Kalluk and the rest of us eagerly await a polar bear cub or two!
We are all on pins and needles to see if the San Diego Zoo’s polar bears, Kalluk and Chinook, will breed this year. They have always been early birds by breeding in March and even as early as February! But normal breeding time for polar bears is April through May and sometimes as late as June, something we won’t even contemplate! From the looks of how flirtatious Chinook has been and how attentive Kalluk seems, our patience should be rewarded.
We are still participating in reproductive studies looking at hormones excreted in the bears’ urine and feces, but for the most part we still rely on behavior observations. One of the very interesting behaviors we see is with Chinook. Typically, a week before actual breeding and continuing right up to actual, we see her have seizure-like spasms followed by weakness in her back legs. The spasms last only seconds and the weakness only a few minutes. If you don’t know what these are, they can be very scary to see!
But there is no need to worry: Chinook is not alone with these. Most of the other breeding female polar bears show the same behavior. I have asked polar bear biologists who have spent many years observing bears in the Arctic and have sent them video of the process, and they are mystified as to its purpose. Perhaps it plays some role in preparing a female’s legs to hold the male during breeding, since males are usually twice the size, and she may bear his weight for long moments. In the last week we have seen Chinook have these spasms, and over the last few days they have increased both in frequency and intensity. This should be a sign that we are almost there!
We all know what follows: waiting to see if Chinook becomes pregnant and gives birth. I have been getting lots of experience working with polar bear cubs over the last few years since Kalluk and Tatqiq joined us as cubs in 2001. I have just returned from a second visit with Siku, the polar bear cub born at the Scandinavian Wildlife Park in Denmark. My first visit was to share what we learned in preparing our polar bear youngsters for life in San Diego. Siku still was not yet walking then and was not quite 13 weeks old. On my recent trip, Siku was now 21 weeks and was walking, running, swimming, and being overall an adorable monster!
Since Siku’s mom did not produce milk, the decision was made to hand raise him, which meant having close contact with him (not a problem when his fastest speed was a quick crawl!). He is now rambunctious and, as polar bears need to do, he is jumping, grabbing, and mouthing everything and everyone in sight. Mom polar bears are well equipped to handle this; human caregivers, not so much!
This trip was to help the team in Denmark move ahead with management that increases Siku’s independence and encourages his natural instincts as a polar bear. He did extremely well with every challenge of independence. You can imagine how difficult it is, though, for the team who has been caring for him all these months to see that maybe he didn’t need them as much anymore, or at least not in the same ways. I must say how proud I was to assure them and show them the close ties we have with our three polar bears and how much that strengthens when you’re not worried about when the next play jump comes from a now 60-pound and often wet white ball of teeth and claws! All meant in fun, but still dangerous for fragile humans!
Siku has lots of toys to encourage his natural learning behavior and is getting plenty of opportunities to learn with his training sessions. At 21 weeks, he has already learned several important behaviors from his keepers such as “sit,” “stand,” “down,” “shift,” “come,” and how to sit on a scale.
In choosing his name, thought was given to the chance to represent wild polar bears and the people who share the Arctic. Siku is from the Inuit language for sea ice. Siku will remind everyone that we are losing our arctic ice due to warming trends in our climate. Science has proven this warming is caused by the increase of carbon emissions in our atmosphere. Siku and our three polar bears, Chinook, Kalluk, and Tatqiq, are ambassadors who remind all of us of their wild cousins and that we must make changes to help save their arctic home.
As you enjoy watching and hearing about these great ice bears, please keep in mind everything you can do to help. Then do it!
JoAnne Simerson is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Polar Bears: Back to 3.
UPDATE: Two days after this was written, Kalluk and Chinook began breeding. November 2 is the first possible day of birth if Chinook is pregnant! The waiting begins. . .
I’ve seen Siku on video, he is gorgeous and growing like a weed. How fortunate that you got to see him up close and personal! Any new video on the 3 bears in San Diego? Here’s hoping for a cub or two this year…
Moderator’s note: We certainly are due for more polar bear video!
I thought I caught a glimpse of the polar bears mating today. If so, my fingers are crossed for a baby polar bear.
P.S. JoAnne Simerson, I’m so envious that you get to be up close to Siku.
Yes, yes you did, let’s hope! Cute little cubbie bears!
Well everytime I look at the webcam….it’s pointed at the water! So….this is so exciting! Thank you for providing a look into the polar bears lives, I don’t live in Cali anymore and I have lunch with the “zoo” everyday, I love it. Thank you again!
Sooooo exciting! Doing the happy, happy dance.
Thank you for the information. I just went to the Polar bear cam in Denmark and watched Siku at play. It looks like quite a large area for his enclosure. I feel sorry for him all alone without mom or playmates. But he looks like he is doing fine and growing very large. I hope we can have one or two cubs here in November!
I was wondering if mating polar bears seperate after mating in the wild. If so, then would a pregnancy be more successful if Chinook is seperated from the other two polar bears.
I believe her behavior tells them when she wants separation.
Polar bears in the wild do separate after mating, mostly so the female can get as fat as possible on seal meals, and the male can go looking for another female or a meal. We let Chinook tell us when she wants to be separated. And then we make things comfy cozy for her!
,,,,Many thanks for the update, JoAnne.
In your 2nd sentence of blog you mentioned Chinook & Kalluk as having bred before–a surprise!! Could we have a little of their past history, like how many pups born to them and where they now are, etc… (?)
Moderator’s note: Kalluk and Chinook have yet to be parents.
Will keep my fingers crossed that there will be cubbies and one for the panda’s
Won’t that be fun, with all of them babies.
Lu Sacto
Could it be something similar to menstrual cramps?
No, that is unlikely. The “spasms” are mostly in her legs.
Nov seems like such a long time away to wait for a baby but it will be worth the wait if successful. Seems Polar bears and Pandas are so similiar you never know if you have a baby til a baby is born. Gives me time to save money for a trip out to the West Coast. I have been enjoying watching little Siku and would love to see a photo of him sitting on the scale.
Thanks for the update JoAnne. Now if I see this behaviour from Miss Chinook I won’t freak out. I got a great screenshot (two seperate windows open side by side) of Kalluk and Siku in the same position the other day. Each was flat on stomach resting. It was really neat
Thanks for the update! I hope that this is our year for a cub! I have been watching the Siku cam every morning, and he is a cutie… You have the best job in the world — working with polar bears, visiting Churchill every year, and helping little ones like Qannik and Siku! Thank you for all that you do!
Thanks for the update JoAnne on your bears and little Siku. I try to check their cams out every couple of days. When will you start the ultrasounds on Chinook?
Hopefully there will be a baby Polar Bear in November and a baby Panda in August. What a great year it would be then.
Thanks for the update on Siku. Since he now has limited exposure with humans and none with polar bears, does he long for some form of contact? He’s still a baby and would have attention from a mother and possibly siblings in the wild at this age.
What are the plans for Siku’s future? Will he be reintroduced to his mother or other polar bears? If so, what age will be best to do this?
Thanks!
The best way to keep up with Siku is to follow his facebook page!
The bond between mom and cubs in the Arctic is about survival and learning how to survive. That is why their bond is so crucial. For polar bear cubs in zoos, that same applies but in different ways. They still bond with their caretakers for the same reasons. Siku does still get companionship from his keepers, but now it is with a barrier between them. This way everyone is safe and still able to have very positive relationships. Remember, Siku is 60 pounds of polar bear! Also, by introducing this way now it can be done gradually and not just abruptly.
I have never felt limited with our bears by having a barrier between us. Our bond and friendship have never had any tough times because they are built on who we are, me a human and Chinook, Kalluk, and Tatqiq as polar bears. They’ve never needed to be anything but polar bears! To that end, Siku is getting to meet the other polar bears at the Scandinavian Wildlife Park with great protection and teaching from his caretakers that those big, white, fuzzy guys aren’t too scary but interesting! You wouldn’t think about introducing a young bear to adult bears without great consideration, including size difference and personality of each bear involved. It will most likely be at least a year or more before Siku will be with the adults.
Hi Joanne! I love reading about your compassion for these beautiful animals. Do you have any updates as to how Quannik is doing? Siku is a cutie and I love to watch him on webcam. So active!
The keepers in Louisville send me updates regularly. Qannik is doing great, and everyone is deeply in love with her! Keep up with her antics at the Louisville Zoo’s website!
I hope the 2 adult polar bears will have a successful breeding and they will produce a healthy baby polar bear and that this time she will have the necessary milk so she can raise her own cub.
Does Kalluk attempt to breed with Tatqiq?
Moderator’s note: Tatqiq has a contraceptive implant.
And it somehow deters Kalluk?
I think the question isn’t so much that the contraceptive implant deters Kalluk, but that who does Kalluk see as potential breeding mates. Kalluk obviously has known Tatqiq since they were very young cubs, and they grew up together as siblings. That is the nature and basis of their relationship, and I have every confidence that Kalluk knows which potential mate(s) he can woo and impress. I see the contraceptive implant more as a protection and a preventive measure against accidental breeding, not a deterrent.
SDZ has always wisely separate Tatqiq from Kalluk and Chinook when breeding time comes, especially during the critical periods. I have absolute confidence that all bears are carefully monitored during the breeding season.
Very evolved of him, isn’t it!
I am so happy to hear about Chinook and Kalluck I hope this time it works.Also I have the polar cam on every day today and previous day’s the cam does’nt follow the bears most of the time I just see water or rocks is there something wrong with the cam?
I think it’s been said that at times the camera is pointed in directions to try and keep things “PG” for the web folk
CJSF
….so sad. Tatqiq laying on rock, looking around for someone to play with her. ( The lovebirds couldn’t care less.)
If the bears are to breed, would they do it out in the yard? Are the separated when indoor.
Also, About Siku- will they eventually integrate him with other bears? He’s a cutie.
Moderator’s note: The bears do breed while on exhibit. When in the bedrooms, they have access to various rooms and share or not.
Hello every one at the plunge have not written in a while but I have been watching every day could not stay away from my most wonderful bears. Question is there a age when you would no longer want to breed or Ms. Chinook do bears get to old ?
I know she getting up there in years. I surely hope like evey body else we have baby bears this year if it does happen look out San Diego zoo every polor bear fan in the world is going to come and see these wonderful babys, I hope its our year good luck Chinook and Kuluck I know you can do it. Barbara from Phoenix!!!!!
Chinook is still plenty young enough to be breeding and caring for cubs. Most female polar bears can breed into their 20s. There is even a female whose age was known to be 30 who produced and cared for a cub in Alaska!
Thank you so much for the update JoAnne !
Just saw Kalluk warning and chasing away Tatqiq from him and Chinook, who was lying on the mulch pad near the other end of the Plunge. Kalluk sure was defending his territory, and made it clear that he wanted space for himself and Chinook.
Tatqiq made a hasty retreat to her favorite rock platform. Tatqiq is now settling down comfortably with a burlap sack to play with and paw on, and snacking happily on the carrots! It sure was nice to see all three bears on camera even for brief moments!
…. imagine Kalluk grumbling to himself —
” That kid sister !! Always interfering.”
LOL!!!
and better not to imagine what Tatqiq would say about being chased if she wasn’t a princess, but noblesse oblige.
There is a great video of JoAnne working with Siku’s keeper on the Skandinavisk Dyrepark site… It is currently the first video (“Siku i Vild Med Dyr 24.04.2012″) at the top of their video page. Much of it is in Danish, but still very interesting to watch!
I too saw the video, and noticed that JoAnne and Siku’s keeper SLOWLY backing away from Siku while they were out on the playing yard. It seems that JoAnne and the Danish keepers are establishing boundaries and reducing physical contact with Siku. Siku is rambunctious and cute as he has been. So fun to watch him grow and play!
Watching Sat. afternoon and he is sure shadowing her and panting in front of her while she sleeps.
Hasn’t anyone told her its spring and to pay attention to her guy?
Even in the pool she is relaxing and he is watching her every move.
Hope it all works out this year. We need a cub around to watch!
Moderator ~ Do you know if ALL male polar bears as attentive & caring to their mates as Kalluk is with Chinook ? ( Or, is he an extra-special, simpatico guy?)
JoAnne responds: Not ALL male polar bears are as wonerful as Kalluk is to Chinook, but the truth is MOST are very careful with their girls. It makes sense; since the males are typically twice the size of the females, there would need to be something in their behavior to keep them both safe. It is great fun to watch the courtship between polar bears, both our pair and in the Arctic. One year we kept finding small branches all over the exhibit. We thought it might be crows attempting to build nests up in our planters. We soon realized it was Kalluk breaking off pieces of branches and logs and bringing them to Chinook as gifts.
@ JoAnne–How sweet and attentive of Kalluk to be doing the “nest-building” by collecting branches and logs! Kalluk is a smart bear, and courting Chinook by bearing gifts sure wins some points in my mind!
Too bad we don’t have sound.
It looks like Kalluk is saying sweet nothings to Chinook, with her sometimes responding…. are they actually vocalizing ??
JoAnne responds: Although it looks like lots of noise is happening, for the most part there is not. The mouth movement by Kalluk is mostly a quiet chuffing sound. The sounds we do hear are blows, a gurggle sound, growls, and a sound that is very hard to describe but almost a cluck from the back of the throat. When you see them open mouth to open mouth, it is silent, and that is a greeting, a very friendly gesture.
I think clicking of teeth may come into it. Apparently that means, “I’m hot for you, baby!” in Polar Bear. Isn’t that romantic?
I try sometimes to take the pressure off you by answering simple stuff, but, JoAnne, I have to emphasize that there’s no voice like yours. You’re a unique individual, who is living a very special life. Cheers to SD from BC.
Thanks so much for the nice, long update on our 3 bears. I always look forward to reading your updates as they are always insightful. I’m so happy that K&C bred! Now I’m keeping my everything crossed for the pitter-patter of polar cubbies!!
SOO glad to have a new update (we’ve been waiting since November!). I’m a teacher and my kids watch the polar cam every day (we check in with them at the end of each day while we’re packing up), and the kids are so excited we’ve even begun collecting to adopt a polar bear! Now I’m beginning to incorporate polar bears into our math, science and reading curriculum (we’re even writing polar bear poems!). It’s been such fun watching – PLEASE keep us all updated!
Linda
(p.s. We thought that perhaps Tatqiq was not even in the exhibit any longer, because we never see her. Are Chinook and Kalluk always shown instead because the keepers are trying to watch their reproductive events? Or maybe it’s just hard to identify them, but it looks like we always see only two, a male and female, and figured it was the breeding pair.)
Moderator’s note: Sometimes all three are together and sometimes Tatqiq gets the whole exhibit to herself to play in while Kalluk and Chinook rekindle their romance in the polar bear park area. It just depends on everyone’s moods and what time of day it is!
Moderator: What is Kulluk doing when he walks over to Chinook (while she is resting), and stops just short of her, then starts to walk backwards while he is swinging his head? Is this part of their mating ritual?
I’m sure JoAnne could explain this better, but I think he’s just expressing his inner frustration. He’s keen to show Chinook what an awesome lover he is, and she’s not making herself available to him. His body tells him that he’s ready whenever she is, but her body operates differently. The whole thing is controlled by when her body tells her it’s ready. Then she’ll be keen. And that’s when they’ll turn the camera away.
Rather unlike us, a lot of the bear’s communication is just a reflection of their emotional state. They just put it out there and expect it to be noticed and respected by other bears. It’s a different dynamic. We tend to mask a lot more.
JoAnne ~ Your answers & comments mean a lot to educate us in polar bears and their behavior. This site is a GREAT learning experience for so many (from the elderly to children).
Thanx much for helping us out by taking your time out to respond !
okay, I know I’m wrong, BUT–
….it sure looks like Chinook goes out of her way to cater to & show off her cute stunts to the visitors by the window–besides making sure Kalook’s also watching her.
What a (talented) little diva !!
looking at kalluk and chinook sleeping/facing each other. No ONE can tell me that’s not love at it’s purest!
Well, they turned the camera away! Whoo hoo! Let’s pray there’s a little one on the way!
Thank you for the updates! They are very informing!
So he is an awesome lover!
I’ve been watching the web cams for Siku and SDZ polar bears. It’s amazing how quickly a fondness has developed for these marvelous ice bears. I highly recommend watching the video of JoAnne’s lastest visit to see Siku. It’s informative and interesting. Not to mention he’s absolutely endearing. It’s obvious what a passion JoAnne has for polar bears. How fortunate we are she brings her knowledge and compassion not only stateside, but to SDZ.
Oooh, two bears in the water right now, rough housing. One was playing with the red ball. Is this our two lovebirds or is this Kalluk and Tatqiq playing again??
darn cute
Where is the video link to JoAnne’s visit to Denmark? I read through the blog posts and blog and do not see it. Thanks.
http://www.tv2oj.dk/arkiv/2012/04/26?video_id=27204&autoplay=1
Whoa! I just watched an interchange between Chinook and Kalluk that, had you been paying attention, you would have censored! They are definitely warm for each others’ form just now. The only problem was that Chinook had just got hold of two lovely heads of lettuce and was keen to partake before anybear else got to them, like, for example, that big chowhound Kalluk. She was even putting her foot on her food, to emphasize that it was HERS. Finally she headed away, with Kalluk dutifully following. She had him right where she wanted him!
Yes, I saw that too, that lettuce was definitely hers!
Oh to be a polar bear at the San Diego Zoo. Lay out by the pool with a friend work on the tan and a nice pile of carrots. This is the life they should have in the wild.
Thank you San Diego Zoo for your efforts.
….hmmm, rated PG for us during those times — so do they close the curtains on visitors’ windows so they cannot watch nature in action also ??
That’s funny, because my co-worker asked the same thing! I don’t think they do. But that’s ok, it has to be as natural as an environment as possible, right? I think it has something to do with the internet? I think we can just use our imaginations, and be happy that there might be a little cubbie! Whoo hoo!
This comment has nothing to do with the polar bears at SDZ; but for those who had commented and discussed the welfare of Walker in Scotland’s Highland Wildlife Park, this may be of interest to you.
Walker and his new buddy Arktos are getting along just fine, according to one British newspaper report.
http: // www (dot) telegraph (dot) co (dot) uk/earth/wildlife/9248282/Polar-bear-reunion-leads-to-blossoming-bromance.html
Yes, I saw it too. Aren’t they cute together? All they need is a cool haircut and some fast food outlet to hang out at. I bet they’re into learning curse words (in Polar Bear) about now.
Oh my! I just saw the latest update by JoAnne! If she wants, my birthday is late November. I would not mind a cub or two to celebrate!! Please tell Chinook that!
All righty… Princess Tatqiq aka the prima donna at the Plunge is lying on top of her favorite rock platform AND holding up a sack with one of her paws up in the air! Quite the ballerina, that Tatqiq!
Was just watching Tatqiq, asleep on the fronds. Her brother was hanging around. Suddenly he reached up and bit her on the bum! She responded like a flash, with something like a big, dirty polar bear look. He hung his head and backed away a bit. In spite of all the drama, I think it was really just an invitation to play. How debonair a guy is that?
Hi,
What’s wrong with cams today? Missed seeing my lunch buddies! Have a good weekend!
Not much camera action at all lately! I’m missing these beauties very much.
miss ‘em too!
I recently saw on the news a story about a female that had 3 babies and they are all fine. They are soooo cute. What a wonderful mother. Maybe this one can do the same.
I believe that was Simona in Moscow:
ullijseisbaeren (dot) wordpress.com/?page_id=9020&preview=true
Watching a bear sleeping soundly and it made me wonder. What do bears do in their sleep, especially during their dreaming stages. Do they twitch, ever growl, breathe faster, etc., like dogs and cats do when they dream? I know you said certain bears have certain favourite bedding material and like to “make” their beds up for sleeping. Do they have any favourite toys they like to sleep with? Balls or cones or anything, or are they mostly just a bedding down sort of animal? Thanks! xx
We have never heard any vocalizing during sleep with our bears. They do like to use many of their toys as pillows. We have rubber horse stall mats in their bedrooms, and they really like those to roll up for pillows, but the favorite toys to sleep in are the big, plastic kiddie pools.
Hi,
I was watching one of the bears just now and it was sleeping on it stomach and it looked soooo peaceful! Like Cyndee said “Oh to be a bear at the SDZ” lay by the pool….sounds good to me. Thanks so much for providing a look into their (and your) world!
Seriously…are my eyes bugging out!!! —0-0— Is that snow or a Polar Bear in disguise? That’s a COOL question for the Zoo Keepers….
Wow! Just tuned into the Polar Cam, and I see snow!!! How exciting is that for the bears! Yay for SNOW DAY!!!
How nice, the bears got snow today. They still look a bit warm in sunny SD.
Snow Day! I wish I had known or I would have watched more. I never saw it announced that it was coming up! Hope they enjoyed it!
Yayyyy… Snow day !! =)
Snow Day!!!!! made my day
YAY for everyone involved in arranging for the SDZ Polarbears to have some snow time. I screamed, “snow, snnow, snow” with delight when I tuned in Sat. Thank you all for taking such awesome care of them 
I guess I missed the announcement re “Snow Day.” Darn, it’s so much fun watching the bears when they first discover the snow!!
Hello!
I’m watching one of the bears (not sure which one) but it seems to be frustrated in trying to get the big iceberg block to where it wants it to go! You can tell the bear really wants to play with it! So cute!
(I think it’s Kalluk, that’s trying to get the block over the limbs in the water), he’s sure is persistant!
Any chance of a video of the ‘snow day’? i missed em’ too..sigh
Me too… totally bummed that I missed snow day. Camera always seems to be on the log at the window… ?
No news yet? Said a Prayer for good news!
Have a great day!
I’m really excited to hear if those 2 lovebirds (or in this case, lovebears XD) actually DO breed.
Now that i’m out of school for the summer, i’m going to check up on updates more often! Fingers crossed.
Just wondering if there is any updates on the bears??? Has there been any sign of babies on the way?? Fingers and toes crossed
Good afternoon, I noticed the exciting news of a new panda cub coming into this world, CONGRATULATIONS. Is there any updates on the polar bears ? Any babies on the way?
Moderator’s note: Nothing to report yet.
its always nice to hear that the bears are doing well… lets hope for cub or too very soon. hopeing to make a trip out there very soon to everyone in person.
wondering why tatqiq has green on her back neck hairs..I read that they can become moldy in captivity, is this true? And if so how you correct this issue so the bears don’t get sick. Love my polar bears!
Moderator’s note: It’s algae, and we’ll have a blog about this topic soon.
Do you have any idea when or if we will have some new polar bear cubs? I love watching all the web cams and check on them often.
Thanks for all the many blogs about the bears.
Got fingers, toes etc crossd for news of littles ones on the way.
Moderator’s note: If Chinook is pregnant, we could have cubs in the next month or so.