs. Charly was born in 1995, and went to live in America in Seaworld San Diego. He died two years ago.

Dieses Paar hatte zwei Jungen. Charly wurde im Jahr 1995 geboren und ging nach Amerika, um in der Seaworld San Diego zu leben. Er verstarb vor zwei Jahren.

Fanny's daughter Victoria, with Blizzard in background

Victoria was born in 2002, and stayed in Hamburg zoo until she was 6 years old, with her mother.

Victoria wurde 2002 geboren und ist in Hamburg Hagenbecks Tierpark mit ihrer Mutter verblieben bis sie 6 Jahre alt war.

Victoria went to Bremerhaven Zoo am Mer, while the polar bear enclosure in Hamburg was being renovated. She returned to Hagenbeck Zoo in 2011. Blizzard arrived in 2012. So far the pair has no cubs, but there is still plenty of time.

Victoria ging nach Bremerhaven Zoo am Mer, während die Eisbärenanlage in Hamburg gerade renoviert wurde. Sie kam dann in den Tierpark Hagenbeck im Jahr 2011 zurück. Blizzard ist im Jahr 2012 ebenso angekommen. Bisher hat das Paar keine Jungen, aber es ist noch viel Zeit. 

Fanny scratches to keep the flies away, as she dreams

In 2008, Fanny retired to Gelsenkirchen to live with Elvis in a spacious grassy enclosure with a lake to swim in.

Im Jahr 2008 zog Fanny nach Gelsenkirchen, um mit Elvis zusammen zu leben, in einem See zu schwimmen in einem geräumigen, grasbewachsenen Gehege.

The oldest polar bear now is probably a bear named Ootec in Hungary, who is about the same age, but his birthday is not known.

Der älteste Eisbär ist jetzt wohl ein Bär in Ungarn benannt Ootec, die etwa im gleichen Alter ist, aber sein Geburtstag ist nicht bekannt.

Rest in Peace, Fanny. You have achieved a great age for a polar bear.

Rest in Peace, Fanny. Sie haben ein hohes Alter für einen Eisbären erreicht.

Fanny in 2014. RIP