Is she or isn’t she?
*Is she or isn’t she? We still don’t know for sure. Here’s what we do know: Chinook’s fecal hormone profile as of mid-November indicated that pregnancy was still a possibility but birth most likely would be no sooner than January. We have been doing weekly ultrasound exams since October, and the images neither confirm nor deny pregnancy. Polar bears are delayed implanters, so we don’t usually see the uterus unless there is something happening. As of the ultrasound exam this week, our veterinarians are still able to see her uterus. With both these indicators, we are definitely not throwing in the towel.
Chinook’s behavior, though, is picking up. She is playing every day on exhibit and in her back pool. Chinook is also soliciting lots of play time with her keepers. She does, however, go to sleep in her massive bed by noon, again both good and not-so-good signs for pregnancy. The good part: whatever the outcome, our girl is having a very comfortable time keeping us all on pins and needles!
*UPDATE: Chinook has very effectively communicated as of January 1, 2013 that she is NOT pregnant and please very much would like to go play with Tatqiq and that very handsome Kalluk. Today’s ultrasound session also convinced us that we are no longer on pins and needles. So tomorrow all three will be re-united. So uncross those fingers and toes and let them rest until next year!
JoAnne Simerson is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Polar Bears: A Wild Study.
Thank you JoAnne for the blog of information. Hoping that by January’s end, we will hear the sounds of a baby cub. I’m keeping all my extremities crossed. Is she doing any preparation in her den for alittle one?
I have to admit am keepng my fingers and toes crossed!!!!!
Keeping the positive thoughts going to Chinook!
Maybe she just enjoying keeping you guys on your toes. Mother nature will
let us know when it time.
I will keep my fingers crossed, would love to see little polar cubs.
I so hope Chinook is pregnant. It would be nice to have a baby polar bear cub and Chinook would make a great mom.
Thank you so much JoAnne for the update. So signs of a pregnancy this time around seem to be showing more good signs that she is, than not ? I know, as the blog indicates that we wont know for a bit longer. But it also states in the blog that when her uterus is visible via ultrasound, that’s a good sign. Yet she is picking up on her play, so that part may not be a good sign.
Guess Chinook likes keeping everyone in the dark. Uhhgg !
One more question. I know you guys spoke of a den cam for us, a while back. Do we still get that den cam if we do find out soon that she is pregnant? And are you going to let us know the cam is up, or are we going to be surprised one day and just see her den cam up and running ?
Thanks again JoAnne !
What a Chinook! At least she is happy and content and hopefully Kalluk and Tatqiq are also! I love them all and haven’t seen too much activity. They are either off screen or sleeping when I check in. I miss the days when Kalluk was chasing both females into the water and diving on them! Does that still happen?
Well, JoAnne Im not giving up yet sneekey Chinook will just do it or not. We all love her the more for keeping us on pins and needles again her last date would be? One good thing we are seeing more concern for the wild bears on tv to help save the white bears thats makes me feel better just maybe the world will wake up and lend a helping hand again many thanks JoAnne for my special day with Tatqiq I will never forget you feeding the frozen crickets and big Kulluck running away from what ever scared him! Best day for me all my love for your love to my 3 favorite bears i’ll be back Barbara from Phoenix
Aah, Chinook! You tease!
In the mean time, the rest of the world waits….
We are still hoping very much:)!!! Imagine if she is indeed pregnant… another precious “Little Gift”!!! And we admirers will be flipping back and forth on video cams – panda to polar and vice versa… Hopefully, there will be one for the polar den as well! We will be anxiously waiting
is that Chinook on the video cam at 11:44? It is hard to tell if it is Kalluk. Taqiq is very petite, so it seems easier to tell
good luck with Chinook’s pregnancy watch. a lot of cam viewers are on pins and needles. it must be very suspenseful for the folks doing the ultrasounds. did Chinook need special training to go along with the ultrasound? was that a natural process?
YAY Chinook! Having a romaine treat in the plunge!! Whatever happens, we love your furry self dearly!
Here’s hoping! What fun it would be (and what great news for the survival of these grand bears!) to have a nice baby cub arrive. Fingers and toes crossed for a healthy and happy mom – whether or not she is pregnant.
Thank you for the update. Chinook wants to play with the keepers
Good to hear that No News could STILL be Good News.
Thanx for keeping us anxious nellies updated, JoAnne.
JoAnne is it possible with Chinook being 17 years of age, (which I’ve read is the average life span for a polar bear in the wild), that she may be at the end of her reproductive years? Hence why she hasn’t become pregnant so far despite successful breeding with Kalluk.
I started to write the other day and say I didn’t think it was going to happen this year, just an intuition, then I began to worry about all the people I would upset and didn’t send it. I’m so glad, however, that you pay attention to her natural behaviors and needs. I need to be warm and sleepy in winter too.
Here we go, fingers and toes crossed yet again. Go Chinook.
I just love that picture! I’m happy the bears are all happy but I haven’t seen any activity from any of them lately. And I watch everyday. Except Fri. I did watch one of them gather all the palms to give themself a full body scratching. It was hilarious. I wished so bad someone could just reach in w/a back scratcher and help them out. It made me think of the Balou in The Junge Book movie using the whole palm tree to scratch his back.
Also, I don’t see them swim as much anymore. My first thougt was, I wouldn’t want to go into that ice cold water but I’m not a polar bear. Perhaps I’m just missing it? I may watch the Zoo cams all day, everyday but I can’t see everything. I do have to switch between our baby boy Sir Wu, the elephants & the monkeys, too. Oh, and did I mention that I work full time? HA!
Thanks for the update Jo Ann & Happy New Year to All
Perhaps the temperature difference between air and water is not so inviting for swimming, because when the wheather is rainy they are also invariably very active though recently I saw a few times that Kalluk chased away Tatqiq. Perhaps he is concerned about Chinook these days. One day I saw Kalluk playing with the snowman in the water and when the toy became free, Tatqiq immediately caught it,and she was even less gentle with it than her brother, she pushed it with both paws against the rock table like wild polar bears broke into the ice to cath seal, then she chewed on it. They were funny to watch.
I also watched Tatqiq play in the pool with the snowman. when the snowman got free, Tatqiq climbed on the table and pounced on the snowman. also she would hold the snowman on her chest and float on her back. I hoped that the snowman was tough enough that Tatqiq would not end up swallowing plastic pieces. I don’t see Tatqiq and Kalluk having their afternoon pool play sessions and maybe the weather needs to warm up for that. some days they swim in the mornings because you can see the ground wet where they are laying and have dried themselves off.
Moreover they worth watching when it is still dark, I sometimes used to see them at dawn, then broadcasted still in black and white with the lights on, and when they are active in the water it is quite a surreal sight.
I hope the snowman wasn’t killed because the bears love him.
so happy to hear we may or may no be having a cub soon. it would be excting to see a cub born and to watch as it grows just like we all have of the panda baby
all fingers and toes crossed
Fingers crossed for Chinook and cub(s). I wonder whether she herself is informed at all somehow about being pregnant or not? Happy new year for all of you!
Thank you Jo Ann for the update. I tune in daily for ANY news! I bet she is just enjoying all of the pampering! A lot of us are on pins and needles right along with you all and yes, crossing fingers and toes!
Tatqiq is sooo smart..watched her working hard to put a blue ball in the bottom hole of a blue cone. She succeeded but when the water kept making it float out, LOL she picked it up and tossed it in the air in frustration. I LOVE these bears and watching how intelligent they really are.
Oh my…the mystery continues. Guess there’s never a dull moment at the SD Zoo — hoping for cubbies — but if not — it will be nice to see Chinook out with her buddies. Happy New Year everyone!!
Chinook has very effectively communicated as of today she is NOT pregnant and please very much would like to go play with Tatqiq and that very handsome Kalluk. Today’s ultrasound session also convinced us that we are no longer on pins and needles. So tomorrow all three will be re-united. So uncross those fingers and toes and let them rest until next year!
Oh well… as long as she is happy and healthy — that’s all that really matters. Kalluk will be so happy to have his best girl back — and I’m sure Tatqiq will be happy to see her as well. Thanks for the updates — we love you guys!!
Awe, when does mating season roll around again? Maybe she will be ready next season. Will Chinook be out all day now or still limited? Looking forward to seeing her more. Keep up the good work, her time will come.
Thank you for the update, here’s to keeping the Faith! You and your team do such a wonderful job, these beautiful creatures are sure fun to watch!
Dont throw in the towel just yet. The blog says they still dont know. Some signs say yes, and some say no. But more signs she may be this time, than in the past.
Moderator’s note: The Polar Team commented yesterday (and we’ve added it as an Update at the end of the blog) that it is believed she is not pregnant. There’s always next year!
Oops, this reply was supposed to go under Debbie in Pa, and Cheryl. Not sure how it ended up under your comment. Sorry Gayle.
I love watching chinook and kalluk together! Kalluk is following her around like a puppy dog and just sitting by watching her sun bath and trying to get her attention. its like a teenage boy with a crush! its so cute!! I think he is trying to watch over her and make sure she is doing ok with the possible pregnancy. he’ll be such a good daddy
Moderator’s note: The Polar Bear Team sent an update (at the end of the blog) that Chinook is not pregnant, which is why she is back out with Kalluk and Tatqiq.
Indeed, this year’s romance has already begun. I caught Kalluk just now, sniffing at Chinook’s derriere. She seemed only mildly interested. Then she made him follow her around, a good policy in my opinion. It keeps boyfriends on their toes.
aww well that is sad news to hear
but either way he stills seems very interested and happy to see Chinook again. Some day, eventually, he’ll make a good daddy and good for Chinook because he looks like he makes a good boyfriend 
5:06 pm eastern…that has to be chinook and kalluk laying in the dirt. I’ve never seen him lay by tatqiq like that. Does he watch out for chinook?
Tatqiq took over Kalluk’s soil bed. she laid down right in the middle of it. Kalluk watched from the side for a while. then he went to have a word with her. Tatqiq got up and dug up a new napping nest to the side. Kalluk laid down in Tatqiq’s old spot and then splayed out all his legs. I was impressed that Kalluk stood up to Tatqiq and stuck up for one of his favorite beds.
by reading the other comments, perhaps it was Chinook who took Kalluk’s bed. ahh, that would mean that Kalluk is probably still submissive towards Tatqiq.
I agree with the other comments, sorry to hear Chinook is not pregnant. but it is more important that she is healthy. it will be nice for her to be with the rest of the polar bears.
I’m looking at (I think) Tatqiq and Kalluk in the dirt, how cute, they look like they dropped where there stood, just exhausted! They are so pretty!
I’m so sorry to hear that there will be no cubs this year, maybe next year. I’m glad she’s healthy too.
Just curious. How did Chinook “very effectively communicate” with the keepers?
Keeper JoAnne responds: First, Chinook’s activity really picked up and she spent more time looking for and at Kalluk and Tatqiq. Some of you noticed her looking over the wall from the “polar bear park.” The last day we had her alone she looked at us, walked deliberately over to where Kalluk and Tatqiq were, chuffed at them, and then looked back at us. That is polar bear for “I really want to be with them!”
I’m curious about that too.
Keeper JoAnne responds: First, Chinook’s activity really picked up and she spent more time looking for and at Kalluk and Tatqiq. Some of you noticed her looking over the wall from the “polar bear park.” The last day we had her alone she looked at us, walked deliberately over to where Kalluk and Tatqiq were, chuffed at them, and then looked back at us. That is polar bear for “I really want to be with them!”
Thank you for your response, I guess that would tell me also that she wanted to be with her friends! Thank you for all you do for these lovely creatures. I love them!
Awww, I just read the end of the blog and saw the update … Chinook is not pregnant.
Welp, Maybe it’s not mean to be, with her ? But, then again, maybe they’ll have more luck next breeding season.
Has SDZ thought of bringing in a male for Tatqiq ? Just a thought.
Hi JoAnne, My zoo has been given approval for our 2 girls to be bred to the male who is currently on loan. If we have babies, I would love to have you come pay a visit and share your PB cubbie expertise!!
I feel like Kalluk is content to have Chinook next to him. which kind of surprises me because I had an idea that polar bears would not be monogamous. I’d seen video where the mom raises the kids on her own and it looks doubtful whether she would ever meet the father again. but I guess this is a different situation and maybe Kalluk would be monogamous.
I really would like to know how this works:
“Just curious. How did Chinook “very effectively communicate” with the keepers?”
Keeper JoAnne responds: First, Chinook’s activity really picked up and she spent more time looking for and at Kalluk and Tatqiq. Some of you noticed her looking over the wall from the “polar bear park.” The last day we had her alone she looked at us, walked deliberately over to where Kalluk and Tatqiq were, chuffed at them, and then looked back at us. That is polar bear for “I really want to be with them!”
Thanks. It adds to my understanding of polar bear communication.
I recall a story about Inukshuk, up at the Polar Bear Habitat in Cochrane ON. When he wanted to visit “the girls” next door (Aurora and Nikita), he used to stand at the gate and do the same thing. He never could understand why they didn’t come immediately and open the gate!
Why does Chinook not want to get into the water? Is this a sign that she may be carrying a little one?
Moderator’s note: Chinook is not pregnant at this time. The Polar Bear Team sent an update that has been posted at the end of this blog entry.
Another question: Is there any way to help Chinook’s system overcome all those years of birth control? One wonders how fertile she is, even now.
Watching all three bears in the plunge…how sweet! But I feel bad now for Tatqiq, shes not getting any attention because Kalluk is with or behind Chinook, every where she goes. Will this behavior from him stop once they get used to being out together again?
Are the moderators the same people who do the panda blogs. We get answers to our questions all the time on that blog, but no one seems to answer very many of our questions in this blog, whats up?
Moderator’s note: The moderators seek out answers to questions people post in blog comments, in addition to our regular duties. On the panda blogs, people often ask the same questions over and over, so the answers are right at our fingertips. Some questions, however, need to be sent to the keepers to find out if there is an answer (and that is the case with some of the questions on this blog recently). Also, JoAnne often reads through the comments and posts answers as her time allows. Hope that clears it up! We want to answer your questions, but need to wait to get the answer, first!
As long as Chinook is happy and healthy, that is all that matters. We will continue to love her no matter what! Since there is no cub this year, I am very happy to hear that they are all together again. Love to watch them!
Amen to that!
Another cub fun
Oh no cub sorry
Aww, it is a little bit of a letdown to hear that there are no cubbies when everyone was so hopeful, but she is happy and healthy and I am sure she is very pleased to be reunited with her friends! I’m excited to see her the next time I visit.
I can hear hearts breaking all over the plunge and all over the polar bear blog maybe I just wont hope any more then maybe we will get a surprize guess I will just have to come back to the plunge and have a girl to girl talk with our miss Chinook as much as its hurts I know we all just want the best for these wonderful bears. Tears of sadness I wanted little baby white bears for the zoo.Love to you all see you real soon Barbara from Phoenix xoxoxox!!!!
WOW!!! Just read your article about Chinook NOT being pregnant AGAIN, and I am so sad for her! I was sure hoping that she would be pregnant and have one or two cubs for us to watch on the polarbearcam, and to get a chance to see them develop and grow. I think that this is the 3rd or 4th year in a row that she has not gotten pregnant, and I feel that the vets and polar bear researchers should get a study done to find out why she is not getting pregnant. There’s an anwer about her inability to be pregnant for about 4 years straight out there. Kalluk should also go thru some testing to see if his semen and sperms are viable, in good health, and what his sperm count is. Hope you can do this for all of us, because we need to know why Chinook is not getting pregnant year after year. I really feel sorry for her. BTW, how old is Chinook? I hope that she is not too old to possibly be pregnant in her lifetime! At least we have 2 sets of baby bears to watch right now: Xiao Liwu at SDZ, the twin Andean bear cubs at National Zoo–both on bearcams! I’m hoping and praying that 2013 will be the charm for Chinook!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Happy New Year!!!!
If you look at “Meet the Bears”, she’s about to be twelve. She’s in her prime.
Diane.. I think you read Tatqiq’s age.. Chinook was born Febriary 1995 according to Meet the Bears info, making her 18 next month.
I have asked previoulsy about whether she was still capable of bearing cubs since she would appear to be at the tale end of her reproduction years if we go by wild polar bear statistics. To which I haven’t gotten an answer yet but I do understand staff is busy and perhaps hopeful with her being a captive bear for so long Chinook might still be able to have at least one offspring before the biological clock runs out for her.
You’re right. Sorry.
It’s my understanding that reproduction stops for them around the age of 20-22.
Tatqiq: Hey lovebirds, I want to play too!
Yesterday I was able to see all 3 bears playing and swimming together. Today I am only seeing 2 bears. Did something happen? Why aren’t all 3 together now?
Moderator’s note: Please don’t worry!
That’s just how the cam goes; sometimes you’ll see only one bear (right now, the camera’s on one of the bears napping in the sun), and other times you’ll catch them all interacting.
almost 5 pm on 1/4/13 and Kalluk is sleeping with his head on Chinooks belly. They are cuddled up together in the dirt just happy to be close! Its so cute!! They are just the cutest couple ever
PS – thank you to the camera operator for zooming in on this adorable moment for us all to watch.
Sad there will be no cubs. Sad both for all of us humans and for the polar bear population. I wish for all of you in polar bear conservation that you find keys to helping them populate in captivity. Thank you polar bear team for all you do to keep our three healthy and happy!
Who is in polar park…I see someone rolling in the dirt up there.
Chinook is just turning 18 years old and should have several more years of reproductive potential. Most female polar bears can reproduce into their mid-20′s and some in the wild have been documented with cubs at 30.
Such a bummer that there are no cubs.
I was curious if there are any plans for Miss Tatqiq to have some cubs…obviously not with Kalluk, but do they do AI with polar bears?
Moderator’s note: At this point we will keep Tatqiq out of the breeding population.
Do wild polar bear males play any part in cub rearing at all, or do they pretty much separate after breeding? Would it be any different if Chinook had cubs- would Kalluk get a chance to interact with them when they are small?
Moderator’s note: Wild male polar bears do not help with cub rearing, and if Chinook had had a cub, she would not want Kalluk near.
I realize siblings shouldn’t mate –
But, wouldn’t that happen in the wild sometimes with animals ?
If so, what actually would be the outcome of such a pregnancy.
( yes, I didn’t do well in Biology class.)
Although we suspect it possible that siblings or other related bears could breed in the wild, initial genetic studies have shown quite a diversified genetic mix. Polar bears from neighboring subpopulations seem to be represented well. In the event siblings would mate, it typically takes more than a few generations to see significant changes due to the lack of a diversified gene pool. We don’t worry about Tatqiq and Kalluk breeding since she is on a contraceptive.
Have y’all seen this incredible footage of a polar bear displaying natural ice cracking behaviors on the vehicle? Amazing!
www (dot) buzzfeed.com/svoip/close-encouter-with-a-polar-bear-4y59
Question,
When the polar bears walk forward a few paces then walk backwards shaking their head from side to side what is that?
I’ve watched Kalluk do this and Chinook but I have no idea what it means. I have seen them do this at the doors to their dens, and i recently saw kalluk doing this just on one of the rocks by the water. Is it a sign of aggression, or antsy-ness, or just trying to get their courage up to do something?
Moderator’s note: Antsy-ness. Perhaps food is about to appear or, in Kalluk’s case, he’d like to breed Chinook but perhaps she’s told him “no.”
Will Kalluk and Chinook breed any time she’ll allow it, whether its breeding season or not? Cause he is hot on her tail…lol. I feel bad for Tatqiq now, shes left out.
Moderator’s note: It is all up to Chinook.
I feel bad for Tatqiq too! she looks so lonely while he chases Chinook around and shes just left to herself. I’m sure she doesn’t mind too much though. I usually prefer my brother leave me alone too
I think that she does mind, I too feel sorry for her, despite being entertained by the keeepers, I saw several times that she wanted very eagerly to play with the lovebirds without much success. Last year Kalluk and Chinook were in a close relationship for almost six months. When it was over I noticed that Kalluk and Tagqiq were not so close any more than in the previous year.
I just tuned into the Polar and Panda cam, and both show our beloved SDZ animals snoozing away peacefully. Tatqiq is lying on the rock platform in a peaceful slumber, while mama BaiYun is perched high in a branch sleeping as well, with only Mr. Wu’s bum showing on another branch.
What lovely images to see at this moment. Kudos to the camera operator!
(It never ceases to amaze me how these animals can sleep so well on a branch. As a human being, I know that I would have fallen off by now!)
I think that it’s Kalluk on the platform, barely fitting, and Chinook is by the window in the sand. He doesn’t seem to let her out of his sight… Wonder where Tatqiq is…
That’s Tatqiq in the sand, Kalluk on the shelter rock, and Chinook is out of camera range sleeping in the mulch!
Why is Tatqiq not in the exhibit area with Kalluk and Chinook? She looks so lonely up there in Polar Bear Park.
Moderator’s note: The bears actually enjoy their time off in Polar Bear Park.
Oh, ok, thats good. I thought maybe you were purposely keeping her out so Kalluk and Chinook could make a L-O-V-E connection….lol. I just love these bears.
I miss seeing kalluk and tatqiq playing and wrestling in the plunge, its so different now.
Debbie you seem to know these polar bears very well….how do you tell them apart? Have you ever been to SDZ to see them. They are huge, beautful and have a lovely exhibit.
Tanda, I have not had the pleasure, but someday I will get there. I watch them everyday, and I love them without seeing them in bearson…lol. Watching them so often teaches me who’s who in their world. Tatqiq is the smallest of the three and has fuzzy feet, you can barely see her black pads, and she always lays on or under the platform by the sand. Chinook has a mole under her left eye and uses the middle platform above the water, sleeps in the sand by the wall, or is in the mulch way down at the end of the plunge. Oh, and if you watch her chew her carrots, she chews non-stop, where the other 2 take a bite and chew. Kalluk, now that Chinook is out, will follow her, lay by her, he’s in love…and you can just tell its him by his enormous size. Aren’t they just beautiful? And yes believe it or not I do have a life, but can you tell I’m obsessed. : )
Debbie I am obsessed with the panda’s like you are with the polar bears. SDZ is a wonderful zoo. The polar bear exhibit is beautiful. The polar bears are really huge and you are right, they are beautiful and even more so when you see them at the zoo. I have been to SDZ many times and have never seen a nicer zoo. It is so clean and the exhibits are so natural for the animals they all look so at home.
Thank you so much for the answer to my question, that was very nice of you.
Tanda, your welcome. And guess what? I am just as obcessed with Xiao Liwu and the rest of the Gao family also. Although, cubbie was my first, I have watched him since he was first born and pink. Not a day goes by that I don’t watch them all. I have 2 windows open on my comp. and switch from one to the other.
If there is a polar bear cub one of these days I will be just as glued to the computer as I have been with Little Gift. I got hooked when Yun Zi was born. I am so amazed at how gentle such a large animal is with such a small baby and how Bai picks up the tiny little cub with such huge paws and long nails. People should be so gentle with each other, that would be so nice:) I am going to keep a watch on the polar bears a little more now that Little Gift is larger. I would like to know more about the polar bears, they are so huge compared to the panda.
Very sad news – no little pitter-patter of polar bear cub this year. But she is healthy and that is a blessing. Of course, she will have ‘fun’ with Kalluk again.
I may have missed this in someone else’s post, be has Kalluk been tested to know that he is capable of fathering a cub? Just wondering if mating her with another bear has been considered.
Keep up the GREAT work – we love these beautiful bears!
Nancy
We have so much still to learn about pregnancy in polar bears. At this point we have no reason to believe that Kalluk and Chinook could not produce cubs. Maybe we just need to cross our fingers harder next year!
nice to see Tatqiq. don’t know if it’s the weather or my imagination but her fur looked incredibly soft this morning. it looks very blond. thanks for the info (in comments) about her breeding plans. for some reason I feel like she is happy with Kalluk.
In case you were all wondering, yes, that was all 3 playing together until Kalluk went to sleep. The 2 bears running around the exhibit, bobbing their heads at each other, and wrestling in the pool were Chinook and Tatqiq.
This question probably has been answered before, but I don’t seem to have read it in a blog or remember.
I wonder about the girls’ behavior of bobbing heads at each other. In the past, I had observed Tatqiq walking backwards and retreating to a corner in a gesture of submission to Chinook. Does bobbing heads mean a form of greeting in polar bears? Or it simply means an invitation to play? Thanks in advance!
Moderator’s note: Your question has been forwarded to our Polar Bear Team.
Head bobbing is greeting and excitement is definitely an invitation to play! They will also do it at toys they are about to pounce on.
Thank you, JoAnne, for the informative answer! I will now look at the polar cam with added interest!
Can someone please tell me what one of the bears is doing at the deepest end of the plunge. He/she is bobbing up and down, swing their head back and forth, like something is wrong. It made me panic the other night. Who is it and what is going on?
This morning I noticed one of the bears doing the same behavior repeatedly – coming out of the water, shaking the head, dropping back into the water, coming back out, shaking the head, back into the water, again and again.
I’ve seen a polar bear in the Smithsonian Zoo doing repetitive behavior and read that it is a result of boredom and confinement. It is very worrisome. Any comments to reassure me that all is well? I know that the three polar bears at SDZ are well treated and loved.
Moderator’s note: It is Kalluk and his way of dealing with raging hormones during breeding season.
Thank you! That makes a lot of sense! Poor Kalluk. But he is not alone. Many males of different species behave “out of the norm” with raging hormones. LOL.