Showing posts with label polar bear blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label polar bear blog. Show all posts

Sunday, December 31, 2017

A fond farewell to our favorite Australian

Aussie
As 2017 draws to a close, the end of the year has brought us news of another loss. Aussie, father and grandfather of so many American cubs, has died at his home at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, just two days before Christmas.

Aussie with Anana, a few years ago
 At the age of 32 and a half, he was the oldest male polar bear in a North American zoo. He suffered from the ailments of old age, arthritis and other degenerative diseases that required treatment with painkillers. His health had deteriorated to the point that his caretakers thought it was best to euthanize him, to end his suffering.


Aussie relaxes in the grassy meadow of Great Bear Wilderness
 He was quite a character, sometimes gentle, but sometimes bossy. He and his mate Arki got along well enough to produce a good number of cubs over the years. He was beloved by his many visitors, who came to know him well over the years.


Aussie stands lookout
 Aussie was born on June 20, 1985, in Adelaide, Australia, and thus celebrated a rare summer birthday. His original name was BIAZ, for Born in Adelaide Zoo, but when he arrived at Brookfield at about the age of a 18 months, he quickly was nicknamed Aussie, because of his birthplace. And that became his name.


Aussie
 At the end of 1986, Aussie joined young polar bear Arki, only six months younger than Aussie, at Brookfield Zoo. Arki had been born at the zoo, and her mother Trisha had died only a few months before Aussie's arrival. 1986 had been a tragic year, with the loss of three female polar bears, including Tricia and her daughter Penny, from unrelated causes.


Aussie
Brookfield Zoo wanted to rebuild its breeding program, and Aussie would play his part.


Aussie loved his naps

Over the years, Aussie and Arki became parents to Marty in 1996, Tiguak in 1999, Kinepak in 2000, Payton in 2003, and Hudson in 2006. Today, Marty lives in Toledo, Payton lives in Memphis and Hudson still lives at Brookfield. Tiguak and Kinepak grew up, but died in other zoos, sadly.

I visited Aussie several times, and the photos above are mine. However, my dear friend Kim Pruim is a devoted and frequent visitor of Brookfield, and kindly provided the photos below, taken over the years.



Aussie in the old Bear Grotto at Brookfield - photo by Kim Pruim

The outmoded bear grottoes at Brookfield were closed and the polar bears moved to the spacious and lush Great Bear Wilderness in 2010, where the bears enjoyed open spaces, grassy meadows, pools, waterfalls, and privacy if they so desired.



Aussie - photo by Kim Pruim

Arki retired from motherhood and moved to the Louisville Zoo in 2011, and that left just Aussie and Hudson. Then Female Anana joined them for a time, while her habitat in Buffalo was being rebuilt.  Aussie and Anana had a complicated relationship, not always seeing eye to eye. 


Aussie at his 30th birthday party - photo by Kim Pruim

Of their cubs, only Marty has produced offspring, but he has been prolific, making Aussie a grandfather to Aurora and Anana, Nikita, Siku, Suka and Sakari, and Hope. Aurora has produced three cubs in the Columbus Zoo: Nora, Nuniq and Neva, and Anana has produced one cub, Amelia Gray.


Thoughtful Aussie - photo by Kim Pruim

While it is wonderful that Aussie is responsible for so many cubs, one has to wonder where the mates will be for these bears, since most of the cubs under the age of 10 in this country come from Aussie and Arki. Only Luna and the two Alaskan cubs, Qannik and Kali, are not related to each other.



Enrichment - photo by Kim Pruim

Recently Nan, who is mother to one of Marty's cubs, came to Brookfield as a mate for Hudson. Aussie and Nan got along fairly well.



Aussie chases Nan, just this past May - Photo by Kim Pruim

My friend Kim has known Aussie since she was a baby. She visited Aussie often, and in the past few years, each time wondered if it would be the last time she would see him. She and another friend visited Aussie the day before he left us, not realizing the end was so near.

Aussie sneers - photo by Kim Pruim

Kim writes, "Aussie has been a part of my life since 1996, when I was a year old. When I met his last offspring Hudson for the first time in 2008, that's when I really began to appreciate Aussie (as well as other polar bears) more. Through the years, I have made many visits to the Brookfield Zoo to visit Aussie and to photograph him.

"A highlight for me was the one and only time I got to see him behind the scenes, back in 2012. I shared a brief one-on-one moment with him. I quietly called his name as I knelt down next to the mesh, and we looked into each others eyes. That was a sweet moment I'll never forget.

"With no knowledge of his arthritis worsening, I managed to see him the day before he was euthanized. Though it made his passing harder for me, I feel very lucky that is was among the last of his visitors. He was my favorite old man and Brookfield Zoo will not the same without him."



Aussie daydreams - photo by Kim Pruim

Aussie reflection
- Kim's last photo the day before he died
Photo by Kim Pruim


Saturday, April 25, 2015

The trio of wildborn bears at San Diego Zoo

Das Trio in der Wildnis geborenen Eisbären im San Diego Zoo

Kalluk, Tatqiq and Chinook have a water battle
Today, the Polar Bear Plunge at the San Diego Zoo is home to three bears, Chinook, Kalluk and Tatqiq (pronounced TaKEEK), all of whom were born in the Arctic Wilderness.


Heute ist das Eisbärbecken im San Diego Zoo die Heimat von drei Eisbären, Chinook, Kalluk and Tatqiq, von denen alle in der Wildnis der Arktis geboren wurden.

Chinook, Kalluk and Tatqiq

When Kalluk and Tatqiq, little rescued twin cubs from Alaska arrived in Spring of 2001, there were five other bears at the world famous San Diego Zoo, including Chinook, who was born in the wilds of Manitoba during the winter of 1995. As a young cub, Chinook had become separated from her mother, was rescued and brought to the San Diego Zoo.


Als Kalluk und Tatqiq, aus Alaska kamen als gerettete Zwillingsbabys im Frühjahr 2001 gab es fünf weitere Bären im weltberühmten San Diego Zoo, einschließlich Chinook, der im Winter von 1995 dort ankam. Als Jungtier in der Wildnis von Manitoba geboren wurde das Jungtier Chinook von ihrer Mutter getrennt, es wurde gerettet und in den San Diego Zoo gebracht.
Chinook swims her laps
Two of the other bears then in residence were Neil and Buzz, who at the end of 2001 moved to the Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota.


Zwei der anderen Bären dann in Residenz waren Neil und Buzz, die am Ende des Jahres 2001 umzogen in den Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Tatqiq greets her brother Kalluk
Kalluk and Tatqiq ended up at the San Diego Zoo because their mother, even though she was wearing a satellite collar, was shot by a hunter near Point Barrow, Alaska. The cubs were rescued within hours.

Kalluk und Tatqiq landete im Zoo von San Diego, weil ihre Mutter, obwohl sie ein Satellitenhalsband trug, sie wurde von einem Jäger in der Nähe von Point Barrow, Alaska erschossen. Die Jungen wurden innerhalb weniger Stunden gerettet.

Chinook and Kalluk sneak up on Tatqiq
On March 30, 2001, the cubs arrived at the San Diego Zoo. The little male was 12 pounds and the little girl was 10. To tell them apart, the keepers shaved a spot on Kalluk's head. They called them Bubba and Sissy at the start.


Am 30. März 2001 kamen die Jungen in den San Diego Zoo. Das kleine Männchen war 12 pounds und das kleine Mädchen war 10 pounds, um sie auseinanderzuhalten, rasierten die Tierpfleger eine Stelle auf Kallik Kopf. Sie nannten sie Bubba und Sissy zu Beginn.

Tatqiq is off by herself, while Kalluk and Chinook are together.
In 1996, when Polar Bear Plunge at the San Diego Zoo first opened, there were more polar bears in American zoos than there were accommodations, so the enclosure was built without plans for these bears having cubs.


1996, als das Eisbärbecken im Zoo von San Diego zum ersten Mal geöffnet wurde, gab mehr Eisbären in amerikanischen Zoos als es Unterkünfte hatte, so dass das Gehege ohne Pläne für diese Bären mit Jungtieren gebaut wurde.

Chinook looks up admiringly at Kalluk
Officials made the decision to keep brother and sister Kalluk and Tatqiq together, since they had developed a very strong bond. Every year Tatqiq has had birth control implanted during her annual physical exam, although zoo staff say Kalluk only has eyes for Chinook during breeding season.


Zooverantwortliche trafen die Entscheidung, Bruder und Schwester Kalluk und Tatqiq zusammen zu halten, denn sie hatte eine sehr starke Bindung entwickelt. Jedes Jahr Tatqiq bekam Geburtenkontrolle während ihrer jährlichen körperlichen Untersuchung implantiert , obwohl Zoo Mitarbeiter sagen Kalluk hat nur Augen für Chinook während der Paarungszeit.
Tatqiq has a carrot
Still, it is a shame that 14 year old Tatqiq, with her wild genes, is not in a zoo where she can breed and have cubs.


Dennoch ist es eine Schande, dass die 14-jährige Tatqiq, mit ihrem wilden Genen, nicht in einem Zoo leben kann, wo sie sich paaren und Jungtiere haben könnte.

Tatqiq
Times have changed, and now there are fewer than 60 polar bears in U.S. zoos, and with new state-of-the-art enclosures being built, cubs are in demand.


Die Zeiten haben sich in der US-Zoos geändert, und jetzt gibt es weniger als 60 Eisbären, und mit neuen state-of-the-art-Gehege gebaut, sind Jungtiere in der Nachfrage.

The underwater viewing theatre

Bears at play

Kalluk and toys
The San Diego Zoo remodeled Polar Bear Plunge in 2010 to provide mother-cub accommodations. It is hoped that Kalluk and Chinook will have cubs, but so far it has not happened. No cubs were born in U.S. zoos this year, or last year even.


Der Zoo von San Diego hat das umgebaute Eisbärbecken im Jahr 2010 auf Mutter-Jungtier eingerichtet. Es ist zu hoffen, dass Kalluk und Chinook werden Jungtierehaben, aber bisher ist es nicht geschehen. Keine Jungtiere wurden in der US-Zoos in diesem Jahr geboren auch nicht im letzten Jahr.


The zoo tour bus stops to get a look at Kalluk and Chinook

You can watch these three bears play and eat and sleep every day at the San Diego Zoo webcam. Here is the address:


Du kannst dir diese drei Bären spielen und essen und schlafen sehen jeden Tag im Zoo von San Diego mit der Webcam. Hier ist die Adresse:


Tatqiq plays with fronds of grass
How do you tell these three bears apart as you are watching them on the webcam? Of the three bears, Tatqiq is the smallest, at 520 pounds. She sometimes wears a research radio collar. She is long and slender and has a narrower face than Chinook. Tatqiq likes to hang out on the rock tower. Tatqiq has fuzzier feet on the bottoms. She usually sleeps on her side, and likes the beach the best.


Wie Sie diese drei Bären auseinanderhalten, wenn Sie die Bären auf der Webcam beobachteten? Von den drei Bären, ist Tatqiq die kleinste, bei 520 Pfund. Sie trägt manchmal eine Forschungs Radio Kragen. Sie ist lang und schlank und hat ein kleineres Gesicht als Chinook. Tatqiq liegt gerne auf dem Felsturm herum. Tatqiq hatfusselige Pfoten. Sie schläft in der Regel auf ihrer Seite, und mag den Sandstrand am Liebsten.

Chinook and Kalluk
Chinook has rounder belly. Everything about Chinook is round. Chinook is also the one who likes to swim laps. When she sleeps it is on her belly. Chinook often sleeps just to the left of the waterfall, by the double doors in the back, on the beach at night, or in one of the mulch beds.


Chinook hat einenrunden Bauch. Alles an Chinook ist rund. Chinook ist auch derjenige, der Runden zum schwimmen mag. Wenn sie schläft liegt sie auf auf ihrem Bauch. Chinook schläft oft nur auf der linken Seite des Wasserfalls, durch die Doppeltür im Rücken, am Strand in der Nacht, oder in einem der Mulch Betten.


Kalluk stares down a photographer

Kalluk is the biggest, at 1100 pounds. When he gets dirty, it is usually just half of him covered with dirt. Kalluk likes to sleep in the center rock shelter, by the double doors in the back, and at the plunge point on the beach, and sometimes in the sand box in the middle.



Kalluk ist die größte, auf 1100 Pfund. Als er verschmutzt ist, ist es in der Regel nur die eine Hälfte die ihn mit Schmutz bedeckt. Kalluk liegt gern auf dem Rücken schlafend in der Mitte am Felsüberhang, im Durchgang der Doppeltüren und an der Tauchstelle am Strand, und manchmal auch im Sandkasten in der Mitte.

More water play
The bears enjoy a 130,000 gallon pool, with water chilled to 55 degrees F (12 degrees C). The cooling breeze comes right off San Diego Bay. The bears can swim in the deep pool, or relax in the shallow areas, and in the shade. There is air conditioning inside too.


Die Bären genießen ein 130.000 Gallonen Pool, mit Wasser gekühlt, um 55 Grad Fahrenheit (12 Grad Celsius). Die kühlende Brise kommt direkt an der San Diego Bay. Die Bären können im tiefen Pool tauchen oder entspannen in den flachen Bereichen und im Schatten. Es gibt auch eine Klimaanlage im Innenbereich.

The three bears at play in their wonderful deep pool
Once a year, they have a snow day, where tons of snow is trucked into give these bears the opportunity to slip and slide. Last year it was in May.


Einmal im Jahr haben sie einen Schneetag, wo Tonnen von Schnee an die Bären transportiert wird mit der Möglichkeit zu gleiten und zu rutschen. Letztes Jahr war es im Mai 2014.

Chinook has a carrot
Since they live in a warmer area, the polar bears get a special ground meat diet, 5 to 10 % fat, to keep them on the lean side. They also eat dog kibble, trout and other fish, lots of carrots and other root vegetables, and lettuce. They get cow bones and thawed rabbits once or twice a week. The bears consume 100 pounds of carrots each day between them, to give them something to eat without the extra calories. They do love their carrots.


Da sie in einen warmen Klima leben, die Eisbären bekommen einen speziellen Boden-Fleisch Diät, 5 bis 10% Fett, um sie auf der schlanken Linie zu halten. Sie fressen auch Hundetrockenfutter, Forellen und andere Fische, viele Karotten und anderes Wurzelgemüse und Salat. Sie bekommen Kuh Knochen und aufgetaut Kaninchen einmal oder zweimal pro Woche. Die Bären verbrauchen 100 Pfund Karotten jeden Tag ohne den Bären zusätzlichen Kalorien zum fressen zu geben. Sie lieben ihre Karotten.

An exciting day at the Polar Bear Plunge
Usually the three bears play well together. During breeding season, Tatqiq is given the choice of staying inside, or if she comes out, she stays by herself, usually on the left side of the enclosure. Chinook wants Kalluk all to herself during breeding season, but is happy to play nicely during the rest of the year.

Normalerweise sind die drei Bären gut miteinander verträglich. Während der Paarungszeit wird Tatqiq die Wahl gegeben, im Innenbereich zu bleiben, oder wenn sie herauskommt, bleibt sie allein, in der Regel auf der linken Seite des Gehäuses.Chinook will nur mit Kalluk während der Paarungszeit zusammen sein, ist aber während dem Rest des Jahres gut verträglich zu allen.

Tatqiq goes heron hunting

Don't worry, Tatqiq chases but doesn't catch the birds (usually)


Thank you to Marga Andresen Gransow for the German Translation.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Queen Victoria moves to Scotland

Queen Victoria - Der Umzug nach Schottland
Beautiful Queen Victoria
Now it can be revealed. Victoria of Aalborg Zoo in Denmark will be moving to Highlands Wildlife Park on Monday, March 23. Since Victoria's daughter Milak moved to Canada in December, this will leave 14 year old Malik the only bear at Aalborg Zoo in Denmark, but she will soon have a companion. Lars will be making the journey from Rostock Zoo in Germany to be Malik's new friend.


Nun ist es offenbart worden. Victoria aus dem Aalborg Zoo wird in den Highland Wildlife Park am Montag, den 23. März umziehen. Seit Victorias Tochter Milak nach Kanada im Dezember versandt wurde, wird die im Zoo von Aalborg in Dänemark verbleibende 14-jährige Malik die einzigen Eisbärin sein, jedoch nicht sehr lange, sie bekommt recht bald wieder einen Begleiter. Lars aus dem Rostock Zoo wird dann für Malik der neue Partner werden.

Victoria poses
18 year old Victoria, who has lived at Aalborg since 1999, will be going to a large newly constructed enclosure with pond, built by British soldiers at the Scottish park.


Die 18-jährige Victoria, die seit 1999 im Aalborg Zoo lebt, wird in eine großes, gerade neu errichtetes Gehege mit Teich einziehen, dies wurde mit Hilfe von britischen Soldaten im schottischen Park gebaut.

Victoria likes to sit at the window in the small enclosure and greet her guests
Seven year old Arktos and six year old Walker already reside in their own enclosure at Highlands, built in 2009. The boys' enclosure has a large natural pool set in over four acres of land. Arktos and Walker are great playmates, and are inseparable. But now, the beautiful Victoria comes on the scene.


Der sieben Jahre alten Arktos und der sechs Jahre alte Walker befinden sich bereits seit dem Jahr 2009 in ihrem eigenen Gehege im Highland Wildlife Park. Die für die jungen Eisbären gebaute Anlage verfügt über einen großen natürlichen Pool in mehr als vier Hektar Land. Arktos und Walker sind große Spielkameraden, und sind untrennbar miteinander verbunden. Aber jetzt erscheint bald die schöne Victoria.

Victoria has marks on her lovely face, from rubbing on the bars
Victoria was featured in the "Christmas Calendar" television series shown all over Denmark several years ago. She was cast as the guardian of  the
Light Stone. The heraldic shield was part of the plot.



Victoria often stands up to show her visitors how tall and might she is. This is a webcam shot taken Saturday, March 21, two days before her scheduled departure. Many people all over the world have watched Victoria and the other Aalborg bears on the zoo webcam for  years.
The park hopes to introduce Victoria and Arktos this spring, and maybe there will be cubs next winter.


Die Parkleitung hofft, Victoria und Arktos in diesem Frühjahr zusammen zu bringen, und vielleicht gibt es dann auch Nachwuchs zum Winter diesen Jahres.

Victoria poses for the paparazzi

She loves the younger visitors
Arktos, the son of Eric and Olinka, is the half brother of Felix, the father of Victoria's cub Milak. Victoria was very fond of Felix, and will like his brother just as well, hopefully. Arktos has American relatives too, as he is the great grandson of Olaf and Olga of the Omaha Zoo.


Arktos, der Sohn von Eric und Olinka, ist der Halbbruder von Felix, der Vater von Victorias Nachwuchs Milak. Victoria war sehr angetan von Felix und man hofft auf ein gutes Verhältnis zu den beiden Brüdern. Arktos hat Verwandte amerikanischen Ursprungs, denn er ist der Urenkel von Olaf und Olga des Omaha Zoo.

Victoria has her eye on some food in Zookeeper Frank's hand

She stands up for Frank as part of her training.
 In this way the keepers can do health checks more easily.
The other male cub at Highlands is Walker, son of Huggies and Victor, who is Victoria's brother, so Walker is Victoria's nephew. Victoria's daughter Milak is now in Canada at Zoo Sauvage in St. Felicien, and is there with another female Aisaqvak, and also Walker's brother Jelle.


Das anderen männlichen Jungtier im Highland Wildlife Park ist Walker, der Sohn von Huggies und Victor, der Victoria's Bruder ist, so Walker ist Victoria's Neffe. Victorias Tochter Milak ist jetzt in Kanada im Zoo Sauvage in St. Felicien, und dort gibt es neben einem anderen weiblichen Eisbärin namens Aisaqvak sowie Walker's Bruder Jelle.

Daughter Milak at left, Mama Victoria at right
Victoria at left, Milak on the right



Victoria with her daughter Milak, with bucket, in earlier days,
 when Victoria still liked her daughter
For the past several years, Victoria has rejected her daughter Milak, and chased her. They had to be kept in separate enclosures, and Milak became friends with Malik, while Victoria lived alone. This rejection is normal in nature, but it was extreme in Victoria's case.


Victoria, born December 12, 1996 in Rostock to Vienna and Churchill, has been at Aalborg most of her life. This week she starts a new chapter in her life.


Victoria, geboren 12. Dezember 1996 in Rostock von Vienna und Churchill gezeugt hat in Aalborg die meiste Zeit ihres Lebens verbracht. In dieser Woche beginnt für sie ein neues Kapitel in ihrem Leben.


Aalborg Zoo polar bear webcam




Here I am, feeding Victoria.
She is very gentle towards people.
 
Queen Victoria