Patchwork Polar Bear
Posted at 5:07 pm November 6, 2007 by Kelly MurphyMany of you Polar Cam viewers may have noticed some differences at the San Diego Zoo’s Polar Bear Plunge over the past week. There have been solo bears and even pairs but not the usual trio of playful bears that everyone loves to watch. Now the three bears are back and one of them is sporting a new hair cut. That would be Tatqiq. While I have stated that we continue to change things up and try to keep diversity in the group, unfortunately that’s not what last week was all about.
I noticed that Tatqiq just didn’t seem herself and was isolating herself more from the other bears. It became very apparent a few days later that we had a sick bear on our hands. An exam was immediately done and several tests taken to determine the situation at hand. What some of the radiographs revealed was that Tatqiq had come down with pretty severe pneumonia.
After a few days of rest, fluids, medications, and lots of TLC, she started to respond favorably. Tatqiq gained some of her appetite back, was moving around more, and all the bears were ready to be reunited once again. In order for anesthesia to be administered and samples to be collected (blood, spinal fluid, etc) the vets had shaved off the fur to expose the skin underneath. After lots of sniffing and investigating of Tatqiq’s bare spots, it was time to engage in a day of play and napping in the dirt pits.
While the bears’ routine is more normal, we still have to medicate Tatqiq twice a day with about 20 pills each time. She’s much larger than your average dog, and those of you who have had to medicate your pets know how challenging that can be! And speaking from experience, it takes time to completely come around from having pneumonia. That means Tatqiq still needs some extra time and attention to make sure she’s comfortable and not overdoing it. I figure that’s right up her alley though, as she IS the princess.
Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Scroll to the end to leave a comment. Pinging is not allowed.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Thank You Kelly for the update on Tatqiq, I am glad she is on her way to recovery. When I first read that she was sick I thought to myself oh no here we go again another Polar bear sick and then I read on further to find out she is doing better. I am so glad to hear the news is good.
I have enjoyed seeing the three of them out together and they are always so entertaining. I haven’t been to see them since just before the week of the fires so I will be there this coming saturday and I will make sure I come to visit one of my favorite animals at the zoo the Polar Bears.
Do you think she got sick because of the fires and the bad air?
Take care of our princess bear….
November 6th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Kelly, Thank you for your update. I’m much released to hear Tatqiq is getting better. She must be very uncomfortable over the past weeks. Pls give my best regards to her.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
#1, Peggy, I had the same thoughts. I gasped when I read she was suddenly ill and immediately thought of Shikari. Glad to know it was pneumonia and was treatable, and that she has responded favorably. I am sure being back with her pals will help her heal more quickly.
How did Kalluk and Chinook do on their own? It was an unintended enrichment time for them, and gave you a chance to evaluate their social relationship without Tatqiq in the mix.
I also wondered if the air quality might have had any impact. Although the smoke didn’t really reach the zoo, animals can be more sensitive than humans to climatic change. Animals are one of the most accurate and advanced warning systems that scientists are watching for biological warfare, terrorist attacks, and general climatic changes.
Do you have to keep Tatqiq away from the water while she is still recovering?
November 6th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Ohhhh. I hope Tatqiq recovers quickly and completely. Wow. 20 pills at one time.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
I hope Princess Tatqiq is feeling her old self soon! Hearing of her illness brought back memories of Shikari and how quickly she was gone from us. Best wishes for a quick and full recovery!
November 6th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Hi Kelly,
Happy to hear that Tatqiq is feeling much better and is on her way back to her happy self. No doubt, Tatqiq is enjoying every bit of attention she’s given.
Tatqiq, Chinook and Kalluk give us so much pleasure when we visit the Polar Bear Plunge. We usually sit and watch them frolic and splash until they tire out – if that’s possible!
Thanks for taking such great care for these majestic and entertaining animals.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Aww, sorry to hear Tatqiq was under the weather, and hope she makes a complete recovery soon !!! Did the other two bears notice her not being around, and did they react to her not being around ? Like did their disposition change and did they become depressed at all, or wonder around looking for her ? Are there any plans at all in the near future however are away, that there may be some breeding in Chinook and Kalluk’s future, to keep the wild gene in any possible cubs born, or is breeding polar bears in captivity not normaly done ?
Well, hope Tatqiq is feeling better soon !!
November 7th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Thank you for the update on Tatqiq and I hope she is completely well soon. You have my deepest sympathy in getting 20 pills into her at once. I know what it is like to give just one pill to a small domestic cat!!
November 7th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Oh, poor Tatqiq. I think I see her out there, now. I noticed a bear, a few days ago, that looked more like a panda bear, and thought it was Chinook trying to get dirty, but now it must have been Tatqiq. I am glad to hear she is doing better and hope she continues to improve and gets strong and well, soon. I have noticed more napping, lately, and less play. I was also wondering if she ever gets jealous of Chinook, when she and Kalluk are playing, but from just being a cam watcher, it is hard to tell who is who, sometimes. I have had cats and know 1 pill can be a battle with fur flying!. I hope she is doing well with the meds. Tell our Princess that we all love her and want her better, very soon (she is my favourite of them) and give her lots of favourite foods and pink toys! I get bronchitis, a lot, and allergens really make it bad. I would not be surprised if the bad air quality from the fires affected her, too. Give her a hug and kiss for me…hehehehe….
November 7th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Ouch – I know how crummy I felt when I had pneumonia a couple years ago – so I can’t imagine how miserable a bear must feel. Glad to hear she is on the road to recovery. Good luck administering those pills – I know how hard it is sneak just one pill to the dogs (sneaky boys) – I simply can’t imagine how you get 20 of them into a bear – honey, peanut butter, stuffed inside fish?
November 7th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Thank you for the update I had heard she was ill and had been wondering how she was
November 7th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I am glad to hear that Tatqiq responded so well to her medication. It is great to see all three playing so well together. Can you tell me which of the Polar Bears is the one who pushes himself off against the rocks and swims backward on his back like he is doing the backstroke. I enjoy watching that so much. Thank you
November 7th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Yes, please tell us how you manage to get 20 pills in her. I have a St. Bernard that occasionally requires oral medication and what a fight that was- until I discovered a little trick. Coat the pills with peanut butter and she can’t wait to have her meds! Slurps them right down. I am sure the years of experience in caring for the polars has uncovered some great tactics for them as well.
November 8th, 2007 at 7:22 am
Are the bears together 24/7 now or only when out on exhibit when keepers are there? I often see only one bear, not just since Tatqiq has been ill, so I am thinking that is probably Chinook? I rarely see all three of them together, so I am guessing that they are not always on exhibit together.
Has the hearing study continued since the loss of Shikari? As I recall, Chinook was also involved in the study, although Shikari was the ” star.” Have you ever determined what caused the encephalitis in Shikari’s brain?
November 8th, 2007 at 10:39 am
I have a question. When watching the Polar cam, how do you tell who’s who? When they are out of the water Kalluk is easy to distinguish, based on his size, but I can’t tell Chinook and Tatqiq apart? Anyone have any tips? Thanks and I am sorry to hear that Tatqiq wasn’t feeling well but glad to hear she’s on the mend!
November 8th, 2007 at 10:51 am
9:47am Polar Bear Cam time! A very happy scene! One bear (Kalluk?) has some new toy in the plunge. It looks like netting and just had a fun time playing tug of war with it with another bear on the stone. After they let go, Kalluk got out of the water, wrestled them and pushed them into the water! Then another bear (maybe Tatqiq?) came into the picture and is now laying by the rock, rather interested in this new play. They are playing near her and someone keeps putting the new toy on their head (Kalluk?). At any rate, it is a happy setting to see all three bears out there, again, and playing so close together. I have a big smile on my face! I think Tatqiq should be given her beloved pink ball to play with!
November 8th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I’m glad Princess Sweet-Face is doing better. I wish her a speedy recovery. Pneumonia can be pretty scary.
I have a hard time giving my dog 1 pill–I cannot imagine giving a polar bear 20 pills at a time!!
November 8th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
I tuned in a little after 10 am and they were having a great time – running, swimming – all 3 of them. Yup – it’s easy to spot Princess Tatqiq with her crazy haircut – but she seemed to be in fine form – so I’m guessing the meds are working. Thanks again for the great care, love and respect you give these beautiful creatures – it’s really remarkable.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
WOW!!! Just read about Tatqiq being sick with pneumonia and is now recovering from it. I also know from my own experience about giving meds to my pets, especially cats! I went thru a year and a half giving pills to my Abbysinian cat that was going thru an illness several years ago. It was pretty rough, tho. This cat was battling a serious disease, and we got thru it as best as we could. I turned out that the cat was starting to lose his appetite, and the meds were not working, so I had to finally let him go and let the vet put him down. That was a very sad day for me! I also know about pneumonia having gone thru double walking pneumonia myself back in 1979. Pneumonia is a tough illness to get rid of, and I had a lot of leftover residue for a few weeks after the main illness, plus taking about 3 different types of antibiotics to get it under control and get it out of my system. Tatqiq will probably be going thru all of that before she totally gets rid of it, but I’m glad that she is getting better and taking her meds like a trooper. I’m also very happy that Kalluk and Chinook were very happy to see her back with them. They probably missed her alot! Please keep us informed of her progress, ok? Oh yeah, I did read about Tatqiq’s unusual necklace! That was funny! I’m glad that she finally found a way to get rid of it, tho!
Get well, Tatqiq!!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
November 9th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Any chance you could post a picture of the Princess with her new haircut? I haven’t had much luck seeing the bears on polar cam lately… =[
November 10th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Well, I waited until 11 AM PST to check in on the Polar bears hoping I would see them all together, per #18 Cheryl’s luck on Thursday, but no bears visible. Guess they were out earlier or will be later. I usually check around 8-10 AM, but only see the keepers and staff cleaning the exhibit. I have better luck checking around 1-2 PM PST before I go home from work (EST).
Is there any possibility you could take a video of one of their great active play sessions so we could see all three of them playing? Since those of us on the East Coast have to visit virtually, it is difficult to know when to catch the ” live” action.
Thanks for keeping us posted on Tatqiq’s ” necklace” and pneumonia. Do you think the ” necklace” had anything to do with the pneumonia?
November 12th, 2007 at 7:38 am
I am so excited. I checked on the Polar Cam at 6:30 AM PST, and there were two very dirty polar bears. They obviously had been having fun either overnight or very early this morning. The were resting on the ” beach” listening to the early morning sounds at the zoo. Wish I could have been there in person to get a closer view, as they look like they were quite pleased with themselves. Soon it will be time for a morning swim and ” bath” to wash it all off. They have such beautiful white fur, it is interesting to see them get themselves covered in soil or sand.
I noticed in photos of Knut last week that he also likes to role and rub in a pile of dirty sticks, etc, and also comes out a brown bear. Then he trots down to the moat and has a swim and cleans up quickly.
November 12th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Hi, Margaret of #21. I am also on the East Coast. This is what I have found, so far. The best times to see them are….
Starting around 8am, eastern time, whomever is in there during the night may be seen swimming around in the spot lights, and as it gets lighter they might be swimming about until they pull the bear/bears in. Around 10am, our time, the bears seem to be out of the water and area, and by 11:30-12:00, eastern time, the cleaners are doing their thing (which is actually fun to watch, too!) Once the hoses are pulled out, the raft, the stones all hosed down, etc., someone usually does a walk around check as well as coming out with a pail of some kind of treat for the bears. Within the next 15 mintues the bear(s) seem to come out (which would be around opening time for the zoo) and they sniff about and eat their snacks. I find the most action takes place starting around 1pm, eastern time, to about 3. Then they seem to take naps. I think a lot depends on what the schedule is….who is out with who, how busy and active a night they had, and what toys are in the plunge. If something new and exciting is out, ore their beloved little balls, they seem to play longer, but then they all crash around the same time! So you see bears laying in various places, or not at all if they are on the other side. Pay attention to 2 other things, too. If the water is choppy, just wait. They are in the shallows and eventually will be back on screen. The choppier the water, the more bears in the plunge! Unless, of course, Kalluk just did another belly flop! Also pay attention to the beach. If you see it wet with trails that look fresh, they are problably chasing each other in and out of the water. Or they have finished playing in the water and are planning on taking naps. If the water is quiet and the beach fairly dry, they are napping for a while! Seems like things are fairly quiet from 4 or 4:30pm on, our time. They are out there, but napping more, or maybe only an occasional swim. But you never know! Hope that helps!
November 12th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Another great sight at 1:30 PM PST, two bears playing in the water, and one on land watching. Is the one on land likely to be Tatqiq? It looks big, like it might be Kalluk, but is not particularly interested in joining the other two in the water. I thought it might be Tatqiq still resting up from her pneumonia.
November 12th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Thanks, Debi, #23, for the update on timing. I hit it just right today.
November 12th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Debi’s comments bring another question to my mind. Once the exhibit has been cleaned in the morning, do the bears stay out on exhibit all day, or do you rotate them off and on for training etc. Or do some of you do training while the exhibit is being cleaned?
i.e. What is the general schedule in the life of a polar bear at SDZ. For security reasons, you may not be able to answer this question with specifics, but late AM on late PM off will suffice to answer the question.
November 13th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Yep! Two dirty bears, again this morning! Apparently we are missing out on something good! Maybe I should build a sandbox, out back, take a swim, roll in the dirt…..
Life is good!
November 14th, 2007 at 6:54 am
5:51am Polar Bear Cam time… Tatqiq is out there, right now, having a blast with peeking under the rock shelf and pouncing on a white oblong floaty thing! She is looking happy an d very energetic! The water is really stirred up!! The bears really love pouncing on floating toys, trying to sink them and seem to get very excited when the pop up into the air and splash down! I wonder if this, at all, taps into their huntint instincts and almost playfully mimics catching food?
November 14th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
It looks like another trash can lid has appeared on the rocks. But, two bears are having a great deal of fun in the water and ignoring it. (Kalluk and Tatqiq?) One bear was already lounging on the beach and rolling in the sand (Chinook?) and doesn’t seem interested in joining them in the water.
It is great to see them playing and enjoying themselves. Do you notice that they are more active now that the cooler weather has come?
November 14th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Actually – the weather has gotten a lot warmer here in SD – in the 80’s – true ” chamber of commerce” weather – so I figured that may be why they are splashing around in the water so much – they are just trying to keep cool. Maybe rolling around in the dirt also keeps them cool? It really is fun watching them – they look like they are really happy and enjoy each other company. It’s a joy to see!
Debi – I love your bear play-by-plays… it’s almost like I’m watching it live!
November 14th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
#30, Cheryl, thanks for the update on the temps. That may explain why they are spending more time in the water. My observation, which is very limited, is that they are most active in the water. Since I don’t see much of them on land, due to camera angles, I may have distorted perspective. Maybe we can send some of the chilly weather we are about to receive to them to help them cool off.
November 19th, 2007 at 7:32 am
6:30am Polar Bear Cam time! Kalluk and Tatqiq started off as too very sleepy and yawning bears, but when Kalluk woke up-that was it! Time for a morning bath! So, he promptly wrestled his sister into the water, dived after her, check out his stash of toy balls and then now are taking a leisurely morning swim! As if Tatqiq has a choice! Kalluk loves pushing everyone in the water and bellyflopping them! Apparently he doesn’t like to swim alone!
November 27th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Is the hearing test still going on? If so, are all three bears participating, or just Chinook? How is the test going?
With the passing of Shikari, we haven’t heard anymore about the test. Would love an update, especially when I read recently that the US Navy has been told to stop harrassing the whales off Northern Alaska.
November 27th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
11:25am Polar Bear Cam Time! Kalluk has successfully tossed both Tatqiq and Chinook into the water, though Chinook was a bit reluctant. Then he bellyflopped her. I guess this is his daily duty-to be sure the women folk talk plenty of swims! He then swam off on his own, giggling, Tatqiq felt it was due time to play with the log and Chinook decided water wasn’t so bad, afterall, and is enjoying floating about on her back! I especially love when they get all exicted and jump out of the water, chasing each other, leaving long, heavy trails of water, and jumping back into the plunge. It just goes to show how much their fur coat absorbs the liquid and how big they are! I hope they have a very festive holiday season!!
November 29th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Glad to hear that Saturday is Snow Day at Polar Plunge. Those of you who can go in person, please say hi to the bears and laugh for me. I think it will be quite an exciting time for the bears to have 3 of them out there at once for the first time ever. I hope it will be video recorded for those of us who can’t be there in person to watch later.
December 1st, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Well…here I am, still waiting for bears in the snow and the day is half over! I got up early to watch them clean the plunge and start spraying the snow. Then nothing. No more snow, not a single bear in sight. Where is the action? If there is more snow in another section of the plunge where they are having fun, is there anyway to move the camera so those of us can see it? I wish I could invite the gang over to our backyard, in the winter, and let them enjoy 1 acre of pure snow in New England and a few fun sliding spots! Of course, lack of fencing might be a slight problem!!!
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:20 am
A very special thank you to whomever moved the camera view so we can see the bears playing in the snow! You and they have made my day! Now I know why we made snow angels in the snow as children! We are part Polar Bear!! They just love rolling in it! I love the balls in the igloo, which have now rolled down and into the water! I am hoping to see a bit of slip and sliding, though it may be too wet now! I wonder if Chinook is confused as to why this isn’t making her dirty?!!
December 9th, 2007 at 6:50 am
5:43am Polar Bear Cam time! The spotlights are on and there are three bears chasing each other around the rocks and in and out of the water. Kalluk seems to be particularly enjoying himself while chasing the females around the plunge and into the water if anyone sneaks out! Must be Sunday morning bathing time! The water is really churning with all this activity! No wonder they sleep so much during the day! They exhaust me just watching them run about. I still wish we could hear them! Perhaps something future technology will allow for!
December 13th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
After reading what polar bears eat, I have a question about the Polar Bear Plunge. I would like to know if the polar bears have live fish in the Polar Bear Plunge at the San Diego Zoo, or are they only feed by the zookeeper to regulate their diet? I thought I read that there are some fish in the plunge.
Thank you,
Julie Haggerty
December 18th, 2007 at 7:24 am
We polar bear fans need an update on our three beloved bears! How is Tatqiq doing? Any pictures of the snow day to share? I’ve notice some new toys, including what looked like a bowl with the smaller balls in them. Will they get some special Christmas toys or another tree? More bears, please! This year we decorated our smaller tree as a polar tree~Santa, North Pole, silver snowflakes and polar bear ornaments, with a few stuffed polar bears around the bottom! Merry Christmas, Tatqiq, Chinook and Kalluk!
December 29th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
It is 4:52 Polar Bear Cam time and I just saw the sweetest thing! The camera is shot up close to the dirt bed and one of the bears (not sure who, but they were bird watching, so could be Tatqiq) was playing happily with the palm frond that was lying there. Then they looked around for a while and laid down their head, all snuggled up to it, and is now falling asleep. Long day-I agree! Just seeing this makes me want to go to bed, too! Sweet Dreams, pretty polar bear!