Cousins Nanuk and Nanook come to town

 

Nanook of Gelsenkirchen 

Nanuk, is Inuit for ice bear or polar bear, and thus some variation of the name seems very popular when it comes to naming those cute little cubs. 

But I believe every bear should have a unique name, which shouldn't be too hard since there are so few of them in zoos. Still, they duplicate names.

Nanuq in Mulhouse, France 

Now we have a situation where two young bears who are first cousins, with almost the same name, are moving in together, along with Giovanna in Tierpark Hellabrunn in Munich.

Giovanna with her daughter Quintana in Hellabrunn 

Quintana, Giovanna's three year old daughter by the late Yoghi, has just moved to Zoo La Fleche in France,  and the polar bear habitat in Munich is quite roomy, with tundra and taiga areas. Two other young female bears have been invited to make it their home. In fact, they have just arrived.

Nanook, with her mother Lara in the water, in Gelsenkirchen ZOOM. 

Nanook is the daughter of Bill and Lara, and was born in Gelsenkirchen ZOOM December 4, 2017. Bill came from Zoo Brno in the Czech Republic, and is the son of Cora and the late Umka. Lara was born in Vienna in 2004 and is the daughter of Olinka and Eric. Nanook is the only cub so far from Bill and Lara.

Sesi and Baby Nanuq 

Baby Nanuq in Mulhouse, France

Nanuq was born in Mulhouse, France November 7, 2016. Her father is Vicks, son of Olinka and Eric, born in Rotterdam Zoo in 2010 and her mother is Sesi, daughter of Freedom and the late Victor, born in Ouwehands Zoo, both in the Netherlands. Nanuq is the first and only cub from Vicks and Sesi so far.

Sesi and Nanuq 

Nanuq's father Vicks 

Thus Nanook's mother Lara is sister to Nanuq's father Vicks so they are first cousins. 

The Munich zoo plans to give Nanuq a new name, so there won't be any confusion.

All polar bears have a unique number assigned to them too, and in recent years, they all get a microchip so with just a little scanning, keepers can know they have the right bear.

Giovanna in Munich 

Giovanna is also mother to Nela and Nobby, born in 2013. Nela is in Emmen Wildlife Park in the Netherlands, and Nobby is in Yorkshire Wildlife Park in the UK. 

Giovanna

Giovanna is not totally unrelated to the new girls. She was born in Fasano, Italy, and her father, (Italian) Felix, was the son of Gorki and Polly. Polly's sister Aika and the same Gorki were parents of Eric, who was father of Olinka, grandmother of both Nanuq and Nanook. 

Thus Gorki is grandfather to Giovanna, and great grandfather to both Nanuq and Nanook.

Giovanna is also known as the childhood companion of the famous late Knut in the Berlin Zoo, where she was sent while Zoo Hellabrunn was building their wonderful polar bear habitat in Munich.

Olinka of Rotterdam Zoo, mother of Lara and Vicks (among others)

There is an American connection too, as Nanuk and Nanook are both descended from the famous Olaf and Olga of the Omaha Zoo, through their Son Omaha, who is the father of Olinka,  who is the mother of Nanuq's father Vicks, and Nanook's mother Lara. 

The right side habitat in Munich has a large grassy area with a stream running through, and lots of hills and trees. The left  side is rocky, with stones to climb on, and a nice big pool for swimming. Both sides are glassed in, and can be separated, or the door can be left open so all three bears eventually can be together. 

Mother Ilka is no more

Ilka and one of her twins

Ilka has been gone for six months, and we didn't even know.

A friend of mine, a German polar bear blogger who had just visited Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Kolind, Denmark, relayed the information that beloved polar bear mother Ilka had passed away during the winter of 2019-20. She would have been 26 years old. Her death was not announced, but the park has since confirmed that Ilka died in December.

Ilka, cub and seaweed

 Ilka and her twin brother Nuuk were born December 2, 1993 in Kolmarden in Sweden. Their mother was American born bear C.W., daughter of Olga and Bruno, born in the Memphis Zoo in 1979. Nuuk/Nordman became the father of Freedom. Ilka and Nuuk's father was Imarek. Younger siblings were Manasse (father of Ranzo and Sisu), and twins Baffin and Yukihime, who went to Japan.

 

Ilka and her brother Nuuk

Ilka's brother Nuuk/Nordman, who died one year before

Ilka and her twins

Ilka and Nuuk came to Skandinavisk Dyrepark as it was just opening in at the end of 2006.

Ilka with Nanu and Nuno, waiting for feeding time

Nuuk/Nordman found a pal in the other young male bear, Nanook, who was mate to Ilka and father of her cubs. Nuuk died one year before Ilka, during the winter of 2018/19.

Ilka

Over the years, Ilka had given birth to cubs, but had trouble producing milk and no cubs survived. When Siku was born November 22, 2011, the park director stepped in and took over the care of the tiny cub, since Ilka again was not producing milk. Siku was raised by hand, with many photos and videos posted. You could watch him on webcam too, as he grew up. Danish Siku became an internet sensation. He still lives in the park.

Baby Siku, raised by hand, would suckle on pieces of wood

A new treatment for milk production was given to Ilka when she gave birth to Nuno and Nanu a year later, and she was able to raise the twins with no problem. When they were old enough and big enough, Siku (who was only a year older) was brought in as a playmate for the twins, and the family got along very well. 

In 2014 - Siku, Nuno and Nanu playing together

The beautiful Ilka

Feeding time. Ilka and the cubs would line up and wait.

Siku is still there, as well as Nuno, the girl, who remains at Skandinavisk Dyrepark. Her twin Nanu, who spent some time with older bear Felix in Leuwaarden, the Netherlands, is now in Parc Zoo du Reynou, France, with another young male bear.

Ilka and her daughter Nuno

Ilka and Nanu, waiting for food

Ilka and Nuno

Nuno, Ilka and Nanu at feeding time

Ilka was 26 years old. She was a lovely bear, a good mother.

Ilka and her twins in 2014

Mother Ilka with Nanu and Nuno

Family

Happy Birthday! Ilka's Twins are one year old!

Ilka swims with her twins

The park may be closed for the winter, but you can still watch Ilka and her unnamed Twins play at the Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Kolind, Denmark.

Der Park ist für den Winter geschlossen, aber man kann immer noch sehen wie Ilka und ihre namenlosen Zwillinge im Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Kolind, Dänemark spielen.

Ilka's cubs

The two cubs were born November 21, 2012, so they are now one year old. We don't know for sure, but I think they are a girl and a boy.

Die beiden jungen Eisbären wurden am 21. November 2012 geboren, so dass sie jetzt ein Jahr alt sind. Wir wissen es nicht noch genau, aber ich denke, sie sind ein Mädchen und ein Junge.

Two year old Siku roams around his home.

The cubs are the younger brother and sister of 2 year old Siku, who was taken away from mother Ilka when the mother failed to produce milk. This time, Ilka was given hormones to help her produce milk, and it worked! Ilka has been able to be a mother to these two.

Die Jungen sind der jüngere Bruder und Schwester von 2 Jahre alten Siku, der von der Mutter Ilka weggenommen werden mußte, da die Mutter nicht fähig war, Milch zu produzieren. Diesmal wurden Ilka Hormone verabreicht um ihr zu helfen Milch zu produzieren, und es funktionierte! Ilka konnte die beiden Eisbärjungen wie eine Mutter versorgen.

You can watch teenager Siku and his friend Smilla on the webcam daily here.

Sie können Teenager Siku und seine Freundin Smilla auf das Webcam täglich hier anschauen.

Siku webcam

Lady Smilla rests by the pond.

Siku lives at the park with an older lady bear, Smilla, and they make nice companions.

Siku lebt im Park mit einer älteren Dame Bär, Smilla, und sie kommen gut miteinander aus.

Nuuk and Nanook swimming last year in the big Glacier Lake area

Currently there are nine bears at the Skandinavisk Dyrepark, including two visitors, Milak and Malik from Aalborg Zoo. The visiting ladies are returning to Aalborg Zoo in December, when the repairs to their enclosure are complete. The other bears are the cubs' father Nanook, and Ilka's brother Nuuk.

Derzeit gibt es neun Bären im Skandinavisk Dyrepark, darunter zwei Besucher, Milak und Malik aus Aalborg Zoo. Die Damen sind zu Besuch, zurück in den Aalborg Zoo geht es wieder im Dezember, wenn die Reparaturen an ihrem Gehege vollständig sind. Die anderen Bären sind die Zwillinge's Vater Nanook und Ilka Bruder Nuuk.

Ilka swims with her children

The park is spacious, with many ponds, grassy fields, and a river. These bears have only natural toys, like sticks, to play with.

Der Park ist geräumig, mit vielen Teichen, Rasenflächen und einem Fluss. Diese Bären haben nur natürlich Spielzeug, wie Stöcke, um damit zu spielen.

Ilka with her boy cub, while the little girl stays on the log.

Cubbie finds a green apple in the water

Ilka and her cub

Cute as can be 

 During tourist season, the visitors enjoy watching feeding time. Ilka and the twins line up and sit politely while waiting for their snacks. They also enjoy apples and other food items thrown into the water.

In der touristischen Saison genießen die Besucher beobachten die moderierten Fütterung. Ilka und die Zwillinge sitzen dann nebeneinander und sind höflich beim Warten auf ihre Snacks. Sie genießen auch Äpfel und andere Lebensmittel, die ins Wasser geworfen werden.

Lining up for feeding time..

The bears have invented this ritual of lining up for their food.

The park is all grass and woodlands.

The grass is great for rolling in.

Water play with Ilka and one of her cubs.

The cubs love to wrestle

Taking a break

And more playing

Swimming with Mom

My theory - the boy cub in back, the girl cub in front

Diving for apples

The cubs are happy little ones

The park is also home to four devilish Brown Bear cubs and their mom.

The Brown Bear cubs are not always well behaved

Park Director Frank Vigh-Larsen, who raised Siku and supervises the park, has been named Everyday Hero in the animal lover category for the Animal Protection League in Denmark. Congratulations! Here he is in his little cart, seeing to the needs of the animals. 

Park-Direktor Frank Vigh-Larsen, der Siku von Hand aufzog und den Park leitet und überwacht, wurde in der Tierfreund Kategorie für die Tierschutzliga in Dänemark zum "Helden des Tages" ernannt. Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Hier ist er in seinem kleinen Wagen, auf die Bedürfnisse der Tiere im Park zu achten.

Frank, who is in charge of the park and raised Siku, tends to the animals

You can watch Ilka and the twins on the webcam daily here.

Sie könnnen Ilka und die Zwillinge auf der Webcam täglich hier ansehen.

Ilka and twins webcam

The end