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Taronga Zoo Bethyl the bear turns 34

Discussion in 'Australia' started by torie, 17 Jan 2011.

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  1. torie

    torie Well-Known Member

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    torie, 17 Jan 2011
    #1
  2. Jabiru96

    Jabiru96 Well-Known Member

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    Ah, good old Bethyl, she is such an old girl. Is she one of the oldest Kodiaks in the world?

    Happy Birthday Bethyl!!!
     
    Jabiru96, 17 Jan 2011
    #2
  3. NathanRGMan

    NathanRGMan Member 10+ year member

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    If not the Oldest, do they have any plans of filling the exhibit when she goes? I remember hearing somewhere that they did?
     
    NathanRGMan, 17 Jan 2011
    #3
  4. Jet

    Jet Well-Known Member

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    Is this Bethyl? I took this photo in February 1989.
     

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    Jet, 17 Jan 2011
    #4
  5. Jabiru96

    Jabiru96 Well-Known Member

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    They plan to place the Sun Bears in her exhibit once shepasses away and moving the lions to the former Sun Bear exhibit, leaving the tigers with 2 exhibits so both the male and the female can still be on show when they are not breeding.
     
    Jabiru96, 17 Jan 2011
    #5
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  6. Ara

    Ara Well-Known Member

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    That Sun Bear enclosure, which was built for jaguars, would only be a stop-gap exhibit for lions I would hope! It would be better for (more) snow leopards. There's hardly a level ground surface in the whole enclosure.

    Why not a completely new enclosure for lions, please?
     
    Ara, 18 Jan 2011
    #6
  7. mstickmanp

    mstickmanp Well-Known Member

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    well, in the video I think the keeper mentions that she has been at the zoo since 1995, so if you took that photo in 1989 at the zoo then it is not her.
     
    mstickmanp, 18 Jan 2011
    #7
  8. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    Bethyl came to Taronga from Adelaide Zoo in 1985
     
    Chlidonias, 18 Jan 2011
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  9. mstickmanp

    mstickmanp Well-Known Member

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    Oops, my bad, I thought I heard her say 1995...
     
    mstickmanp, 18 Jan 2011
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  10. Hix

    Hix Wildlife Enthusiast and Lover of Islands 15+ year member Premium Member

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    That's an interesting photo - it was taken in Bear Canyon (where the red pandas are now on display), but I don't recall the Kodiaks ever being down there.

    As for whether it's Bethyl or not, the bear in the photo has both ears, but I can't remember when Bethyl lost hers.

    :p

    Hix
     
    Hix, 18 Jan 2011
    #10
  11. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    she may have done, I don't get sound on this computer so haven't watched the video. But there are numerous internet sites discussing Bethyl (every year there are news releases about one of the oldest Kodiaks in the world having a birthday ;)), so if she did say 1995 it would have been a slip of the tongue I guess
     
    Chlidonias, 18 Jan 2011
    #11
  12. Jet

    Jet Well-Known Member

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    Also for interest, taken in 1989 (but 5 months after the bear photo), here is one of a Jaguar eating in the current sun bear enclosure. Quality not great on these as I am scanning old photos.
     

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    Jet, 18 Jan 2011
    #12
  13. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    doesn't seem a very safe enclosure to keep a jaguar contained I would have thought!
     
    Chlidonias, 18 Jan 2011
    #13
  14. torie

    torie Well-Known Member

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    the plans have changed dramatically since this
     
    torie, 18 Jan 2011
    #14
  15. Hix

    Hix Wildlife Enthusiast and Lover of Islands 15+ year member Premium Member

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    It is safe, completely enclosed. Was originally built for jaguars, but has probably had sun bears in it more than any other species.

    :p

    Hix
     
    Hix, 18 Jan 2011
    #15
  16. Jabiru96

    Jabiru96 Well-Known Member

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    Interesting. Im excited now!
     
    Jabiru96, 18 Jan 2011
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  17. Jabiru96

    Jabiru96 Well-Known Member

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    Either way he/she looks very cute :). Are there any Kodiaks in captivity older than her at te moment?
     
    Jabiru96, 18 Jan 2011
    #17
  18. zooboy28

    zooboy28 Well-Known Member

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    Any chance of an elaboration on this statement?

    Its a bit mean to throw out such a tantalising piece of information and not give us any details :), although I understand you may not be able to.
     
    zooboy28, 19 Jan 2011
    #18
  19. Jabiru96

    Jabiru96 Well-Known Member

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    My guess (that may not be factual) is an extension of the elephant exhibit or Phase 2 of Wild Asia
     
    Jabiru96, 19 Jan 2011
    #19
  20. NathanRGMan

    NathanRGMan Member 10+ year member

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    I hope not... Although Asia is a great place, but due to our import laws we can't get anything interesting from it :(
     
    NathanRGMan, 19 Jan 2011
    #20
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