Behind the Scenes in Copenhagen

Baby Imaq, begging for something from the kitchen

Some days are just magical. I experienced such a day last month in Copenhagen. I had made plans to meet my longtime polar bear friend Dorte at the Copenhagen Zoo to see Lynn and her cub Imaq. I had just been in Aalborg Zoo visiting Imaq's father Nord, and now I wanted to see the mom and baby.

Lynn and Imaq at the door to the old enclosure,
 looking in to the kitchen

Much to my surprise and delight on that Monday morning, Dorte, with the help of Aalborg polar bear keeper Frank, had arranged for me to have a very special experience. Dorte and I were met by Zaćo, one of the predator keepers, who took us past the new Great Panda exhibit, and around the back of The Arctic Ring, where I got to meet Lynn and Imaq up close.  

Noel with her breakfast

The keeper opened a gate to give me a close up look at longtime resident Noel, who was enjoying a nice breakfast of goodies piled high, in the large meadow enclosure of the Arctic Ring, which opened in 2013. 

Zaćo opened another gate and took me down an alley, showing me a pile of big blue plastic barrels given to the bears as enrichment. The barrels are donated by a local chocolate company, and when you remove the lids, the barrels still smell delightfully of chocolate.  The bears love playing with these big blue yummy smelling barrels.

Imaq gets a dose of delicious cod liver oil.

We continued down the alley to the older area, behind the historic bear enclosures, still used. Further on is the back area for the brown bears. We stopped at the back of the area being used for the polar bear cub and her mother.

Imaq's tongue, hard at work, getting that fish oil

Mette, another polar bear keeper,  was giving doses of  cod liver oil to six month old Imaq. The cub was slurping it right up.

Mette with a daily dose of fish oil for Imaq

 Imaq sucked it down from the dispenser and wanted more. 

Imaq loves her treats

  Mette handfed Imaq some kibble, and then Mom Lynn came along.

Mother Lynn lines up behind Imaq

This area where Lynn and Imaq were getting some treats leads to the outside enclosure. The bears were in constant motion, running back and forth between the two gates, into and out of the habitat. To the left is the soundproofed and insulated den where Imaq was born. There are cameras in the den so the keepers could monitor the mom and cub in the early days.

A little more kibble for Imaq

"Please, I want some more" says Imaq

 When Mette tired to give Mother Lynn her dose of cod liver oil, and Imaq threw a little fit, trying to get mom's tasty treat as well.  Finally, Mother Lynn got hers.

Mette fills the syringe with oil for Lynn

Some fish oil for Lynn. Imaq wants more.

Mette squirts the oil right into Lynn's mouth

The week of my visit, Imaq was being slowly introduced to the new area of The Arctic Ring, and four days later, she made the transition, However, when she was much smaller, the older bear pit was deemed more suitable for a young cub. For her safety, the water area was filled with a cushion of straw when Imaq was first introduced to the outside. Later the moat of the old enclosure was  filled with water, and the pool became Imaq's favorite playground.

The old enclosure is where Imaq has grown up. Shortly after my visit, she and her mom transitioned to the new grassy area of the Arctic Ring.

Imaq taking a flying leap in the pool

Then it was my turn to feed the cub. Zaćo cut a large fennel root in half for me to feed to Imaq.

Lynn and Imaq at the gate to the enclosure

I went through the kitchen area and to the gate which leads into the enclosure where Imaq was waiting for me.  Alas, there were no photographers there to capture the moment, except for me, and I was busy feeding fennel to a polar bear cub. The bars in this door are wider than in the alley access, and the fennel quickly went through. Imaq was excited to get a treat, but quickly dropped it and ran around to the alley door just to the left. But fennel is Mother Lynn's favorite, and she quickly came and got the pieces. It smells like licorice!

A piece of fennel on the ground, where Imaq dropped it.
 Lynn is ready to swoop in and take it.

I went back out to the gate in the alley with the other piece of fennel. Imaq sniffed at it, but Lynn came running and was happy to try to take the piece through the bars. However, the piece was too big, so I was stuffing the vegetable through the bars from my side. The mother polar bear had the fennel grasped between her teeth and she was pulling. There I was, my fingers just inches away from her huge teeth, and we worked together. This went on for a bit, as Lynn wrestled the root through the bars, holding it tightly in her jaws. She really wanted it, and finally, she wiggled it through.  Success! 

To give you an idea of how the back space is arranged, the photo above shows the bears waiting at the gate looking into the kitchen area. It is to the left of the area in the next photo showing Mette putting out some treats. The bears can run inside to the right, and back to the gate on the alley.

Lynn and Imaq watching activities in the kitchen

The bears are locked inside for a moment, while Mette puts out some treats and a new roller toy

Imaq with the new toy.

When The Arctic Ring was new back in 2013, there were two adult polar bears, Noel and Ivan/Boris, living in Copenhagen. It was intended then that the large single enclosure would replace the old bear pit. Ivan/Boris liked it well enough, but Noel did not. She much preferred the old habitat so for much of the time, Noel stayed where she was comfortable. Only recently has Noel come to like the new enclosure. 

Here is my 2013 photo of Noel swimming in the old enclosure.
The Arctic Ring had just opened, but she did not like the new space.

The new Arctic Ring cannot be divided, so when polar bears have to be separated, as when Lynn had her cub, the old area has to be used. I think the Arctic Ring enclosure is rather awkward for visitors, with long blank cement walls, and narrow viewing windows. You have to go inside down a long ramp to see the underwater swimming view window and the tube, and it is quite a hike around from the new Arctic Ring to see what is going on in the old enclosure.

My photo of Ivan/Boris in 2013, in the underwater viewing tube.
Soon visitors can see Imaq swimming here.

 There is so much walking involved, and it is a long way around from the new Arctic Ring to the old enclosure. 


Zaćo told me that in all the years of Noel living with a male bear, first Ivan and now Nord, she has never shown signs of pregnancy. Although she would sometimes den up, there were never any cubs and it is accepted that there never will be any cubs from Noel, even though she is not quite sixteen years old. Noel was born in Italy, and is the older sister of Giovanna of Munich, who is the mother of Nela,  Nobby and Quintana.

Lynn, the daughter of Huggies and Victor in Ouwenhands Zoo in the Netherlands, is not quite eight years old and Imaq is her first cub. Nord arrived from Moscow, and began courting both ladies. Even though Lynn only mated with Nord a couple of times, she now has this beautiful cub. To make more room for the Copenhagen ladies, Nord has gone to live with Malik in Aalborg, although there may be plans for him to return to Copenhagen.

Copenhagen Zoo has not had a polar bear cub in decades, so everyone was excited when Imaq was born. Polar bear keeper Zaćo told me he was especially looking forward to the special day when Imaq would be taken out of the den to be examined and weighed, get DNA samples taken, get chipped, and of course pose for that all important photo, but by the time those in charge of making the decision gave the green light, Imaq was four months old and rather dangerous, so when Zaćo held the precious cub, he had to wrestle with her to keep his face from getting scratched or bitten by this very strong, very unhappy cub, so there was no photo. 

My friend Dorte, on the right, talks with the keepers. Zaćo is on the left.

Zaćo also said that they have adopted the method of keeping the doors open for the bears, so they can be inside or outside as they choose. This makes for happier bears and less stereotypical behavior. 

Lynn and Imaq at the door, with the piece of fennel

It was very exciting to hear first hand stories and talk about polar bear enrichment with the keepers. It was a day I will not soon forget. Thank you, Dorte.

Lynn and Imaq watch the activities in the kitchen area.
They know there will be something good soon.

Imaq watches everything, She is very curious

Lynn and Imaq

This is what I saw when I brought the fennel over to little Imaq.
 I was so lucky to get that experience.

Ivan, the Russian bear with a secret identity (Boris)

Ivan (Boris), der russische Bär mit einer geheimen Identität.

Boris, called Ivan in Copenhagen.

Eight year old Ivan, whose real name is Boris, was born November 12, 2005 in Moscow, and is the older brother of Rasputin, or Raspi, companion of the famous Flocke in Antibes, France. Boris now lives in the Copenhagen Zoo.

Acht Jahre alt ist Ivan, dessen wirklicher Name Boris ist, er wurde am 12. November 2005 in Moskau geboren und ist der ältere Bruder von Raspi, Begleiter der berühmten Flocke in Antibes, Frankreich.

Boris (Ivan)

Boris is also younger brother to Kap, who is now in Hannover Zoo, and older brother to young Tonja, now in Tierpark Berlin. Their parents are Murma and Untai, of the Moscow Zoo.

Boris ist auch der jüngeren Bruder von Kap, unsprünglich aus Neumünster,der jetzt im Hannover Zoo lebt, und der ältere Bruder der jungen Tonja, sie lebt jetzt im Tierpark Berlin. Ihre Eltern sind Murma und Untai, aus dem Moskauer Zoo.

Boris (Ivan)

I don't know why Boris is called Ivan in Copenhagen. Ivan the only name they know, and they have never heard him called Boris.

Ich weiß nicht, warum Boris nun Ivan in Kopenhagen genannt wird. Ivan der einzige Name, den sie kennen, und sie haben ihn noch nie Boris gerufen.

Boris

But I will call him Boris. Boris is a huge bear and now weighs 620 Kilos, which is almost 1400 pounds!

Aber ich werde ihn Boris nennen. Boris ist ein großer Bär und wiegt jetzt 620 Kilo, das sind fast 1.400 Pounds!

Boris is a huge polar bear

The new area has lots of room for the polar bears to roam.

Boris came to Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark in 2007 when he was two years old. Noel, who was a 4 year old lady bear, was already there.

Boris kam nach Kopenhagen in den Zoo im Jahr 2007, als er zwei Jahre alt war. Noel, die 4 Jahre alten Bärin, war schon da.

Boris (Ivan) plays with a rope

Boris has a concrete basin to play in, and just lounge around

Boris lounging and chewing on twigs

Noel, born December 3, 2003 in Fasano Italy, is the daughter of Marissa and the Italian Felix, and is the sister of Giovanna, Dea and another unnamed cub born in 2012. Noel moved to Copenhagen in 2005.

Noel, der 3. Dezember 2003 in Fasano Italien geboren wurde, ist die Tochter von Marissa und des italienischen Felix und sie ist die Schwester von Giovanna, Dea und einem anderen namenlosen Jungtier im Jahr 2012 geboren. Noel zog nach Kopenhagen im Jahr 2005.

Noel paces in the old enclosure next door to the new habitat

Up until last February, the two polar bears lived in a very old bear pit, but then The Arctic Ring opened. It is a magnificent architectural wonder, although I find it difficult to navigate. The new habitat is designed to give the bears plenty of places to dig and play and swim.

Bis vergangenen Februar lebten die zwei Eisbären in einem sehr alten Bärengraben, aber dann wurde *Der Arktis Ring * eröffnet. Es ist ein prächtiges architektonisches Wunder, obwohl ich finde es schwierig fand mich zurecht zu finden. Der neue Lebensraum soll den Bären viele Raum zum graben und zum spielen und schwimmen geben.

The visitor has to do a lot of walking
 between viewing windows at the Arctic Ring. The old enclosure is to the left.
The entrance to the Arctic Ring is around the building on the right.

For me, it was too much concrete, and visitors have to walk too far between viewing windows and the different areas. It has a very long spiraling tunnel down to the lower areas, and you walk through the underwater viewing tube to descend, which means that while you are watching Boris swim overhead in the tunnel, there are people walking back and forth.

Für mich war es zu viel Beton, und für die Besucher zu weite Wege zwischen Sichtfenster und den verschiedenen Bereichen zu laufen. Es hat eine sehr langer Tunnel spiralförmig bis in die unteren Bereiche und Sie gehen durch den Unterwasser-Sichttunnel zu Fuß, was bedeutet, dass, während Sie Boris beim schwimmen über ihren Köpfen beobachten in dem Tunnel, gibt es Leute, die hin und her gehen.

The entrance to the Arctic Ring

Looking across the large enclosure at Boris

A photographer from America captures Boris swimming.
 The Artic Ring has a massive swimming pool for the bears
and an incredible viewing tunnel for the visitors. 

Boris is very playful, and loves to attack his white egg ball
 while playing in the tunnel.

The amazing experience of seeing Boris swimming overhead in the underwater tube in The Arctic Ring is somewhat diminished by the walking traffic through the tube. It would be nice to be able to see the outside of this area, but it is not available to the public.

Die erstaunliche Erfahrung Boris beim Schwimmen über den Köpfen der Besucher zu sehen ist großartig, aber der Tunnelrereich ist etwas eingeengt im Arktis Ring, Es wäre schön, in der Lage sein, dieses auch außerhalb dieses Bereichs zu sehen, aber dies steht nicht der Öffentlichkeit zur Verfügung.

Boris swims for the tunnel fans.
 It is an amazing experience to watch a polar bear swimming overhead
and so close!

Boris has had the big area to himself for many months and is has been having a grand time. He has places to dig and climb, and there is a basin for dust baths, and just lounging around. 

Boris hat die große Anlage, er hat eine großartige Zeit. Er hat Plätze zu graben und auch klettern, und es gibt ein Becken für Staubbäder und oder nur Faulenzen.

Boris loves to meet his fans
. He interacts with the visitors for fun.

There was a moment when Boris stood up and lunged at some of his visitors, just to see them jump, taking great delight in the surprise. Boris is very tall, and he loves to play with the people on the other side of the glass.

Es gab einen Moment, da stand er auf und stürzte sich auf einige seiner Besucher, nur um zu sehen, wie sie weg springen,für alle eine große Freude durch diese Überraschung. Boris ist sehr groß, und er liebt es, mit den Menschen auf der anderen Seite des Glases zu spielen.

Time for a little petting through the glass

He also has spent some time banging on the door that leads to the old enclosure, knowing that Noel is on the other side and he has missed her.

Er hat auch einige Zeit damit verbracht an der Tür zu Klopfen, die zu dem alten Gehege führt, wissend, dass Noel auf der anderen Seite ist, und er sie vermisst hat.

Boris knocks on Noel's door. He misses her. 

Noel enjoys a swim in the old enclosure

Pretty Noel in the old bear pit

Since the zoo thought Noel might be pregnant this fall, they had isolated her from Boris by moving her back to the old enclosure. She has been in and out of the birthing den, and there is a camera in the den. The keepers think she is easily agitated, and may have been pregnant in previous years but could not keep it. They wanted to keep her calm, so the two bears have been separated since August or September. It appears that there is no cub this year, but Noel's sister Giovanna has had twin cubs in Munich. Maybe next year.

Da der Zoo dachte Noel vielleicht in diesem Herbst schwanger sein könnte von Boris, weshalb man sie zurück in das alte Gebäude isoliert hatte. Sie hat sich zurück gezogen, war auch in der Wurfbox gewesen, und es befand sich eine Kamera in der Höhle. Die Pfleger hofften das Beste und sie sei schwanger, in den Jahren zuvor konnte sie aber den Nachwuchs nicht behalten. Sie wollten sie ruhig halten, deshalb waren die beiden Bären seit August oder September getrennt. Es scheint, dass es keine Jungtier in diesem Jahr gibt, aber Noel's Schwester Giovanna hat Zwillinge in München zur Welt gebracht. Vielleicht gelingt es im im nächsten Jahr.

Noel

In the new habitat, I did not see a public mother-cub enclosure or a way to divide the large area. and I am not sure where the zoo plans to put Noel if she were to give birth. Maybe Boris might go back into the old enclosure area, so the mother and cub can have the big area.

Im neuen Eisbärenbereich habe ich nicht gesehen, ob es eine öffentliche Mutter-Nachwuchs Gehege oder einen Möglichkeit, um die große Fläche zu teilen. Und ich bin mir nicht sicher, wo der Zoo plant, Noel unterzubringen, wenn sie Nachwuchs bringen würde.

Noel

For now, it looks like Boris and Noel will be together in the wonderful new Arctic Ring again, sharing swimming games over the tunnel, and happy to be together again.

Vielleicht könnte Boris wieder in die alte Gehegebereich gehen, so dass die Mutter und Jungtier die große Fläche haben können.