Polar bears in Europe

Following on from the gorillas and elephants in Europe thread, time for the polar bears.

Marineland in Antibes is constructing a 3.5 million euro habitat for a pair of young polar bears, the female being the famous Flocke from Nuremburg zoo in Germany and the male coming from Russia.

A model of their new enclosure

http://i84.servimg.com/u/f84/11/64/92/44/9119_110.jpg

Marineland will accomodate two polar bears in 2010

 

The male also comes from Nuremberg zoo, but he was born in Moskau. One year ago, when he was one year old, he comes to Nuremberg as a playing friend for Flocke.

A little problem, flocke and Rasputin, so they called them in Germany, are related. Flockes mum is born in Moskau, too.

 

Thanks to a newly received gigantic donation (150 million Danish crowns = about 15 million Euros or something like that), Copenhagen Zoo can now start to build the new polar bear exhibit that they have been planning for some time - The Arctic Ring. It will incorporate seals and birds. It will not be enormously big but still 7-8 times bigger than the old exhibit. Underwater viewing via acrylic tunnel. 6 meter deep pool.

The press realease at the zoo´s web page is in Danish only, but there are some nice illustrations if you scroll down:

Pressemeddelelse

 

two male polar bears have arrived at marineland Antibes from Nuremberg.

 

That is not correct
They are 1,1. 0,1 Flocke handread and her friend 1,0 Rasputin, born in Moskow.


And on Wednesday Hannover gets his first polar bear. 1,0 Sprintjer, born in Rhenen, arrived from Amsterdam.

 

Looks like an interesting exhibit

 

BTW, Lisbon Zoo had 3 polar bears a few years ago (7 years ago?) in a very small pit.

Does someone knows what happenened to them? And where they came from?

 

Well this thread didn't really kick off.

Anyone care to bet where the next cub(s) might emerge in Europe, as I am determined to see a younger (and cleaner) one than Hamish next spring?

 

Brno expects that Cora will give birth this winter.

 

Cool! I was just looking at welsh photographer's thread about double visit trips, with an eye on Prague/Plzen, so Brno could take the place of the latter if there is a birth there

 

Diergaarde Blijdorp / Rotterdam Zoo

 

Polarbear Sizzel will travel to Rostock as a second breeding female for their complex.
Her sibling brother Todz is due to travel soon. The studbook keeper is already trying to source a new breeding male for their mother Olinka.

 

Looks like i'll finally be heading to Berlin in a few months (all going well)

 

male Sangilak, born in Toronto, died 18.09.1998
female Wabusk, born in the wild, died 11.09.1998
female Tucha, born in Malton, died 17.08.1997

 

Its the birth season right now-cubs have recently been born at Copenhagen(twins of which 1 dns) and Berlin(1).

 

It seems like she's actually not pregnant and zoo was hyping it up prematurely.

 

You'd better go to Copenhagen as well. The underwater viewing there can be sensational.

 

Twins born at Dierenrijk might be the easiest option

 

Any births likely in Europe this winter?

 

Hannover, Vienna and Aalborg have already reported births, and more are possible.