Bear essentials: Neil and Buzz are back at Como Zoo after a two-year vacation
Apr 10th, 2010 | By mervi | Category: Featured articles2010-04-10 By Neil and Buzz, Como Zoo’s Polar Bears as told to Dave Orrick – Posted by Ulli J
Hello, St. Paul!
We got back into town a little over a week ago
In the time we were gone, we made friends in Detroit, did a lot of eating and swimming and eating, dreamed of nice frigid Minnesota winters and yes, both fell in love.
If you’ll recall, we (you know, the 14-year-old twin polars) were shipped off to the Detroit Zoo two years ago this month so our new exhibit could be built.
Of course, the zoo bosses wanted to make sure we were in good condition after our long road trip back
We’ve been sniffing and pawing and trying to get used to this new space, which is supposed to be really great. It’s the only polar bear exhibit in the U.S.
Detroit was actually pretty cool. The Motor City gets a bad rap and all, but the zoo is regarded as top-notch. The polar bear exhibit is the world’s biggest. They have two polar bear enclosures, and this cool swimming pool with a clear, underwater tunnel where people watch. You can watch YouTube videos of us playing there.
Some of the other bears we met were Barle and her daughter, Talini. Ahhh, Talini …
She was just a lass of 4 years when we met her. With her charcoal-black nose and snow-white fur, who could resist such a thing? Buzz liked to roughhouse with her.
Photos by Eric Vogel
Greetings from Neil and Buzz
Who’s watching whom? Buzz and Neil have migrated back to Como Zoo and are settling in at their Polar Bear Odyssey home in St. Paul’s Como Park. The exhibit area, replicating the bears’ northern Canada homeland, will open to the public on June 3.
Dear Ulli J,
Our bear family grows bigger and bigger
Thank you so much for posting this newsletter from Neil and Buzz!
Hugs from Mervi
Dear Ulli J,
Thanks so much for this report–Neil and Buz–must be named after the astronauts!
I am off to see the pictures of Barle and Talini….Thanks again, xo k-j
Dear Uli J,
Thank you for reporting on Neil and Buz (and Barle and Talini)! Barle certainly has come a long way from her days in the Mexican circus. So Neil and Buz can reside in the same enclosure…?
Hugs from Sarsam
I miss the two brothers very much and I wish them well in their new home. I’m sure they miss Detroit and their friends here.