Remodeling Polar Bear Plunge
Have you ever remodeled your house? The construction noise and dust seem to go on forever. In the end, it’s all worth it! That is what San Diego Zoo polar bears Chinook, Kalluk, Tatqiq, as well as their keepers have been living with for what seems like months. But we’re getting through it fabulously! Although Kalluk wasn’t sure about it at first, he has now been promoted to construction supervisor and can often be seen watching the work in the new management yard while soaking his paws in the drinker on what we call reindeer ridge.
New fence poles
Kalluk supervised the digging of the new pool and the concrete pour for the fence poles. Along with this, he must inspect the wonderful new transfer chute our in-house welders have designed and built for our bears to move from the bedroom area into the new yard. Good news is we expect all construction to be done by the end of the month!
Out come the glass barriers!
Out front, you may notice a tower-like building by the beach area. This is just a temporary barrier while a new guest experience wall is installed. Once all the new interpretive elements are installed next year, we’ll be able to give guests a chance to meet our bears with no glass barrier and talk about our fabulous trio (or more!).
A plastic ball is wedged into the bears' stash pipe.
You also may have seen the cleaning of the Plunge. Our incredible water quality team drained, scrubbed, bleached, and refilled the 130,000-gallon pool in just over 2 days! And yes, we finally had the chance to see what was in the stash pipe (see post,
Polar Bears’ Stash). We removed three balls, one tube, and one cow bone. We couldn’t remove one bright pink ball and one red ball . . . humanly impossible! Tatqiq’s first job when coming out to the pool once it was filled was to check her stash pipe and see what treasures she would need to replace.
Inside the bedroom area, the final preparations for Chinook’s den are being completed. The den is now equipped with a camera and microphone. All the controls and monitors are now in the keeper kitchen. We are still hoping for funding for the Internet cable and cameras for the new management yard. The final work is to install all elements of the den and outer chambers. This will happen when Chinook tells us through her behavior she is ready to be secluded. Right now, she still shows she wants to go out on exhibit for short periods every day and then is quite content coming in and sharing her day with her keeper.
It takes teamwork to perform ultrasound on a cooperative Chinook.
We are now also doing ultrasounds with her two to three times a week. Chinook is unbelievable in how cooperative and extremely patient she is as we work through this new field of polar bear ultrasound. Just as in the hearing study (see post,
Can You Hear Me Now?), Chinook maintains eye contact with her keeper. It is an amazing feeling having her stare so deeply and trustingly into your eyes. It is sometimes hard to remember that this has never been done anywhere in the world! We are having incredible success and believe if Chinook doesn’t den up too soon before fetal development, we have an excellent chance of seeing the beginnings of her pregnancy. Truly this is due to our very special bear.
Good girl, Chinook!
For the next few weeks you’ll continue to see our trio out exploring, sleeping, and playing on exhibit. Once the yard is completed, our bears will be introduced to their new “digs.” Chinook will be first, since this will be her yard until her hoped-for cubs are old enough to go out into the big exhibit. Shortly after this, we suspect Chinook will be letting us know it’s time to seclude herself. It’s so hard waiting and not knowing is she or isn’t she!
JoAnne Simerson is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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September 17th, 2009 at 11:50 am
JoAnne thank you very much for such informative and exciting news. You made me smile while reading about Kalluk’s supervisory position. To be able to go there and see no more glass barrier will be awesome. Can’t wait for it:-). Salute to the water quality team. I’m pretty sure the trio would like to give you all hugs and high-paws for doing such a great job. As for Chinook, you’re killing us with suspense:-). Oh, I know, we humans are very nosy ha. Just take your time and enjoy every moment of it all….JoAnne, you make me wish I work there too. How amazing it will be to wake up each day and be with these precious creatures. Best of regards to the trio, especially to Chinook. Hugs, SDZ staff, keepers and moderators. You are all awesome…
September 17th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Wow ! Thank you Joanne for the update on the bears new digs, and the pictures of Chinook going through her ultrasounds. You and the rest of the keepers truely are very lucky to be able to work with such a magnificant animal, that up close and personal ! Thank you again for the update, I’ve been checking the blogs multiple times daily just waiting and waiting for an update on our favorite trio !! Cant wait to see if Chinook is going to den up soon, and what it’s going to be like to experience this with her. Not to mention now the SDZ is offering a chance to meet the bears without a barrier, is awesome. I cant wait till all is complete, and to take a little drive out to San Diego. Thanx Joanne !
September 17th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Thank you for a wonderful post JoAnne. Well worth waiting for. You answered questions we’ve all had about the remodel. Loved the info on the stash! Sounds like it was great enrichment for Kalluk, the supervisor! You are so right – it IS hard waiting and not knowing. But the hope shines on.
What an incredible accomplishment for all of you at SDZ to be the very first at polar bear ultrasound! And dear, sweet Chinook for being so accomodating. I’m sure it’s all the training you have given her and the love and care that have prompted her to be so trusting. Every day all of you at SDZ keep proving that you are the best at animal care and behavior, and training, and studying, and learning……
September 17th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Congratulations on your success with ultrasound. It is truly amazing what can be accomplished with an intelligent bear and skilled keepers and vets. I await the happy news that Chinook is indeed pregnant.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
What an entertaining blog (Polar Bears’ Stash). I missed it in 2007 and laughed out loud while reading it today.
September 17th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Thanks for the update on the Plunge, JoAnne! I just get a kick out of looking at the red ball wedged in the stash pipe! These are sure clever bears, and they KNOW where and how to stash their favorite treasures!
September 17th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
JoAnne, Thank you so very much for such a wonderful article. I’m so excited and eagerly look for updates on our bears. Didn’t realize how much work was being done. Thanks for sharing the news.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
As I view the polar bear plunge remodeling, I notice whenever there is a single bear outside it paces forward and backward in the same place seeming to be highly anxious or stressed. What does this sort of behavior mean to those of us who view the cam regularly? Is this difficult on the bears to witness?
Moderator’s note: Sometimes an animal will pace in anticipation of food. They have very good internal clocks!
September 17th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Great blog, are there any bigger versions of the pictures posted here to look at?
Moderator’s note: Not at this time.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Totally cool. Can you make the photos so we can enlarge and take a better look?
Moderator’s note: It’s hard to see, even when the photo is larger. But we’ll keep everyone updated as construction progresses.
September 17th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I’ve lived in Canada all my life, but never in the North, and I’ve always wanted to see a polar bear in the wild. With the way things are going, the fate of these beautiful animals may well be in the hands of people like you and places like the San Diego Zoo. I can only imagine what it would feel like to be Chinook’s keeper… maintaining eye contact with a polar bear while accomplishing something never before done on the planet, a polar bear ultrasound. It is awesome, and I really appreciate these blogs.
September 17th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
wow! what a great up-date! thanks soo much for all the awesome information on everything we have been wondering about for awhile now! if we would just learn to be more patient, the answers are always
just around the corner for us from you!!!!! hopefully, all the work and preporations will have a wonderful
reward in the end. if not, 2010 is another year right? fingers crossed out here in cyber space as well as at the zoo!!
September 17th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Thanks, JoAnne. You are one very blessed lady to have the privilege of having a mature wild born polar bear stare trustingly into your eyes and do whatever you ask. She really is a princess! It is wonderful to know that her cooperation is allowing ground breaking research and animal care to be done that is so essential to the polar bears survival. It will help her wild relatives as much as it does those in captivity.
I hope she will enjoy her ultrasound sessions so much that she will allow it as far along as you need her to go to provide her the best maternal care you can. The more you know in advance, the more prepared you can be.
Sounds like the new “digs” are just what the trio would have ordered if they had a say in the design. I am excited to see how they use what they are gaining. I love the stories about their pipe stash. I can just imagine what must have been going on in Tatqiq’s head. Did she go straight to the pipe under water, or did she check out the land area first? They must have heard or smelled the changes and knew to go look.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
What wonderful news! Kalluk must watch Home Improvement and This Old House when he is in his bedroom, for he sounds pure male and highly interested in the developments going on. Well, only to be expected. Afterall, it would be his cub, too! And he wants to make sure his womenfolk are safe and sound! (and that there is plenty of space for his famous belly flops, too!!)
Chinook sounds like an angel with the ultrasounds. It amazes me how you manage training these huge bears to do such unnatural things in a comfort zone that suits them. Many kudos to all of you!
I love seeing and hearing about Tatqiq’s stash of toys and goodies. I love watching her go under the water with nothing and suddenly coming up with a bright ball, playing with it for a while and then sneaking it back underneath. I am certain she is giggling all the while!
September 17th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I am not familiar with San Diego’s history with polar bears. How long has the zoo had them and have you had any cubs born at the zoo? If so, where are they now? Thanks.
Moderator’s note: The last time we bred polar bears was in the 1980s. One of the cubs from Bonnie and Castor is at Indianapolis Zoo; she’s now 25 and her name is Tundra.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I certainly hope and pray that she gives birth to at least 2 cubs. It would be so amazing for SDZ to have polar bear cubs and a panda cub!!!! Hooray!
September 17th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
I was totally hooked on every word in your blog, JoAnne. All three bears are being so patient throughout all the rebuilding and it’s good that Kalluk has taken on the job of Commander in Chief. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Tatqiq has a method of removing those two balls that are stuck if she wants to. So looking forward to seeing the bears without the glass. Has Chinook specified the colours she would like her bedroom to be? Wouldn’t be blue/purple/green would it?!
September 18th, 2009 at 6:05 am
I keep looking in the crystal clear water to see if I can see something red near a rock on the side so I can figure out where the stash pipe is. The water is incredibly clear, especially when it is dark on land and the pool is illuminated. Tatqiq would have had an easy time finding her stash pipe and figuring out what was missing! I am sure the polar bears appreciate the clean clear water too.
September 18th, 2009 at 6:59 am
logged in 7 am your time– there is a window cleaner in a small boat cleaning the glass…
how cool!!!
September 18th, 2009 at 10:19 am
What a great post! Thanks so much for all the information. The Plunge is really amazing since the cleaning, so fun to be able to see all the way to the bottom. And I love that Chinook gazes into your eyes while she’s having her ultrasound. So sweet! Congratulations on all the exciting happenings and can’t wait to see some cubs!
September 18th, 2009 at 10:59 am
thank you for the update. I can’t wait until the extreme makeover is finished at the polar plunge. Oh how I hope chinook will give us the best news that we have all been waiting for. I know exactly what you mean about starring into their eyes as I have been so fortunate. A note to everyone asking to see the pictures larger use an iPhone it makes looking at the bears much clearer. One question for joanne or the moderator will it be possible to get a drawing of what the plunge will look like once it’s done. Thank you to everyone for the updates.
Moderator’s note: We’ll look into it.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Thanks for the great update. Would be great to see a baby polar bear. That is great your doing a makeover of the polar bear area. I like that they stash toys and such.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Is that Kalluk resting on table rock (1:20 PM) looking around like he is either supervising from afar by sound, or waiting to see what is being served at the table? He/she is almost attached to the rock now that it is sparkling clean. I love to watch how each bear has their own favorite spot in the Plunge, and spend considerable time just hanging out lounging around. They sure do respond to all the loving attention they are getting.
September 18th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Hi Joanne, I agree with all those before me who say you’re having a very special experience although I understand you’re a very special person and deserve to have that experience. Like all the others I can see that Chinook trusts you implicitly. Hope to be able to meet you some day.
September 18th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Thanks, JoAnne Simerson for your updates.
I am an ultrasound tech and wonder if one of the reasons Chinook cooperates with the sonography is that it just feels good! I am happy when my abdominal and pelvic patients fall asleep on the exam table – it means they are relaxed, and it’s easier for me to do the exam when they lie still!
Do you know that she mated? Or was she artificially inseminated?
[How] do you know if a fertilized egg has left an ovary?
Has one already left and is it just take its own sweet time traveling down the tube?
Also how long can she delay implantation before a fertilized egg becomes non-viable?
Thanks -
L
Moderator’s note: I can answer your first question! Chinook and Kalluk bred many, many times; no AI involved.
September 18th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I am still amazed at the picture of Chinook in the cage with the woman doing the ultrasound, right next to her and the big trusting eyes! I can’t imagine being that close to a polar bear, even with a cage between us! I have a huge respect for the wild nature of animals, even those kept in zoo’s and wish more people realized they are not pets, but simply kept in safe environments for protecting their species, etc. All you keepers must have amazing courage and many a rule to work so closely with them. I admire and applaud all of you! Does Chinook ever pounce toward or growl or anything when the ultrasound is being done, or is she just quietly taking it all in? This passive behaviour just makes me think even more that she will make a wonderful mommy! Do you think twins for a first pregnancy would be too hard on her or is it in their nature to be able to balance out having two cubs, since that is usually the norm if food supply/health/weather permit for a good upbringing? Seeing Bai take care of her one cub wears me out! Do polar bears have a different approach to rearing young or do they sleep more, eat less, demand less from their mothers? Two cubs certainly would keep each other busy giving Mom a rest at times, I suppose!
September 18th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Hey Larkin,
There are pictures of them … um … being intimate on flickr if you want to see. He was really warm for her form for several weeks.
September 19th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Debi, MA I’ve stood that close to Chinook in her wheely cage (well just a foot or two further back) and there are no words to describe how I felt. In awe is the only thing I can think of and that doesn’t really cover it. It was a real honour to be next to her. It was obvious that she loves her keepers (on this occasion it was Kelly) and trusts them implicitly.
September 19th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Thanks for the update on the enclosure remodel – I saw them cleaning the pool on polar cam a while back. Interesting to read about what items were pulled out of the stash pipe.
The new guest experience sounds very interesting – face-to-face with a polar bear – just hope they’re not hungry that day !
Just saw the Polar Bear Plunge behind the scenes tour on the Celebration for the Critters auction – http://www.cmarket.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?auctionId=90685201 – have to think about bidding on it.
September 19th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I am watching a very finicky bear right now, who is determined to lay out the perfect arrangement of his nap spot. (I think this is Kalluk.) He pulled and yanked what looks like a small, blue deflated kiddy pool. He then arranged the palm fronds for pillow, and is now trying to flatten out the deflated plastic kiddy pool. It is just too entertaining and amusing to watch a bear being so meticulous and finicky! What can I say? The bear just wants to have it his own perfect nap! =)
September 20th, 2009 at 10:19 am
How lovely to while away your Sunday snoozing by a waterfall. I wish I had one. A waterfall, that is!
September 20th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
To the cam person: It’s 3:40 pm. I just started viewing polar cam, and thank you very much for letting us all see your precious ones. Each day, I watch the polar cam but it’s not often that I see it roaming:-). Thank you, cam person…
September 20th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
OK! Help me out here! I was just on the polar bear cam, and I just saw a polar bear laying down in that back area of the enclosure. This bear was laying down on that light blue plastic thing and surrounded by a lot of other stuff! Bear was getting a good nap in, too! I’m wondering if that was Chinook, and if it is, she must be starting her nesting practice looking at what she has near and under her! Hope someone can help me ID these polar bears because I am still having a problem telling them apart!
Back to the cams!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
September 20th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Oh my goodness! That is one very dirty bear! Chinook took a major rub in the mulch! That must have felt good but once she gets in the water, all that clean pool will be dirty again! lol If she has a cub(s) I can’t wait to see if she teaches them the fine art of getting filthy!
September 20th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Susan #28~Thank you! I am in awe just looking at those huge deep and trusting eyes. I can’t imagine being so close to a polar bear. They know who takes good care of them. That is wonderful! Thank you for sharing! They are such beautiful and majestic animals.
September 20th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I’ve stood that close to them in the wild and looked into their eyes. It’s a breathtaking experience. In November I’m going back to Churchill for my fifth trip. I can never understand why anyone who ever actually saw those faces would not be enchanted by it. Certainly I am.
September 21st, 2009 at 10:47 am
Diane #36, how amazing. You must take some photos so that we can see them too.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Diane in Victoria #36: How wonderful! I’ve often heard about the trips to see the bears at Churchill. I can only imagine how awe inspiring it must be to be so close. The connection that can be established looking into a polar bears eyes gives me goose bumps. Something one would certainly never forget. Enjoy your 5th trip!
Great pictures of the bears since their return to the plunge. Thank you!
Moderator’s note: As part of our Celebration for the Critters fund-raiser, we are auctioning a private behind-the-scenes tour of Polar Bear Plunge, including a private enrichment session with the bears. Bid at http://www.cmarket.com/auction/item/Item.action?id=93563279
September 21st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
There are photos. I’m at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14599003@N06/
Watch for new stuff in about three months.
September 21st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Hi Joanne, thank you for sharing the update. It’s amazing to know how cooperative of Chinook under
the ultrasound investigation performed on her. Is it possible to share this moment thru the videos ?
Moderator’s note: We have not taken video of the procedure yet, but we hope to do so.
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:40 am
just popped on– someone- cant tell who is sitting on their haunches in the pool
EATING SNACKS!! too much!!!
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
I do so wish this cam had the ability to send a picture postcard like the panda one can…
neat bear pics right now..:)
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Will someone please share with me what is happening right now with the bear on cam at the table? I am not a polar bear oficianado, but this looks like strange behavior to me.
Keepers respond: It is Tatqiq. She likes to sit on the table and watch for birds. If a local heron or egret gets too close, Tatqiq tries to swat at them.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
Diane, thank you so much for the photos. The bears are so beautiful. It’s so sad that some of them are now so thin. Thank you again.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:48 am
LOL About Tatqiq! She is a birdwatcher like me!! There has been some good romping in the pool with the small balls and quick swimmers! I am still amazed at how clean the pool and water is! You can see everything now, including how graceful the bears legs are under the water. Is that the Polar Paddle?
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Someone is casually sitting in the water, leaning against the log that floats and just soaking in the day! Life is tough!
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:20 am
Hello Diane,
I’ve just watched your polar bear photos. They are so beautiful, I mean both of your photos and the polar bears. It’s so wonderful to experience of meeting the wild polar bears. Only just one time in my life is enough , but you’ve got five times. I believe that the bears have fascination to human.
I saw some photos that the bear looking at you so closely with a deep sniff. He seemed so curiously and content. Like a big golden retriever or labrador waiting his owner to offer him snack. It was easy to get an impulse of touching him. By the way, how did the driver of the tundra buggy get away the bears when he moved the car ? Or how was he aware of if there still had some polar bears stayed at the bottom of the buggy ?
Enjoy your forthcoming trip !
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
How long does the average plastic pool last? Is it crushed immediately and are they recycled? They seem to enjoy sleeping in the crushed kiddie pools.
Also, do you ever have concerns over the plastic crates that are used in every zoo for honey, etc? What about the potential of swallowing a piece of broken off plastic and causing a blockage or some type of internal damage?
JoAnne responds: Kalluk crushes and molds the kiddie pools to the desired shape as soon as he receives them. He prefers the “double-layer open face” look; Chinook likes to be inside a “tac” shape; and Tatqiq turn hers upside down and stretches out on it. The pools last a few months before there’s nothing left but pieces to pick up.
We always monitor our animals to see how they interact with an item, and if its looks like the item might pose a hazard, it’s removed.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 am
OH HOW I WISH WE HAD SOUND!!! I think it’s chinook out sitting on her rock and haunches just ‘talking and talking and talking’ raising her head up high as if to say
I am here!!!
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
At JoAnne’s response to #48: How interesting that each bear has his/her own ways of sleeping with the kiddie pools! Just like humans, we all have various levels of comfort when it comes to softness or firmness of the mattresses. I am amused! =)
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Diane in Victoria, saw your pictures of your trip to the Canadian Arctic! Great photos of the polar bears! I really felt for the one polar bear that was looking a little bit skinny. Unfortunately, that’s the effects of the current global warming in the Arctic right now, and some of the bears are having a tough time getting the one basic nourishment that keeps them healthy–seals. The bears are gorgeous and magnificent to watch, tho.
Was on the polar bear cam and saw 2 lovely polar bears taking a nap together. Can anyone tell me who is who at around 3:30pm PDT (6:30pm EDT)? Would love to know the names of those 2 bears!
Going back to the cams! Will check in later!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Two bears are sleeping next to each other, in one of the shady cubbies. Is this Chinook and Kalluk, with memories of a fun and loving spring?
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
just heard on the news that Knut got a girlfriend. Good for him. Maybe kalluk and chinook inspired the keepers in Berlin.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
the bear neccesities of life. Just checked in and someone is enjoying the sun all while sleeping on a blue plastic pool. It reminds me of my dog during the summer he does the same thing.
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Moderator and Keeper, thanks for the detailed response to #48 about how each of the bears uses their pool. Tonight someone is sleeping next to a crushed and very chewed up pool. Looks like it will soon be in the “nothing left but pieces to pick up” state. Since it appears to be upside down, my guess is that it is either Tatqiq or Kalluk sprawled out next to it. There appears to be not enough of it left to sleep on top of it.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Hello Anita, I’m not so dumb as to put my fingers in the way of their mouths! Nor do we ever offer them any other kind of food. I keep a certain distance, but as you are observing, I don’t feel a huge fear of them. The camera may make it appear that I was closer than I actually was. They’re just large and curious. They aren’t pets, and one needs to respect that.
I think you’re asking how the driver makes sure he doesn’t injure a bear when he drives away. We’re all watching. When he starts the motor, the bears tend to back off. They live in a pretty quiet world, and they don’t like noise much. You may have observed that lately with Kalluk!
I didn’t see the bears napping together, but I think it was mostly likely Tatqiq and her brother. If Chinook is pregnant, she may start to become a little distant as she prepares to retire to a den.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:15 am
One bear is out now leaning on the rock as if to say’hmm- I wonder if I can swat an egret today” shhh- don’t tell- here is one now…
September 24th, 2009 at 11:43 am
OMG! Someone (I think Kalluk) is having a BLAST in the pool doing somersault’s w/that purple ball. How refreshing that water looks! I wish one of the other bears would join him. I love to watch them play together.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Someone is having a grand time playing in the water with a purple ball! I am guessing it is either Kalluk or Tatqiq, because they seem to enjoy pushing it around with their nose and wearing it on their head! The waves are really kicking up in there!
One thing I have not noticed in a long time is Kalluk chasing everyone into the plunge and dive bombing them. Is this because Chinook is quieter and retreating from the rest and he knows she is not in the mood? Will he play like that with Tatqiq, again, if Chinook dens up with cubbies? I always loved watching him chase the womanfolk around! What a character!
September 24th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
That is one silly ‘ol, dirty ‘ol bear! OMG! He (?) is even eating it! I hope he takes a shower before they go back in the pool. Too funny! I’ve never really seen any of them play in the dirt before. Is that where they go potty?
September 24th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Another very dirty bear taking a nap! This has to be Chinook. She looks sound asleep. Rest up, pretty lady, before possible cubs!
September 25th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Thank you JoAnne for the info on the kiddie pools. Love the differences in how the three bears use them for napping!
Thank you for the link to your pictures Diane in Victoria. They are indeed beautiful.
Thank you moderator for the info on the auction for the behind-the-scenes tour of the Polar Bear Plunge. I would LOVE to be able to bid, but not this year. It will have to remain on my “wish list”. If we could do it all now, we would have no need for dreams.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Correct me if I am wrong, but I remember several years back it was stated the zoo had no plans to breed their polar bears. I believe it was said they were non-breeding. This was when Shikari was still alive. Am I remembering this correctly? And if so, what changed? Didn’t the status of the polar bear recently change? Would that affect the breeding program in the US?
Moderator’s note: While that was true several years ago, things do change. We follow reccomendations given by the Species Survival Plan for each animal at the Zoo and Wild Animal Park. These reccomendations are updated at least yearly based on a number of factors including (but not exclusively) genetic diversity and sustainability of zoo populations and status in the wild.
September 26th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
This afternoon, around 3 PM, I finally got to watch Kalluk working on his pool. He was sitting in a squished blue kiddie pool and working intently to hold a flattened out kiddie pool with his teeth and at the same time he tried to cover the first pool with a second one. Occasionally he stopped, looked up and it appeared as if he was taking some sort of measurements of the wall.
Kalluk sat in the crushed pool and tried to pull the flattened pool on top himself. “He prefers the double-layer open face look” – exactly what JoAnne said. I was laughing so hard that my cat, who was sitting next to me, was wondering what’s going on.
The Meerkats pulled the camera back slowly and the blue kiddie pool looked like a blue dot in the distance. The camera slowly panned to the left showing a wonderful panoramic view of the beautiful Polar Bear Plunge. Another pan to the right showed the beach area. A final pan stopped at the normal beach view showing the pool with its underwater chair. The crystal clear water looks very inviting but I don’t think the bears are willing to share.
I was very happy to be able to take many pictures of Kalluk redecorating his kiddie pool.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
# 58 Aunt Nancy and #59 Debi of MA — I was there at the polar bear exhibit for the purple ball play. What I observed was the polar bear (not sure which one) attempting to stash the purple ball in a crevice between rocks underwater. The ball kept escaping to the surface. But after many tries the bear was able to wedge it securely underwater out of the keeper’s sight and retrieval. It was truly magical particularly after reading this blog about polar bear stashes. It was quite an eventful day with this and the two panda sisters’ first meeting at the howdy door.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:55 am
There is a bear having a blast with the red ball — is that Kalluk? I love watching these guys and am praying for Chinook to have a cub or two. Thanks for all the great camera work!
September 29th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I think they are so cute that sucks that they could become really endangered and they could all die.
September 29th, 2009 at 11:00 am
They ARE really endangered. Save the Polar Bear!!!
October 1st, 2009 at 3:41 pm
To the person that was wondering about the 2 polar bears, Klondike and Snow. I checked both Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa website and Sea World Orlando website, and found out that Klondike and Snow are at Sea World. Klondike and Snow are doing very well and have lived at Sea World for I guess nearly 15 or 20 years now. I got an email from Seloua from Sea World and she told me how they have been. I wrote her back to find out how old the bears are and whether Snow (the female?) had any cubs over the years. Hope to get an answer to that soon. Don’t have pics, tho, but I’m going to get on Youtube to see if there are any vids of them. I’ll let you know when I find them!
Was on the PB cam yesterday and today. Saw one of the polar bears in the pool yesterday, but didn’t see any bears late this afternoon. Will keep checking the cam to see them.
Gonna go and check more cams. Will be back later on.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
October 1st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Got another email about Klondike and Snow. Klondike is the male polar bear, Snow is the female polar bear—got them right! Anyway, they were both born in 1994 at Denver Zoo, and they have been at Sea World Orlando for the last 12-13 years now. They are both 15 years old, doing great, and love to play together. Snow has not had any cubs. They have participated in a hearing research study at Sea World Orlando with collaboration with San Diego Zoo and Sea World San Diego. Four adult female polar bears and one male polar bear were involved in the study which was funded by Polar Bear International. The researchers had great results from the research that they did with the bears.
Well, that’s it for now. Will check the PB cam tomorrow to catch the polar bears in the pool!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
October 1st, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Yes, Snow was the female. Both of them were/are adorable.
I saw some bears playing earlier. It was Tatqiq and Kalluk. Amazing how he naturally makes allowances for the fact that she’s so much smaller than he. Obviously it’s more fun that way. On the other hand, she’s faster than he is, so maybe that evens things out.
Since I put up the link (message #39), I’ve posted some photos of Conrad and Tasul, another brother-sister pair at the Oregon Zoo. Once again she’s a lot smaller, but I also had the impression that she was in charge. At one point I watched him settle down for a nap with his favorite gunny sack (his blankie?). She wanted it too, so she just went and took it. He didn’t protest.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Where is the new yard located? Will the view to the reindeer exhibit from the polar bear viewing be interrupted? I think it’s really neat to be able to see polar bears and reindeer in the same view with no visible barriers.
Moderator’s note: The new polar bear management yard does use some of the reindeer’s exhibit. The view will not be the same.
November 4th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I see one bear (not sure who it is) restlessly trying to get comfy on what is left of
a kiddie pool that is flatter than a pancake! Silly bear!
How is Chinook doing?