The Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge at the San Diego Zoo has been a really noisy place during the past few weeks. Yes, lots of construction, but mostly the noise is coming from the questioning. . . is she? We’re talking about the hoped-for pregnancy of Chinook! We still don’t know…for sure. That said, Chinook has gained over 20 percent of her normal body weight and has now slipped into the most calm, contented, beautiful mood we have ever seen in her 14, now almost 15, years. The most activity she shows is munching on her carrots while glancing over at the silly antics of Kalluk and Tatqiq and slowly dipping into the plunge pool to luxuriate and soak.
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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.
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Good question! First, the construction is done. The new management yard has only the aesthetic details to be done: topsoil, planting, logs, etc. Most of this will be done over the next few weeks as time permits or if/when Chinook decides she no longer needs to venture anywhere but her den.
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