Love is in the air at Ranua Wildlife Park in Finland
Mar 5th, 2009 | By mervi | Category: Featured articles
If everything works out well and the ‘personal chemistry’ fits – maybe one of the females or both will be pregnant. Thus there would finally be ice bear cubs in the Wilflife Park in about a year!
Manasse and the girls have been neighbours for a long time. For security reasons they haven’t been allowed to be together before. An adult male could be dangerous for the young bear girls – he could even kill them.
The male’s paw is much bigger than the female’s
Since the girls are beginning to be mature and because the polar bears are in heat in March-April the bears were allowed to meet each other.
So far everything’s gone very smoothly without any aggressivity from any parts. During the first meeting a vet was available just in case but his services were not needed.
Venus is becoming very interested in Manasse but Valeska isn’t as impressed by the guy next door …
Venus and Manasse seem to have found each other
Valeska prefers playing with her sister
Footnote: Manasse came to Ranua from Kollmården, Sweden and the girls from Rostock, Germany.
Dear pure and perfect Veleska,
It is obvious that Manasse is a nice but somewhat elderly dude. It is not like he has great muscles and pedigree like Herr Lloyd from Hagenbeck or anything. I can understand your reluctance to start a relationship with a gent that could be your grandfather.
I hear there’s a nice boy in Berlin Zoo who is just past two years and very handsome. Don’t know if you have heard of him – he’s only the most famous bear in the world and his name is Knut. If you are interested, well something could be arranged – I hear Berlin is a very beautiful city and you’ll enjoy litigation, media focus and have 1000 mothers-in-law. What say you girlfriend? Don’t worry about the Flocke rumours, that relationship is history.
Yours truly,
One of Knut’s interfering and shallow mammas-in-law.
Sorry that should be signed:
“Knut’s shallow and interfering mama, Celinne”
LOL! Celinne, yes, Knut’s only the most famous polar bear in the world…… Knuti, what’s a guy got to do?
1000 mothers-in-law..
Poor girls… Same Manasse is a very beautiful, he is old for her, Celine and Paula is right if this girls know our boy certainly they are in love…
Dear Manasse,
I am so sorry if I offended by referring to you as an “elderly dude”. You are quite handsome in spite of your advanced years and there are stunningly gorgeous mature ladies like Knuti’s mum, Tosca who would love to keep your company. Actually I am peeved about the age discrimination issue here. Last year some press and zoo commentators claimed that the lovely Lara was “too old” for Knuti, but no one has any comments about you cavorting your elderly self with two 4 year old baby girls young enough to be your great granddaughters. So it is alright for the male to be “older” but the same standard doesn’t apply for older female bears and younger males. The older lady is usually called a cougar or accused of robbing the cradle. Tell me Manasse, is that right?
Knuti’s slightly demented and meddlesome mama Celinne
Dear Celinne,
Let me first tell you that I love your comments here in our KWM!! I’m always looking forward to reading them!
Maybe Valeska would be a suitable match for our Knutie – she isn’t interested in the old charmeur Manasse anyway. Venus has fallen for the charm of silvery hair – I mean fur – so maybe there’s a chance for Valeska and Knuti. Nooooo, what would Fräulein Flocke think….Oh dear, this match making is soooo difficult!!
I agree with you – it seems to be always OK that the male is lots of years older than the female but if it’s the other way around – then there’s a problem…Well, there’s another mission for us – let’s change that way of prejudices!!
Greetings from another demented mother-in-low Mervi
Thanks for the lovely comments Mervi. Your stories and photos are so funny, charming, inspiring and thought provoking. Not to mention the effort and time you put into keeping this website alive. Bless you for this labour of love. I love coming here to visit because the energy is so warm and positive. It is a warm sanctuary of laughter and sharing when that ol’ world outside gets to be too cold. I know many others feel the same way. Thank you.
I think Veleska must must be dreaming of Knuti although Venus seems smitten with his vintage charm.
And yes…we must work on that age/gender bias double standard in both human and animal worlds! smile.
I refer Manasse’s vintage charm in my second to last line. smile!!
I second Mervi’s comment about your comments Celinne- they are always fun to read.
And I also think Valeska is beautiful enough to be a suitable match for our Knuti.
These photographs are very beautiful, epecially the close up of the bears’ paws.