Chillin’ at the Plunge
Posted at 3:29 pm July 24, 2007 by Kelly Murphy
Things here with the polar bears continue to go well. It’s been just over a month now since we introduced Chinook with Kalluk and Tatqiq (see Kelly’s previous blog, Two’s Company, Three’s a Party!). Every day we continue to see favorable interactions with all three bears. We have even seen behavior from Kalluk toward Chinook that makes us think breeding is a definite possibility. Approaching from behind, subtle nibbles on the neck, all the things a male can do to woo his girl.
Chinook has been with males in the past. About a year after Chinook and her sister, Shikari, came to the San Diego Zoo, a pair of brothers, Buzz and Neil, arrived from the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. However, since we were not breeding back then, they were altered to prohibit that from happening. All four, the sisters and the brothers, would spend the day together on exhibit and then we would separate the pairs overnight. It was a joy to watch their interactions and the new games they would create. I’ll never forget the sight of all four of them together in the back holding pool with several of their toys. Mind you, that pool is only about 7 feet deep and 8 feet long (give or take). With the arrival of two cubs (Kalluk and Tatqiq), Buzz and Neil moved to the Como Zoo in Minnesota.
So, now again, Chinook is playing hard and nurturing a relationship with a male, but this time with opportunities. We still have the three together only while someone is around to watch, and we continue to try a variable schedule daily. We anticipate behavior changes to occur, particularly the closer we get to breeding season (February/March). But every day they are still going strong, showing off for the guests and comfortable enough with each other to then settle down for an afternoon nap. It truly makes me smile every time I watch them, and I know that wherever Shikari may be, she’s smiling too.
Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
Kalluk and Tatqiq are pictured above, with Kalluk touching the glass.
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July 24th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The ending was well written!!!!! I can’t wait for there to be cubs!!!
July 24th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Kelly, thanks for the great update. You have answered my questions as to why I would sometimes seen three, two, or one bear. They seem to be enjoying themselves, particularly when they play in the water.
I am glad you mentioned Chinook’s previous experience with Buzz and Neil. That must be bringing back memories for her. Shikari would be happy that Chinook is not alone, and has some new friends to play with. Does Chinook play mostly with Kalluk, or does she interact with Tatqiq as well. It is great enrichment for Tatqiq to have another female to interact with since she has only been exposed to her brother previously.
If Kalluk and Chinook do breed, will you keep Tatqiq too, or will you separate her from Kalluk and send her to another zoo for a new life of her own? As I recall, male and female polar bears live separate lives except at breeding time. Memphis zoo also has one male and two females who get along very well together. Their females have an especially strong bond, partly because they were there before the male came to join them. They also are not yet breeding their bears, so it will be interesting to see how the dynamics change in both situations if/when breeding becomes a reality.
You mentioned that you vary the schedule of when the bears are on exhibit together. Is there any particular window that you aim for, e.g. early AM, late PM, mid-day?
July 25th, 2007 at 7:06 am
Kelly, what a beautiful sight that picture is and your right Shikari is watching and is happy that things are going to be okay, Maybe next year we will have a baby or two to watch and boy will Shikari really be smiling.We all know where Shikari is, she’s over the rainbow bridge with Mandisa , Koza and all the other beautiful one’s we have lost, she’s not alone and she watches over you everyday.
July 25th, 2007 at 11:27 am
What great news Kelly. Thanks for the update. It is a real joy to watch the bears frolicking in the pool together, they seem to be very happy.
July 25th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Kelly, do the bears ” know” (respond) to their names?
I am so glad that everybody is doing well.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Great news about the polar bears! I hope that we have baby polar bears to watch soon! What do they eat mostly? I am sorry of your loss. I love to watch them.
August 28th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Kelly, how are the three bears doing in the heat? I saw two of them ” lounging’ on the beach last week, but haven’t seen them much this week. I guess they like it either in the cool water, or in their air conditioned bedrooms.