Three days polar bear marathon
Jul 26th, 2009 | By mervi | Category: Featured articles26.7.2009 by Caren (In English, Auf Deutsch)
During my three-days-visit in Tiergarten Nürnberg I had a lot of time to observe Flocke and Rasputin during the different periods of the day. As I have mentioned before in previous reports about them they show different activities and also different moods during the day.
Flocke is certainly much more visitor-orientated than Raspi. Raspi showes real gentleman-like attitudes. He really cares for Flocke, sometimes he is looking after her. Although during that long weekend both bears had not much in common, there was harmony between them all the time. And they communicate with body-language more than using vocal language. Several times a day Raspi is coming to see how Flocke is doing. She was often occupied with her small cans, her fine-motoric is very distinct. She very carefully turns her can in upright position to grap the handle with her teeth, then she is walking with a can (handle over her big tooth) trough her enclosure, while Raspi is biting into all his plastic toys or balancing them on his head or on one paw, throws it into the water to jump after it. Once Flocke was suckling at her can, Raspi came nearer and suddenly both were suckling at the same can !
Während meines 3-Tage-Besuchs im TG Nürnberg hatte ich viel Zeit, Flocke und Rasputin an den unterschiedlichen Tageszeiten zu beobachten. Wie ich schon in vorangegangen Berichten erwähnt hatte, zeigen sie unterschiedliche Aktivitäten und unterschiedliche Launen am Tag.
Natürlich ist Flocke mehr Besucher-orientiert als Raspi. Raspi legt wirklich ein Gentlemen-Verhalten an den Tag. Er kümmer sich um Flocke, manchmal passt er auf sie auf. Obwohl während diesem langen Wochenende die Bären nicht viel gemeinsam unternahmen, war die ganze Zeit Harmonie zwischen den beiden zu bemerken. Und, sie kommunizieren mehr mit Körpersprache als mit „Sprache”. Mehrmals am Tag kommt Raspi zu Flocke, um zu sehen, was sie macht. Sie ist oft mit ihren kleinen Kanistern beschäftigt, ihre Feinmotorik ist sehr ausgeprägt. Sie dreht die Kanister vorsichtig in die aufrechte Position, nimmt den Griff zwischen ihre Zähne und dann spaziert sie durch ihr Gehege, wärend der Griff des kleinen Kanisters in ihrem großen Eckzahn eigehängt ist. Raspi beisst mehr in das Plastikspielzeug oder balaciert es auf dem Kopf oder auf der Tatze, wirft es ins Wasser und jagt hinterher. Einmal, als Flocke an ihrem Kanister nuckelte, kam er langsam näher und plötzlich nuckelten beide am selben Kanister!
Also, they sat almost next to each other or one behind the other during feeding. There was no fight for food!
Flocke has her own mind. She knows exactly what she wants and what she doesn’t. If something is very important for her, she is fighting for it. I could not see any situation during these three days where Raspi was dominant. Mostly in the evening they seem to be looking for a place to sleep on the upper balcony. Both are not self-confident enough to enter the dark stable. They look into it, but immediately come out, walking backwards. They are really good friends although they are not playing together all the time. Sometimes they just enjoy themselves walking around their enclosure.
Lady Vera discovered her passion for playing during this weekend. She was very active and even “working” with the little trees in her enclosure. When Raspi saw that, he was very excited.
Auch saßen sie einmal während des Fütterns nah beieinander und auch dicht hintereinander. Es gab keinen Kampf um das Futter!
Flocke hat ihren ganz eigenen Willen. Sie weiss genau, was sie möchte und was nicht. Wenn etwas für sie sehr wichtig ist, kämpft sie drum. Ich konnte während dieser drei Tage keine Dominanz von Raspi erkennen. Meist schauen sie sich am Abend auf der oberen Empore nach einem Schlafplatz um. Beiden fehlt das Selbstbewußtsein, um oben in die dunklen Stallungen zu gehen. Sie schauen hinein, kommen aber rückwärts gleich wieder heraus. Sie beide sind wirklich gute Freunde, obwohl sie nicht die ganze Zeit zusammen spielen. Manchmal haben sie einfach nur Spaß daran gemeinsam durch ihr Gehege zu spazieren.
Lady Vera hat an diesem Wochenende ihre Leidenschaft fürs Spielen entdeckt. Sie war sehr aktiv und sogar an den kleinen Bäumen in ihrem Gehege am „arbeiten”. Als Raspi das sah, war er sehr aufgeregt.
Sunday evening no other visitors were at the enclosure, just me. When I wanted to leave, Flocke seemed to be very tired, Raspi was already sleeping, I looked back into Flocke’s direction and I had the feeling she was observing me. She stood up, I went back to her, she laid down, I wanted to go again, and looking back she again was standing up. This game she played for three times, until she fell asleep and I went to my hotel, very relaxed, satisfied and feeling a deep kind of peace inside me.
Sonntag Abend waren außer mir keine anderen Besucher am Gehege. Als ich gehen wollte, weil Flocke ziemlich müde zu sein schien und Raspi schon schlief, schaute ich noch einmal zurück und ich hatte das Gefühl, flocke beobachtete mich. Sie stand auf,nich ging zu ihr zurück, sie legte sich hin, ich wollte wieder gehen und während ich zurückschaute, stand sie auf. Dieses Spiel wiederholte sich dreimal bis sie einschlief und ich ging sehr entspannt und zufrieden in mein Hotel. Ich spürte einen tiefen inneren Frieden in mir.
With the following pics (this time without any comment) I would like to invite you to make up your own mind about these beautiful polarbear teenies.
Mit den folgenden Fotos (bewusst ohne Kommentar) möchte ich Euch einladen, dass Ihr Euch eigene Gedanken über diese wundervollen Eisbär-Teenager macht.
Dear Caren!
Thank you once again for a wonderful report! The photos are just awesome – you can’t but love these teenagers.
I think the bears are feeling just fine and enjoy each other’s company. It’s the same with Wilbär and Ewa – they’re not playing together all the time but they are still very well aware of each other’s existence. As soon as the other one isn’t around they will react.
Bear hugs from Mervi
Liebe Caren!
Danke fuer so liebevollen Bericht ueber unsere Teenages.
Etwas verstehe ich gar nichts? Hat Frl. Flocke ein weisses Regenschirm gewählt?
Ludmila schrieb, dass es Problemen mit Raspis Fell. Ich sehe keinen Problemen.
BH
TBM
Caren
What a lovely and inspiring way for me to start Sunday – a beary hearty breakfast featuring Raspi and Flocke. This is phenomenal. I love the story and the photos. I don’t think anyone should have difficulties identifying Raspi among the two. Soon photographers might have to invent a new wide-angled lens to be able to photograph all of Raspi given all that boomsie and girth. I love Raspi’s “So what if I am chubby?” expression. He’s cool isn’t he?
Thank you so much for this treat Caren and I am sure Raspi and Flocke fans are grateful. You have worked so hard on this project and it was worth the effort!
Danke liebe Caren für die schönen Photos und den ausführlichen Bericht.
Wenn ich nicht genau wüßte, dass da eine Scheibe zwischen dem Regenschirm ist, würde ich
es nicht glauben.
Liebe Grüße Suzy
Dear Caren: Thank you so much for the lovely pictures, informative and touching report, and for telling me about this wonderful magazine!
Dear Mervi: Thank you for your hard work in making this wonderful magazine possible. I live in the United States, in Connecticut, and do not often have a chance to see polar bears!
Christine
Christine Chinni, Suzy – Welcome to Knuti’s Weekly Magazine and thank you so much for your kind words!
Hugs from Mervi
Caren,
Thanks for your report and wonderful pictures–love the details of the report–it’s like being there. I’m glad that Flocke and Raspi are friends and that he watches over her. Danke!
Christine Chinni–Hello! I recognize your name from Flocke’s blog. I, too, live in Ct.–NW Corner. Did you know there’s a polar bear in Worcester, Mass? Yes, her name is Miss Kenda, and she turned 25 this year–born and raised right there! (You can see pics and my report right here in KWM!)
xo k-j
Dear caren,
your report from the weekend in Nürnberg was very interesting and I have the impression that you didn´t miss me so very much. And I have got the feeling that you were in excellent company.
bernd-hugs from me…
Dear Caren, hihihihi, I think that i got the best of all worlds. First I had your report in Flocke’s blog in German (in which I could read about Raspi’s problem with the battle between gravity forces and his boomsie and the rest of his curves who were loosing the fight) and now I have your report here in English (and not exactly the same)?
By the way, I really do believe that you have not missed your hubby soooo much (well at least less than he missed you, hihihi).
CAREN: Thank you for sharing your visit to Flocke and Raspi. They are a fine couple both together and apart! Let us hope they will “marry” and have little Flockes and Raspis. Now . . . if we could just get a girlfriend for our Knuti . . .
CAREN: Thank you for sharing the visit to Flocke and Raspi. They seem like a lovely couple. Let us hope they “marry” and make many little Polar Bears! Now . . . if we can just get a girlfriend for our Knuti very soon . . .
Lieber Berndt!
Hihii Hahaa.
” Wo war Dein Schatzt”
Mit vielen herzlichen Gruessen.
TBM und TBV
Dear Caren,
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this report for us. Your comments and photos are very enjoyable! I still cannot get over the two of them suckling on the same can!! That really is togetherness (and shows a lot of trust on both their parts). Raspi may be in his plump teenage stage, but he is a very fine, gentlemanly bear. It will be interesting to see if their friendship progresses to the next stage–assuming that Raspi is allowed to stay with Flocke and does not have to move on.
Bear hugs, Sarsam
Dear CAREN, your report made me very glad, to know that the couple are in harmony is very good, I enjoy the pictures.
Your play with flocke is very funny, certainly she wanted said for you that she liked a lot your visit and wait see you soon.
Thank you for leave us near to Raspi and Flocke.
Caren! These photos are absolutely fantastic! I haven’t been able to load them on my computer initially but when they appeared, my jaw dropped. And your report is as always an adventure.
Well, what can we expect from our own Knulitzer winner?
I love the photo where Raspi just sits on the rocks in the water- he totally looks like any dude out there. And then he is lying in the sun, suntanning. Flocke looks like herself stretching herself to see something better- she is so girly looking, and does that in such a delicate feminine way. And the photos with Raspi running and playing with the piece of cloth is so funny, and such a beautiful composition too.
The photo with the reflection in the water is my favorite.
Thank you so much. Bear hugs from Leaf
Liebe Caren!
Danke für Deinen liebevollen Bericht. Die Bärenkinder sehen gut aus.
LG
Hallo liebe Caren,
ich glaube, dass war der schönste Marathon für dich, oder?! HIhihi.
Ganz, ganz fein.
LG
Manuela
Thank you very much for your kind comments. I hope to be able to go to Nürnberg soon again and then I will again provide you with pics and a report about Flocke and Raspi.