Showing posts with label Osnabrück Zoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Osnabrück Zoo. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Farewell to Elvis, King of Gelsenkirchen ZOOM

Elvis at play
Elvis has left the building. The elderly Elvis polar bear, longtime resident at Gelsenkirchen ZOOM, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 8.

Elvis hat das Gebäude verlassen. Die älteren Elvis Eisbär, langjähriger Bewohner in Gelsenkirchen ZOOM, verstarb friedlich am Samstag 8. Juni.



Elvis was born in the Memphis Zoo, Memphis Tennessee, USA, in November of 1979, two years after the death of the original Elvis, and was named in honor of the late King. This cub's parents were Olga and Bruno.

Elvis wurde in Memphis Zoo, Memphis, Tennessee, USA, im November geboren 1979. Es war zwei Jahre nach dem Tod des ursprünglichen Elvis und das Junge wurde zu Ehren des verstorbenen Königs benannt. Dieses cub Eltern waren Olga und Bruno.


Elvis, eating his carrots
When Elvis was a year old, he moved to Zoo Osnabrück in Germany, where he lived happily for many years with lady polar bear Sonja. They did produce cubs, but none survived.

Als Elvis ein Jahr alt war, zog er nach Zoo Osnabrück in Deutschland, wo er glücklich lebte seit vielen Jahren mit Dame Eisbär Sonja. Sie taten produzieren Jungen, aber keiner überlebt.
Tips (below) and Taps (Above) - the beautiful and famous Chocolate Bears
He leaves a legacy in his daughter and son, Tips and Taps, the famous Chocolate Bears of Zoo Osnabrück. There is a touch of scandal in this story. And a love triangle.

Er hinterlässt ein Vermächtnis seiner Tochter und Sohn, Tipps und Taps, der berühmte Chocolate Bears of Zoo Osnabrück. Es ist ein Hauch von Skandal in dieser Geschichte. Und eine Dreiecksgeschichte.




In those days the Osnabrück bear group included brown, black bears, and polar bears in a strange arrangement.

In jenen Tagen die Osnabrück Bär Gruppe gehörten braun, schwarz Bären und Eisbären in einem seltsamen Anordnung.
Susi, European Brown Bear who is mother to Tips and Taps


After 24 years of living together, there was a surprise in January of of 2004. European Brown Bear Susi gave birth to twin cubs that were obviously fathered by Elvis. Tips (the girl) and Taps (the boy) were Hybrids, half Polar Bear, half European Brown Bear. At first the birth of these cubs was something of a scandal and an embarrassment to the zoo, but now Zoo Osnabrück is very proud of their rare and quite beautiful silvery bears, sometimes called Chocolate Bears. Many visitors come to Zoo Osnabrück just to see this unique accidental pair.

Nach 24 Jahren des Zusammenlebens, es war eine Überraschung, im Januar 2004. Europäische Braunbär Susi gebar zwei Jungen, die offensichtlich von Elvis wurden gezeugt. Tipps (das Mädchen) und Taps (der Junge) waren Hybriden, halb Eisbär, halb europäischen Braunbär. Auf den ersten der Geburt dieser Jungen war so etwas wie ein Skandal und eine Schande für den Zoo, aber jetzt Zoo Osnabrück ist sehr stolz auf ihre seltenen und sehr schön silbrig Bären, manchmal auch Schokolade Bears. Viele Besucher kommen, um Zoo Osnabrück, nur um diese einzigartige zufälligen Paar zu sehen.


Elvis in all his glory
Elvis moved the Gelsenkirchen ZOOM in June of 2005. For the past eight years, he lived like a king in a luxurious environment in the Gelsenkirchen Zoo with a elderly lady friend, Fanny, who is one year older than Elvis. Elvis loved his carrots.

Elvis zog die ZOOM Gelsenkirchen im Juni 2005. In den vergangenen acht Jahren lebte er wie ein König in einer luxuriösen Umgebung im Zoo Gelsenkirchen mit einer älteren Freundin, Fanny, die ein Jahr älter als Elvis ist. Elvis liebte seine Karotten.


Fanny, age 34
As offspring of Olga and Bruno, Elvis is great uncle to Aurora of the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY. Haley, one of Aurora's cubs, is now living in the Memphis Zoo, which is the birthplace of her Great Uncle Elvis. So visitors to the Memphis Zoo can still see relatives of Elvis the King (Polar Bear).

Als Nachkommen von Olga und Bruno, ist Elvis Großonkel zu Aurora des Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY. Haley, einer der Aurora Jungen, lebt jetzt in der Memphis Zoo, das ist der Geburtsort von ihrem Großonkel Elvis. So Besucher der Memphis Zoo kann man noch Verwandten Elvis der King (Eisbär).

Elvis had relatives in Europe also. His twin sister C.W. was the mother of Ilka and Nordman (Nuuk), now at the Skandanavian Dierpark. Ilka is the mother of Siku and also new twins this year. Nordman is the father of Huggies' daughter Freedom, who lives at Rhennen. That means Nordman is grandfather of Freedom's cubs Sesi and Siku (now in France) and also Sprinter, now at Hannover. So Elvis had nieces and nephews. A big family.

Elvis hatte Verwandte in Europa auch. Seine Zwillingsschwester CW war die Mutter von Ilka und Nordman (Nuuk), jetzt an der Skandanavian Dierpark. Ilka ist die Mutter von Siku und auch neue Zwillinge in diesem Jahr. Nordman ist der Vater von Huggies Tochter Freedom, die sich Rhennen lebt. Nordman ist Großvater von der Freedom Jungen Sesi und Siku (jetzt in Frankreich) und auch Sprinter, jetzt in Hannover. So hatte Elvis Nichten und Neffen. Eine große Familie.
R.I.P. Elvis
We say goodbye to a legend. Goodbye, Elvis.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Elvis the King of Gelsenkirchen ZOOM



As we pause to observe the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, it is time to visit his namesake, Elvis the Polar Bear.

This Elvis is alive and well and living in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Like the original Elvis, this hulking guy has a swagger and a sneer, and also calls Memphis Tennessee his hometown.
This Elvis loves his carrots. 
Like any popular celebrity, Elvis the Polar Bear was at the center of a scandal in his younger days! A love triangle of sorts.

Elvis was born in the Memphis Zoo, Memphis Tennessee, USA, in November of 1979, two years after the death of the original Elvis, and was named in honor of the late King. This cub's parents were Olga and Bruno.

When Elvis was a year old, he moved to Zoo Osnabrück in Germany, where he lived happily for many years with lady polar bear Sonja. They did produce cubs, but none survived.

Also part of the Osnabrück bear group were brown and black bears, in a strange arrangement, living together with the polar bears. Living in this bear commune were European Brown Bear sisters named Susi and Ossi.

After 24 years of living together, there was a surprise in January of 2004. Susi gave birth to twin cubs. Tips (the girl) and Taps (the boy) were Hybrids, half Polar Bear, half European Brown Bear. At first the birth of these hybrid cubs was something of a scandal and an embarrassment to the zoo, but public attitudes quickly shifted so that today Zoo Osnabrück is very proud of their rare and quite beautiful silvery bears. Many visitors come to Zoo Osnabrück just to see this unique accidental pair.

Tips and Taps have also become ambassadors of climate change awareness. Since climate change is causing more and more hybrid bears to appear in the wild, scientists are even more interested in studying Tips and Taps.



Elvis the Polar Bear gives us his best Elvis "sneer."

Elvis spends his days sleeping, playing with toys, and enjoying yummy snacks.

Elvis moved the Gelsenkirchen ZOOM in June of 2005. He is now living like a king in a luxurious environment in the Gelsenkirchen Zoo with a elderly lady friend, Fanny, who is one year older than Elvis. She also has a connection to USA bears. Fanny is the mother of Charly, born in 1995 in the Hamburg, Germany zoo. Charly has been living at Sea World in San Diego since 1997.
Fanny
Elvis and Fanny are enjoying their sunset years in a very nice zoo, which is also home to young lovers Bill and Lara, as well as the cute and sassy little Antonia, also a remarkable little bear as she is about a third the size of a normal bear. She seemed to be normal when she was born, and was very bold and rude, but failed to grow at a normal rate. So anyone visiting Gelsenkirchen can enjoy watching five bears: amorous young bears, elderly bears, and a special and very cute little dwarf bear.

Bill and Lara enjoy a beautiful new home at Gelsenkirchen Zoom
 On the day I visited last year, Bill and Lara were swimming and walking and very active, but darling little Antonia spent the entire afternoon taking a nap.
Antonia the dwarf bear sleeps in her private enclosure at Gelsenkirchen Zoom
As offspring of Olga and Bruno in the Memphis Zoo, Elvis is great uncle to Aurora of the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY. Haley, one of Aurora's cubs, is now living in the Memphis Zoo, which is the birthplace of her Great Uncle Elvis. So visitors to the Memphis Zoo can still see a relative of Elvis the King (Polar Bear).


Elvis admires his reflection as he takes a drink.
Elvis is now 33 almost years old, quite elderly for a polar bear. Fanny is almost 34. They are doing very well for their age, and although they move more slowly than younger bears, they are still active in interested in life.