A final visit with Aurora of Seneca Park

Aurora during playtime and feeding time in the summer of 2013

She was always a little shy, preferring to stay out of sight unless it was feeding time, but Aurora was beloved by so many zoo visitors anyway. The zoo's facebook page today is awash with condolences and memories of this lovely lady bear. Many have known her and visited her all their lives. 

Aurora in November 2017

 After the death of Zero in the fall of 2016, Aurora was out and about a little more, and sometimes even playful in the water.

Still, she was a quiet bear.

Aurora in front, Zero in back.

 Aurora and her twin brother Bubba were born November 5, 1989 in Salt Lake City. A few years later,  Bubba became companion to Berlin, and Aurora moved to Rochester to become mate to Berlin's twin Yukon. These other twins were born in the Cincinnati Zoo about a month after Aurora and Bubba were born. Of the four, only Berlin is left.

Aurora

  Aurora and Yukon became parents of Anoki, born in 1996 and now in the Baltimore Zoo. 

In 1999,  twins Lee and Anana (although they had different names when they were small, Lee was Qilak and Anana was Sila) came along. Lee now lives in Denver and Anana lives in North Carolina. 

Haley, born in 2002, is now living in Memphis.

Aurora lived at Rocky Shores, which is a wonderful polar bear habitat.
 Now it is empty.

 Yukon died in 2008. Zero arrived in 2010 to keep Aurora company; however, no more cubs were born. Zero was an audience favorite, always playing and splashing and clowning around, not afraid of taking his naps outside where everyone could watch him.

In 2013, feeding time

 Aurora made some medical history a few years ago when she became the first polar bear to undergo artificial insemination by specialists from CREW from the Cincinnati Zoo. Aurora was a good candidate, haven given birth to cubs before. The experiment  did not take, however much was learned from the attempt.

Aurora licking something yummy

  After Zero died, Aurora was out and about more, having the enclosure all to herself. I visited her four months ago during feeding time. She had some small fish, which she was taking her time to enjoy, just nibbling here and there. After she had had enough, she disappeared back inside.

Aurora in 2013, having some fish

Aurora in 2013

 At age 28, she had been doing well until recently, when her health rapidly declined, and the vets made the difficult decision to end her suffering.

Aurora in November 2017. A nice smile

Aurora in November 2017

Feeding time, November, 2017. My last visit to Aurora.

Farewell, pretty lady

Farewell to Zero

Zero

We have lost a legendary bear. Zero, who had just turned 26 years old in December, was suffering from lymphoma, and was released from his pain on January 10. His health and energy had been declining for several weeks.

Zero spent a lot of time in the pool, in front of the viewing window

 Zero had lived at the Rocky Coast at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York, with the shy Aurora, a 26 year old lady bear. Aurora has had cubs, but they were not with Zero.

Zero loved to sit under the waterfalls

 

Under the waterfall again

Zero loved his pool 

Zero swimming and swimming

 Zero was known for his big personality and playful nature. He loved to interact with his visitors, splash around with his toys, swim laps in front of the viewing window, and take naps outside so everyone could watch him. He also loved sitting under the pounding waterfalls of the Rocky Coasts.

Zero was always doing something amusing

In front of the viewing window

Zero had many fans. He was also fun to watch

Aurora, on the other had, is happy to spend her time inside unless the keepers put out some food so it is a rare opportunity to see her. Zero was the big attraction at the Rocky Coast.

Zero had lots of toys, but the big blue barrel was a favorite

Roll out the barrel

A balancing act

Playing to the crowd

Clever Zero

 Zero, who was born to Mishka (sister of Patches and Bam Bam) in the Milwaukee Zoo on December 14, 1989, gained worldwide fame for his adventure when, while playing with a toy, he fell into a safety net in an 18 foot deep moat in his enclosure in the Milwaukee County Zoo in October of 2008. He stayed down in the moat for 18 days this time, and garnered worldwide attention, as many sent in suggestions as to how to lure him out of the moat. There were daily news stories on Zero and his status. Zero had done the same thing some years earlier, when he took a week to climb the stairs out of the moat.

Snow Lilly walks along above the moat
 at the Milwaukee County Zoo that Zero refused to leave.

Zero

 This time, even though zookeepers had given him half rations of food in the hopes of luring him out because of hunger, Zero showed no interest in leaving the moat, the zookeepers finally had to anesthetize him and lift him out with a crane.

Zero shaking off the water

Zero, who was named Zero because of the outside temperature on the day he was born, moved to the Seneca Park Zoo in January of 2010, after four years of living with Snow Lilly in Milwaukee and producing no cubs. Snow Lilly had kind of given Zero the cold shoulder, and there was really no romance there. It was hoped that Aurora in the Seneca Park Zoo would find Zero more attractive, and produce cubs, but that did not happen. In 2012, Zero and Aurora were part of a groundbreaking Artificial Insemination experiment, but that did not produce cubs either.

Zero floating by the viewing window

Zero was part of the Olaf and Olga family, whose line is dying out in this country. Olaf and Olga, Mishka's parents, raised seven cubs at the Omaha Zoo (only Bam Bam still survives), and have many descendants in Europe. Zero's uncle Omaha was the father of Olink of Rotterdam, Netherlands, who has eight cubs. In the USA, Zero's uncle Shep was the grandfather of Berlin of the Kansas City Zoo (no cubs). Zero was also the uncle of Berit of the Cincinnati Zoo (no cubs).

Farewell to a well loved bear. We will miss you, Zero.

Aurora and Zero make history

Aurora und Zero machen Geschichte 

Shy Aurora comes out for feeding time

It is usually up to the playful Zero to entertain visitors of the Rocky Coasts at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York. The beautiful but elusive Aurora comes out for enrichment time and then disappears again.

Es ist in der Regel an den spielerischen Zero die Besucher der Rocky Coast im Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York zu unterhalten. Die schöne, aber scheue Aurora kommt nur zur Fütterungsszeit und verschwindet dann wieder.

Aurora finds a fishy snack

Aurora was born November 5, 1989, in Salt Lake City, and has had had four cubs already: daughter Anoki in 1996, twins Lee (boy) and Anana (girl) in 1999, and daughter Hayley in 2002, all with the late Yukon. Anoki now lives in Baltimore. Lee lives in Denver. Anana lives in Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, and Hayley lives in Memphis.

Aurora wurde am 5. November, 1989 in Salt Lake City geboren, und hat bereits vier Jungtiere: Tochter Anoki im Jahr 1996, die Zwillinge Lee (Junge) und Anana (Mädchen) im Jahr 1999, und Tochter Hayley im Jahr 2002, die alle mit dem verstorbenen Yukon gezeugt wurden. Anoki lebt jetzt in Baltimore. Lee lebt in Denver.  Anana lebt in Chicago, und Hayley lebt in Memphis.

Aurora 

Aurora prefers the privacy and cooler temperatures of her bedroom, so it is a rare opportunity to see her. Zero, on the other hands, takes his naps outside. He loves to play in the pool, or just sit under the pounding waterfall. And there are usually plenty of toys to play with, and a floating plastic iceberg in the pool.

Aurora zieht die Privatsphäre und die kühleren Temperaturen von ihrem Innengehege vor, so ist es eine seltene Gelegenheit, sie zu sehen. Zero, auf der anderen Seite, nimmt seinen Mittagsschlaf draußen. Er liebt es, im Pool zu spielen, oder einfach nur unter dem rauschenden Wasserfall zu sitzen. Und es gibt in der Regel viel Spielzeug zum spielen, und einen schwimmende Kunststoff- Eisberg in dem Pool.

Aurora

Zero, who was born to Mishka (sister of Patches and Bam Bam) in the Milwaukee Zoo on December 14, 1989, gained worldwide fame for his adventure when, while playing with a toy, he fell into a safety net in an 18 foot deep moat in his enclosure in the Milwaukee County Zoo in October of 2008. He stayed down in the moat for 18 days this time, and garnered worldwide attention, as many sent in suggestions as to how to lure him out of the moat. There were daily news stories on Zero and his status. Zero had done the same thing some years earlier, when he took a week to climb the stairs out of the moat.

Zero, der von Mischka (Schwester von Patches und Bam Bam) im Zoo von Milwaukee am 14. Dezember 1989 geboren wurde, gewann Weltruhm für seine Abenteuer, als erbeim Spielen mit einem Spielzeug in ein Sicherheitsnetz fiel. Er stürzte in einem 18 Fuß tiefen Wassergraben in seinem Gehege im Milwaukee County Zoo im Oktober 2008. Er blieb in den Burggraben für 18 Tage dieses Mal, und erhielt weltweite Aufmerksamkeit, es wurden so viele Vorschläge geschickt, wie man ihn aus dem Graben lockenkönnte. Es gab täglich Nachrichten und Geschichten über Zero, und seinen Befinden. Zero hatte die gleiche Sache schon einige Jahre zuvor getan, als er eine Woche brauchte, um über die Leiter aus dem Graben zu klettern.

The moat at Zero's old home, the Milwaukee County Zoo,
 where Zero made news.
 This is Snow Lily in the photo. She still lives there.

That second time, even though zookeepers had given him half rations of food in the hopes of luring him out because of hunger, Zero showed no interest in leaving the moat, the zookeepers finally had to anesthetize him and lift him out with a crane.

Beim zweiten Mal haben die Tierpfleger ihm die Hälfte der Lebensmittelrationen gekürzt in der Hoffnung, ihn locken zu können, weil er Hunger bekommen könnte, aber Zero zeigte kein Interesse an dem Verlassen des Wassergrabens, somit hatten die Tierpfleger schließlich beschlossen, ihn zu betäuben und ihn aus dem Graben mit einem Kran zu heben.

Zero

Zero

Zero, who was named for the outside temperature on the day he was born, moved to the Seneca Park Zoo in January of 2010, after four years of living with Snow Lilly in Milwaukee and producing no cubs. Snow Lilly had given Zero the cold shoulder, and there was really no romance there. It was hoped that Aurora in the Seneca Park Zoo would find Zero more attractive, and produce cubs.

Zero, der wegen der Außentemperatur benannt wurde am Tag, als er zur Welt kam, zog in den Seneca Park Zoo im Januar 2010, er hatte vier Jahre mit Snow Lilly in Milwaukee zusammen gelebt und keinen Nachwuchs gezeugt. Snow Lilly hat Zero die kalte Schulter gezeigt, und es gab wirklich keine Romantik. Man hofft nun, dass Aurora im Seneca Park Zoo Zero nun mehr attraktiv finden wird, und dass sie Nachwuchs produzieren.

Zero (back) and Aurora (front)

Aurora and Zero were chosen to be the first to take part in a groundbreaking scientific study of polar bear artificial insemination in 2012. A team of scientists from CREW (Center for the Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife) traveled from Cincinnati to Rochester to collect sperm samples from Zero, and to use a flexible endoscope to make a deposit in Aurora's uterus. So Aurora has earned a place in polar bear history as the first bear to experience artificial insemination. They were chosen because Aurora has already been a mother, and she had been with Zero for several years without getting pregnant.

Aurora und Zero wurden ausgewählt, um die ersten Teil nahmer an einer bahnbrechenden wissenschaftlichen Erforschung der Eisbären bezüglich künstlicher Befruchtung im Jahr 2012 teilzunehmen. Ein Team von Wissenschaftlern aus CREW (Zentrum für die Erhaltung und Forschung des Endangered Wildlife) reiste von Cincinnati nach Rochester, um Spermien zu sammeln, sie nahmen Proben von Zero, und verwenden ein flexibles Endoskop, um eine Implantiation in Auroras Gebärmutter zu machen. So hat Aurora einen Platz in der Eisbär Geschichte als der erste Bär, der künstlichen Befruchtung zu erleben verdient. Sie wurden ausgewählt, weil Aurora bereits Mutter gewesen ist, und sie hatte es mit Zero mehrere Jahre versucht, ohne von ihm trächtig gewesen zu sein.

Aurora likes enrichment time

All were hoping that this would improve Aurora's chances of having cub with Zero. However, that did not happen. CREW scientists tried artificial insemination for a second time with one of the bears from Sea World San Diego, and again that did not work. The procedure requires that both bears involved be anesthetized, which has some risk, but much was learned about polar bear hormones and reproduction. In addition, sperm from the experiment has been cryogenically frozen and is part of the Frozen Zoo at CREW.

Alle hofften, dass Auroras Chancen, Jungtiere mit Zero zu haben verbessern würden. Doch das ist nicht geschehen. CREW Wissenschaftler versuchten, die künstliche Befruchtung zum zweiten Mal mit einem der Bären aus Sea World San Diego, immer wieder, dass auch nicht funktioniert hat. Das Verfahren erfordert, dass beide beteiligtenBären betäubt werden, was ein gewisses Risiko birgt, aber die Wissenschaftler haben viel über Eisbären, die Hormone und und ihre Fortpflanzung gelernt. Darüber hinauswurde Sperma aus dem Experiment tiefgefroren und ist ein Teil der gefrorenen Zoo am CREW. 

Aurora is looking for more fish snacks

Aurora climbs the mountain at Seneca Park Zoo

Heading up the CREW trials and also breaking ground in the detection of polar bear pregnancy is Dr. Erin Curry, CREW Reproductive Physiologist. I got to chat with her at CREW at the Cincinnati Zoo a few weeks ago. She is excited about the Beagle Elvis (who lives in Kansas) and his ability to detect pregnancy from sniffing polar bear poop. In fact, zoos from all over the country ship their polar bear poop to the Cincinnati Zoo for analysis by CREW.
  

Zuständig für die CREW Versuche und auch dem ersten Feldversuch bei der Erkennung von Eisbären-Schwangerschaft ist Dr. Erin Curry, CREW Reproduktions Physiologe. Ich habe mich mit ihr bei CREW im Cincinnati Zoo vor ein paar Wochen unterhalten. Sie ist begeistert vom Beagle Elvis (der in Kansas lebt) und seiner Fähigkeit, Schwangerschaft von Eisbären zu erschnüffeln bzw.den Kot zu erkennen. In der Tat, Zoos aus dem ganzen Land versenden den Kot ihrer Eisbären in den Cincinnati Zoozur Analyse durch CREW und ihre Spezialisten.

Dr. Erin Curry (left) hard at work in the endocrinology lab
 at CREW at the Cincinnati Zoo. Dr. Curry traveled to Rochester NY for the groundbreaking artificial insemination experiment with Aurora and Zero.

Zero likes to sit in the waterfall and let it pound on his head

Seneca Park Zoo has a great underwater viewing area inside

Aurora and Zero get along well, and there is still hope for cubs naturally from these two, although both bears are now 24 years old. The window on fertility for Aurora is closing.

Aurora und Zero kommen gut miteinander zurecht, und es gibt noch Hoffnung auf natürlichem Weg, Nachwuchs zu zeugen, obwohl beide Bären sind jetzt 24 Jahre alt. Das Ende der Fruchtbarkeit für Aurora ist absehbar.

Zero likes to swim and show off for his fans. 

The polar bear population in American zoos has now dropped to 58. CREW will continue to study polar bear fertility, in the hopes of improving chances of pregnancy and pregnancy detection, which will hopefully help our bears to have more healthy cubs.

Die Eisbärenpopulation in den amerikanischen Zoos ist nun auf 58 gesunken. CREW wird weiterhin die Fruchtbarkeit der Eisbären untersuchen, in der Hoffnung auf Verbesserung der Chancen auf eine Schwangerschaft und Schwangerschaftserkennung, die hoffentlich helfen kann unsere Bären zu gesunden Jungtieren zu verhelfen.