A Tribute to Shikari
Posted at 9:12 am May 15, 2007 by JoAnne Simerson
What can I say about the most sensitive, beautiful, complex polar bear ever? Privileged to have been a trusted human in her life since she arrived in San Diego in 1996, I am unbelievably lucky to have loved her and to have learned from her everything she taught about polar bears. All of us who knew her are still grieving her loss (see previous blog, Sad News: Shikari the Polar Bear).
Shikari and her sister, Chinook, were found in November of 1995 on the outskirts of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. They were about 11 months old and much too young to survive a harsh Arctic without a mother’s protection and teachings. Manitoba Conservation rescued them and found a temporary home for them at an animal park in Quebec. Five months later they arrived at the San Diego Zoo’s brand-new exhibit, Polar Bear Plunge (Shikari is on the right in the image below). Many will remember our dear, sweet female bear Bonnie. At 32 years old, Bonnie became an auntie of sorts to both the young girls. Chinook and Shikari were collectively called “The Girls” from then on. Shikari formed a special attachment to Bonnie, often trying to sleep next to her on exhibit. It soon became apparent that of the two sisters, Shikari was the most sensitive and often in need of extra understanding and encouragement.
In 1997, two rambunctious young males named Buzz and Neil joined our group and were nicknamed “The Boys.” Although the smallest of all our bears, Shikari always had The Boys on the run! A favorite game for her was to take a broken piece of Boomer ball, place it across her face as a mask and chase everyone around the exhibit! She would also swim underwater and stealthily nip their paws as they hung off the deep-water point and slept.
Through the years of roommate changes, Shikari and her sister kept an incredible bond. Of course they had their spats, but so often we found them curled together sleeping. They stilled played together in the pool and were absolute professionals at snow play. Shikari especially carved out wonderful snow beds and often lounged all night. In the bedrooms, Shikari always brought cardboard, hay, and burlap into neat piles with raised areas for pillows. We forever tried to make the beds for her, but she would move all of our efforts to another area of the bedrooms.
Shikari was sensitive and complex. She did not trust easily. But once you earned that trust, it knew no bounds. Working with her on research projects was so rewarding. She seemed to enjoy learning new things, and the more complicated the task, the better she did. During the hearing study, she was so enthusiastic when we reached the most difficult sounds. She also seemed to enjoy the times as we sat, eye to eye, during the sessions. She even made up a game. To keep from inadvertently giving her clues that a tone was played, I would make facial movements. After a few sessions of this, Shikari began mimicking my movements. Throughout the study she would often initiate this game but would never forget to respond to the tones. A true multitasker! I will never forget that on the day her illness became so apparent to us, she insisted we do one last session. Of course she was perfect.
As our incredible veterinary staff went to all extremes to help our beautiful girl, we all saw that whatever had made her ill was going to take her from us. We still don’t have the answers. But we do have incredible memories of a very special, intelligent, and almost magical animal. Shikari so captured our souls. We deeply mourn her loss, but we now must celebrate everything she taught us.
JoAnne Simerson is mammal keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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May 15th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Hi JoAnne,
That was beautifully written!! Thank you for sharing your memories and experiences with us. You illustrated to us that Shikari was a wonderful bear. I have no doubt that she will always be with you in ” funny faced” spirit.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Hi JoAnne,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful memories of Shikari. It brought a tear to my eye reading about all the adventures you’ve had with the bears over the years. I visited San Diego Zoo with my family almost 2 years ago and have been ” checking out” the webcams ever since. I didn’t really see much of Shikari and Chinook on webcam as living in England it would be late by the time ” the girls” were on exhibit, but I still feel as though I knew Shikari. I share your loss and hope that your memories will bring a smile to your face when feeling low.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:56 am
JoAnne, what a beautiful loving tribute to Shakari, It shows just how much she was loved and how terribly she will be missed. to have known her must have been a special experience. just know that her spirit will live on and be with you always, look who she keeping company with over the rainbow bridge.
May 15th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Thank you for this beautiful tribute JoAnne…my thoughts are with you and the entire zoo family. Sleep well Shikari. You’re dearly missed…
May 15th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Thank you, JoAnne for the moving tribute to Shikari. I had been planning a trip to San Diego for several months and was looking forward to seeing the polar bears I so often watch on the Polar Cam and was saddened to learn of Shikari’s passing just a couple weeks before my visit. I hope Chinook is adjusting to the loss, as well as her keepers and all the others that loved her. Thank you for your blogs. They are educational, entertaining and inspiring.
May 15th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
What a very touching tribute to Shikari !! This brought tears to my eyes too. More reason to understand the SDZ’s loss. I hope Chinook is coping best she can, and she heals well !! Thank you for responding to all of us who wondered and posted over and over again. I cant begin to imagine how the SDZ staff feels, but know the memories will stay forever ! =) Wow, we truly know now, the animals there are in great hands !!
May 16th, 2007 at 3:15 am
Joanne–I am stricken with grief by your account of Shikira’s life and that we have lost yet another polar bear in our world. I am so sorry for your loss and for the loss we will all too often become to recognize as all of ours. Bear hugs, Val
May 16th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Joanne, what a beautiful fun filled tribute to Shikari. It is so moving to read of the close bond of trust she had with you, and how she enjoyed your sessions so much. It is amazing that a cautious wild animal would have developed such trust and enjoyed her training so much that even though she was ill she wanted to do a session anyway. Did she make faces at you that day?
The loss you feel is obviously very deep. It is always hard to lose a friend, but especially when it is sudden and you see your friend slip away from you without being able to save them. May your warm and funny faced memories keep you in your times of sadness.
May you rest in peace, beautiful white fluff ball, Miss Shikari polar bear. You are truely missed.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Such a beautiful tribute to a beautiful precious polar bear. I hope with time you will all feel better and one day soon to have more baby polar bears. She was special I loved watching her and her sister play in the snow and the water. She is greatly missed. I know as keepers you have special bonds with the animls and you certainly did have that bond, she gave so much of herself and you learned so much from her. Animals are so special and have a special place in so many people’s lives. I found so much pleasure in watching the polar bears and still do. Shikari is at peace now in heaven and she is no longer suffering. Memories of her will always be in my heart as I know they are in yours. Take care of yourself and hope all of the other polar bears are fine.
May 16th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
That was beautiful JoAnne. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Shikari will live in our hearts forever.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:05 am
Joanne, your tribute is beautiful and your love for the polar bears shines through. My husband grew up in Churchill Manitoba, so I have heard many polar stories over the years. We have many photographs of this majestic animal, and I also have some beautiful life-like sculptures of polar bears in my home.
I will think of Shikari and her beautiful sister Chinook when I look at them. Thank-you for sharing your love for these bears with us.
May 20th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
DEAR JOANNE
TEARS OF WONDER
TEARS OF JOY
TEARS OF HEARTACHE
TEARS OF GRIEF
THE GENTLNESS OF SOFT SPOKEN MEMORIES
THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
YOUR UNDERSTANDING, DEDICATION, RESPECT AND LOVE–THESE ARE ALL A BLESSING AND A GIFT TO ALL OF THE WONDROUS BEINGS IN YOUR CARE AND TO ALL OF US WHO SMILE, LAUGH AND CRY WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHARING SUCH CHERISHED MEMORIES OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL AND PRECIOUS SHIKARI. BLESSED BE ALL OF THEE, JUDY J
May 20th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
so very sad….animals are so precious, so intelligent, so sensitive, yet strong, determined, and proud.
i praise the staff for providing love and care to these animals.
i certainly hope chinook is doing well.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:39 am
Is Chinook sleeping in as late in the AM now that her bedroom mate is not there to sleep with?
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:25 am
Dear JoAnne,
I am much moved by your unforgettable memories with Shikari.
Though her life was short, it was significant.
We are proud of her great contribution to the research project.
God Bless her !
I will never never forget her !
May 24th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Are all three polar bears OK or are they off exhibit while they are being integrated to get to know each other?
I finally saw one bear off in the distance in the pool yesterday. I haven’t seen any bears in the AM, only in mid-late afternoon, which indicates to me that it must be Chinook??? Are Tatqiq and Kalluk OK? Previously they would be out together in the AM playing, either on the ” beach” or in the water. But I haven’t seen them since the Snow Day so I am hopeful that they haven’t fallen ill too.
May 25th, 2007 at 6:02 am
Now I know why I haven’t seen two bears outside recently. This morning I finally saw two bears at 5:55 AM. One was swimming in the water and looking back at the other one who remained on the edge of the ” beach.” I think the swimmer was Kalluk because he was whiter, and the one on the beach was Tatqiq. She stayed at the edge watching him for a while then stuck her nose up in the air as if she was smelling something and slowly wandered off back the interior part of the exhibit. He got out of the water on the far side, and also sniffed in the air, and then slowly dove back into the water for another swim.
Are you also using Tatqiq in the hearing study now that the star participant Shikari is no longer present?
Does Chinook go for swims very often, or does she prefer to lounge on the beach?
May 25th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I was all excited at 11:36 AM PDT, when I saw a lone bear swimming in the pond enjoying it immensely. I was hoping it was Chinook. The bear climbed up on the rock ledge of the beach and dragged a pine branch over to the edge by the water. Then it dove back in the water, swam way down deep, then came up grabbed the branch and pulled it off the rocks into the water. Suddenly I noticed a second, whiter and larger bear on the opposite side of the rocks watching the whole thing very carefully. They dove into the water and swam over to the bear with the branch. Now I realize it must have been Tatqiq with the branch, and Kalluk watching and going to join in the fun. Is Chinook out swimming these days? Is she as playful as the ” youngins?”
May 25th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I’ve been watching the bears dive down deeper and deeper and obviously enjoy swimming in their pool. It brings up a question in my mind, do you, and if so how, imitate the natural hunting behavior of a polar bear to go after a seal, baby or wounded adult, near the water, or in the water? I have seen photos of bears on land and seals in water, and seals on land and bears in the water. Since that is one of their most basic natural instincts and traits, how do you work with that in a captive setting? Does playing with the red ball somewhat mimick that?
May 30th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
It is great to see Chinook having a fun swim on Wed, 5/30, at 2:15 PM PDT. She is playing with her enrichment toy and pushing off the rocks. While she probably would have more fun with a ” playmate” she seems to be enjoying her solo swim.
May 30th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Wait a minute! There is suddenly a second polar bear at the other end of the pool. Is this Kalluk and Tatqiq having an afternoon swim? Or, has Chinook been introduced to Tatqiq or Kalluk and they are out on exhibit together? The bears seem to be on their own at different ends of the pool, so I am hoping it is Chinook interacting with one of the other polar bears.
June 1st, 2007 at 6:51 am
Please do a quick update for polar bear watchers/lovers on how Chinook is doing in the past month since she lost her sister, partner, and friend, Shikari.