Farewell to Magnificent Lars

Handsome Lars

Lars in Aalborg

Taking care of zoo animals sometimes means letting them go, sadly. Today the world lost Lars, a beloved and legendary polar bear, to liver cancer.

Aalborg Zoo staff had detected something was wrong in the liver levels of blood taken during a dental procedure for Lars several weeks ago. Medical experts gave him a closer examination with ultrasound and found a large mass in his liver. It was terminal cancer. The best thing would be to end his pain.

Lars

In his almost 24 years, Lars has lived in a number of zoos, and many people have come to love him. He was well known as the father of the famous Knut, and also Anori and Fiete, and now the twins at Aalborg.

Lars in Aalborg

Lars was born December 12, 1993 in Munich, and moved to Bremerhaven when he was two years old. He has moved around a bit, living in Munster and Neumunster. He moved in 1999 to Berlin Zoo, where he lived for ten years with three lady bears: Nancy, Katjuscha and Tosca, and where he fathered Knut with Tosca in 2006. When mother Tosca rejected Knut, he was raised by hand by his keepers, and became world famous.

Lars loved his sticks and branches

In 2009 Lars moved to Wuppertal where there was a very nice girl bear named Jerka. In June of 2010, both Jerka and Lars became deathly ill with a mysterious illness that damaged their kidneys and cause serious brain swelling. 20 year old Jerka did not survive. It was a form of zebra virus causing encephalitis. Although Lars survived, it took a long time for him to recover.

Jerka and Lars in Wuppertal

In the fall of 2010, Vilma moved to Wuppertal, and the next year, Vilma gave birth to cub Anori. Lars moved to Rostock, where he lived with Vienna, Vilma's mother.

Lars and Vilma's mother Vienna in Rostock

Lars stayed in Rostock for three years, and Vilma joined him. Vilma gave birth to son Fiete in December of 2014.

Lars (closer) looks over at Malik

Once again, Lars moved to make room for the cub, this time going to Aalborg Denmark.  Vilma also came to Aalborg, but died shortly after her arrival of a somach infection. 

With Malik, Lars fathered cubs Nuka and Qilak, born just last winter.

Lars sniffs at a horse's head, given as enrichment.
 After a sniff or two, he was not very interested.

He was well loved by his keepers in Aalborg, who catered to his personality, always trying something new to interest him. When they heard that he enjoyed rolling in mulch, they immediately made a lovely soft mulch bed for him.

Lars in Rostock

Lars was a gentle bear, not as interested in toys and playing as some bears, but always watching, observing in his later years. He loved his melons and grapes and prunes and chewing on branches and leaves.

Lars in Aalborg, with his yummy leaves

Liver cancer has claimed a great many polar bears in zoos. Bears in the wild have a life expectancy of 18 to 20 years, and have perished before these diseases of old age, but zoo bears get good food and care and so live longer, and thus sometimes get liver cancer.

Lars in Aalborg

And so we have lost a great and legendary bear. He will be missed. Farewell, old friend.

Lars in profile

Lars comes to Aalborg, looking for romance

Lars kommt nach Aalborg, auf der Suche nach Romantik

Lars has a snack (in Zoo Wuppertal)

Once upon a time there were three lady bears at Aalborg Zoo in Denmark: Victoria, Malik and Milak.

Einst gab es drei Eisbärinnen im Zoo von Aalborg in Dänemark: Victoria, Malik und Milak.

Victoria, Malik and Milak at Aalborg Zoo, Denmark

In December, young Milak flew away to Canada to Zoo Sauvage at St. Felicien, Quebec. Then there were two lady bears left.

Im Dezember 2014 flog die junge Milak fort nach Kanada, um im Zoo Sauvage in St. Félicien, Quebec ein neues Heim zu finden. Dann waren es nur noch zwei Eisbärinnen.

Malik (top) lost her friend Milak,
 when Milak flew away to Canada in December

In March, Queen Victoria made the journey to Scotland, to Highlands Wildlife Park. That leaves only Malik, all alone at Aalborg.

Im März 2015 machte Königin Victoria die Reise nach Schottland, in den Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussi. Das lässt nun Malik ganz allein im Aalborg Zoo bleiben.

Victoria and Keeper Frank at Aalborg Zoo

Victoria greets her guests and fans

Then last week, Malik had a surprise. Lars came all the way from Zoo Rostock in Germany to be her companion.

Dann in der vergangenen Woche bekam Malik eine Überraschung. Lars kam den weiten Weg aus dem Rostocker Zoo in Deutschland, um ihr Begleiter zu werden.

Lars (at Zoo Rostock)

21 year old Lars was born in Munich to mother Lisa, and father Michi, and it looks like Michi was also Lisa's son, Lars' brother.

Der 21-jährige Lars war in München von Mutter Lisa, und Vater Michi geboren worden, und es stellte sich heraus, dass Michi auch Lisas Sohn war, damit Lars' Bruder.

Lars eats a pumpkin at Zoo Rostock

Lars has moved around a bit. He has lived in Bremerhaven, Munster, Neumuster, until he settled down at the Berlin Zoo in 1999. He lived in Berlin for ten years with three lady bears: Nancy, Tosca, and Katjuscha.

Lars hat schon eine Vielzahl an Reisen hinter sich. Er hat in Bremerhaven, Münster, Neumünster gelebt, bis er dann sesshaft im Berliner Zoo wurde, seit dem Jahr 1999 lebte er in Berlin zehn Jahren mit drei Eisbärinnen: Nancy, Tosca und Katjuscha.

The three ladies in Lars' harem at Zoo Berlin,
 Tosca (bottom), Katjuscha, and Nancy (sleeping).
 Nancy died last fall.

With retired circus bear Tosca, he fathered the famous Knut, who was born in 2006 and tragically died in the spring of 2011.

Mit der ehemaligen Zirkusbärin Tosca zeugte er den berühmten Knut, der 2006 geboren wurde und auf tragische Weise im Frühjahr am 19. März 2011 starb.

The Berlin Zoo ladies, Katjuscha in door.

Lars moved to Wuppertal Zoo in 2009, where he met a sweet bear named Jerka. Tragedy hit in 2010, and Jerka died of a zebra herpes disease. Lars was stricken as well, and very nearly died, but did recover after many months.

Lars zog weiter nach Wuppertal in den Zoo im Jahr 2009, wo er eine wunderbare Eisbärin namens Jerka erfreuen konnte. Eine Tragödie gesachah im Jahr 2010, und Jerka starb an einer Zebra Herpes-Krankheit. Lars war auch betroffen und wäre beinahe gestorben, aber nach vielen Monaten intensiver Pflege konnte er sich erholen.

Lars at Zoo Wuppertal

Lars was not alone for long. Vilma came along, and the pair had a sweet little cub named Anori in 2012. Lars moved to Rostock, where Vilma's mother Vienna and her father Churchill lived.

Lars war nicht lange allein. Vilma kam, und das Paar hatte ein süßes kleinen Jungtier namens Anori im Jahr 2012. Lars zog nach Rostock, wo vorher die Mutter Vienna und ihr Vater Churchill lebten.

Vilma, in front, and Lars at Zoo Wuppertal, before Anori.

Lars and Vilma at Wuppertal

Lars' daughter Anori, and Vilma

A playmate named Luka arrived at Wuppertal for Anori, and Vilma moved back to Rostock. Just this past fall, Vilma and Lars had another cub, a boy named Fiete.

Ein Spielkamerad namens Luka kam nach Wuppertal für Anori und Vilma zog zurück nach Rostock. Gerade im vergangenen Herbst hatten Vilma und Lars einen weiteren Nachwuchs, einen Jungen, der Fiete getauft wurde.

Lars and Vienna at Zoo Rostock.
Vienna is Vilma's mother.

Vienna, top, and Lars at Zoo Rostock

Lars and Vienna at Zoo Rostock.
Vienna has a chronic leg injury inflicted by previous mate Churchill

So now while Vilma is taking care of the cub, Lars has come to Aalborg Zoo to visit 14 year old Malik.

So ist nun, während Vilma sich um den Nachwuchs kümmert, Zeit und Platz für Lars nach Aalborg Zoo zu Besuch zu kommen zur 14-jährige Malik.

Malik

Malik was born in 2000 at Aalborg Zoo. In 2009 she gave birth to cubs who died soon after, and again gave birth in 2010 to twins, with one surviving. That would be Augo, who later died tragically in a fall May 4, 2012.

Malik wurde 2000 in Aalborg Zoo geboren. Im Jahr 2009 gebar sie Jungtiere der bald darauf starben, und Malik brachte im Jahr 2010 Zwillinge zur Welt, mit einem überlebenden Jungtier. Das war Augo, die später auf tragische Weise bei einem Sturz gestorben ist-am 4. Mai 2012.

Malik and her daughter, the late Augo

Since both Malik and Lars have proven to be fertile, Aalborg Zoo has high hopes that there may be cubs this fall.

Da sowohl Malik und als auch Lars sich als fruchtbar zu sein bewiesen haben hat der Aalborg Zoo große Hoffnungen, dass es Junge in diesem Herbst/Winter geben könnte.

Aalborg Zoo has a great facility,
with two separate areas, and a deep diving pool.

Aalborg Zoo has a fine enclosure for the bears, with a deep pool for swimming and rocks to climb. It has wonderful underwater and above ground viewing for the polar bear fans.

Aalborg Zoo hat ein feines Gehegee für die Eisbären, mit einem tiefen Pool zum Schwimmen und Felsen zu klettern. Es hat wunderbare Unterwasserfenster für die Besucher und die Eisbären-Fans.

Many have watched the activities at Aalborg Zoo through the webcam.
 Here is the Link:

Polar Bears at Aalborg Zoo

There is also a webcam to watch Lars and Malik get to know each other. And if there are cubs, the zoo was the first with a public dencam back in 2008.

Es gibt auch eine Webcam zum Verfolgen, man kann beobachten wie Lars und Malik einander nähern und sich kennen lernen. Und wenn es wieder Jungtiere gibt, war der Aalborg Zoo der erste Zoo mit einem öffentlichen DenCam -erstmalig bereits im Jahr 2008.

Malik

Romance is in the air at Aalborg Zoo as Lars and Malik get to know each other.

Romantik ist in der Luft im Zoo von Aalborg - Lars und Malik lernen einander kennen.

Lars

Thanks to Marga Andresen Gransow for the German translation.