12.4.2010 by Patricia Roberts – Dedicated to Luisa

And so, it was again that time: kissing my cats ‘auf Wiedersehen’ and then straight to Leuven station to start my 9th visit. And although it was April 1, it was certainly not an April Fool. During my train trip to Knuti City, I made a little brain exercise: how much do I still remember of Berlin and Zoo and all my previous adventures there? Well, I must admit, pretty much. When I was closing my eyes, I could see all the places and animals again and again.

Notwithstanding the fact that the weather forecasts were not so great, I did not stop to say a prayer for good weather. And between Hannover and Wolfsburg, there was a serious rain, but as soon as I saw Porta Westphalica, I knew that now the target was coming closer and closer. And indeed, two hours later, I was in my hotel, checked-in, left my luggage there and went straight to the Zoo. This time – after 7 long months – I did not make a stop but went straight to Knut’s enclosure because this time, there was also another young polar bear that I was going to see for the first time.

I am afraid that in this report, I will often use the word “first” because a lot of things were “first”, but we all know that these “first” things make life so wonderful. When I saw Knut, I realized how much he has grown again, but still is the beautiful, healthy and jolly young polar bear. I know that a lot of people lost their interest in Knut when he was no longer a little tiny cub, but for me, thanks to all photo aunties and uncles with their daily reports and pics, and on the basis of my own humble experiences, it is always a refreshing story and I am always enjoying the changes in his life. And whereas he is of course becoming bigger and wiser, he still reminds me of the young little furry ball that I saw for the first time when he was only 14 months old (I was not so lucky to meet him earlier). But on the other hand, this time I was also a bit scared for coming to Zoo Berlin because I did not know in advance how it will be without two major key bears, namely Lars and Bernie.

OK, I know that Lars is having a good time in Zoo Wuppertal, but nevertheless, I missed him there. And Bernie has always been one of my top favourites. But unfortunately, nobody can win from death. He will always have a warm spot in my hearth. On the other hand, I was also very happy to see our dear old Lady Jana again and she is looking very good. After meeting the human friends and making a tour to say “hello” to the animal friends, my stomach needed some support and so, Bea and I went to my favourite Spanish restaurant.

Friday, April 2 was a real challenge for me because it was the first time that I was going to Tierpark. Since I have heard from other visitors so much about the size of Tierpark and because I took these words for serious, only a part of Tierpark was scheduled (gives me the good excuse to go back, isn’t it !!). After a trip of about 40 minutes by S and U Bahn, Bea and I arrived there around 10 o’clock and a lot of people were making the queue. My first impression was: WAW, this is indeed a huge park. After a quick look at the map, we started our “journey”.

Of course, straight to the polar bears, hoping to see Troll and Aika. But … first thing that made a deep impression: a little cemetery on that way. I never ever heard somebody reporting about that and while I was taking a few pics, I was thinking that this beautiful place is the most wonderful one to have your eternal sleep. There were a lot of people walking around, but because Tierpark is sooo large, you do not even notice it. And then we saw the old couple. My good, as everybody is saying; Troll is really impressing. He is huge and his paws are like we say in Dutch “echte pannenlappen”, although he is rather a lazy potato and just laying there and watching. Aika is more active, though I must confess that her manner to say “good morning” was a bit strange: turning her back to us and doing peepee.

Then we went to A. Brehmer House. Well to be honest, I was not soo impressed. I heard so many people saying that it was so great and maybe therefore, I expected too much. On our way to the elephants, we visited as much as possible, but I know now that when you visit Tierpark for the first time, you have to cut your visits in pieces and then again these pieces back into pieces (and that brings me back to my excuse to go back more often). The youngest and newest pride of the elephants was inside and incredibly agile (none of my pics gave a good results, apart from a little video that is on its turn also not worth that much). But my eyes saw it and the baby elephant is simply adorable.

Then, after another hour of running around, it was time to have some mercy for our feet (I am not growing younger, unfortunately) and our stomach. After leaving Tierpark, we went to Mitte to pay a visit to Max and Schnute. Well, we were not so fortunate because only one of the two (I think Max, the daughter) was laying for a while in the sun but after 10 minutes went back inside. Well, what shall I say about this enclosure? It is indeed not the most appropriate one to keep brown bears but on the other hand, it did not make me feel so sad. The enclosure itself is small but very clean and even a blind one can see that the keepers do their utterly best to create a great place for these two bears. And based on the reports of others, the keepers do whatever they can to entertain the two bears and to give them whatever they can. Since I am coming from Belgium and it is almost impossible to organize special gifts, I was so lucky to know about the little special “Spenden Kaste” in which Bea and I put some money for them. And as I learned from CM, the keepers do appreciate this gesture.

And then Bea proposed to make a boat trip. Wonderful idea, since I have already paid so much attention to the city itself (hihihihi – so far, I always stayed in Zoo Berlin, in other words, there are still some museums to visit, but hey, one must keep a reason to come back, isn’t it). Na, this boat trip was one of the two major obstacles I had to climb. A boat trip for three hours: believe me, that was heavy stuff (because sitting on a boat can bring me into a panic). I think that the first 30 minutes, I was about paralysed in my chair but then realized also that I could not do this for the rest of the time, and so, I relaxed (after having a coffee). What also helped was that Bea forced me to look for a future house to live in (at least when I win a decent amount with the Lotto). Na, I must say, I saw quite a few nice places on the road and so, now I have to say a prayer for some good results with the lottery. After this trip we tried our good luck again with Max and Schnute, but in vain and in an effort to comfort our souls, we went to Joe’s, where we were served by – believe it or not – the female version of Detlev!!! She was so wild, funny and chaotic that Bea and I were wondering “what disaster is happening next???”

Saturday, April 3, after entering the Zoo, I had planned to go to the Nocturno House (because the lights are on til 9:30 a..). Jawadde, forget it, I just passed at the place of the elephants and it goes without saying that when I saw Ko Raya and the lovely Shaina Pali playing in the water, I was completely lost and wasted all my time there (without any regret). It is sooo funny to watch these two. Shaina is either pushing Ko Raya under the water or she is lifting her up with her paws and meanwhile the little one is squeaking all the time. Funny detail, when Ko Raya wants to dive, she is putting her little “slurfie” in her mouth, just like we would close our nose!!). But as from the moment that mommy is calling, they came out and went straight to her.

Because I was too late for the Nocturno, I made a little tour to the Cats’ House. This time, I saw the jaguarondi in all his/her beauty. Although I first planned to make a picture, I refrained from doing so and just watched this beauty. So far, the only parts I saw were either the tail or a shadow and now he/she was there in all glory. Aru and Aketi were outside and I must say that Aru is gorgeous. Paule and Amira were inside and he was a little nervous. When I arrived at the otters, one of them was lazily sunbathing on the rock. I know that I already wrote this in my former reports, but again I realized that the first hour in the Zoo is so quiet and peaceful and even the animals give me the impression that they are more relaxed than during the day. And then, of course, I had to go back to Knut and Giovanna.

During the whole Easter weekend, they were rather calm and there were no real playing games, but again who cares, they have all rights to do what they want to do. What is always a great event and pleasure for me is seeing all the Berliner and non-Berliner friends arriving there and to meet each other after so many months. And it was time to go to the Big Ladies to make sure that we were having a good spot to watch the feeding. Our beloved Gudrun again has organized a yummy surprise for them and I did not want to miss a single second of that. The three Ladies were all together, laying in the sun and enjoying each other’s company. Funny to see Nancy laying there all relaxed with one of the hint paws on Tosca’s back while Katjuschka was licking her ear and giving her kissies. Na, the highlight of the feeding was – of course – a big salmon for each of them. And do not ask my why but Katjuschka is always making sure that she is bringing her food to a safe spot before eating it.

After this feeding, Devi was the target. My God, this petietje has grown a lot but she is still a little she-devil. After a break and a coffee, we continued our tours. As you all know from my other reports, I cannot sit still and I am almost always walking around (poor Bea !!! and poor feet of Bea). At a certain moment, we went back to the elephants and Shaina Pali was standing aside from the others (behaving like an adolescent wanting special attention). She was carrying a stone with her trunk and either throw it away or smashed it against the door. Pretty noisy occupation. And our youngest one was standing beside mommy and was very busy digging in the sand. I am quite sure that she was making a tunnel to visit Mr. Shuffles down under. Again I realized that I never knew that young elephants could be so active and playful. But one can watch them for hours.

Then we tried our good luck to visit the baby Rhino (still more nose than horn). Again impossible to make a decent pic of it (na ja, the undersigned is not a professional photographer and I know that I will never be hired by National Geographic or so). And of course, the Childrens’ Zoo was on the agenda as well. I like to be there in Spring time when all babies are running around. And Toutou de Toulouse also made “acte de presence”.

At the evening, there was again the big gathering at Joe’s and it goes without saying that again we all spent a wonderful evening there with great company and decent food and a normal waiter !!!

On Sunday, April 4, the majority made a bus trip through Berlin City, organized by Dumba and by now, you all will have already read the reports and seen the pictures. I did not participate in that because three years ago, I spend my birthday in Zoo Berlin and since that was such a good experience, I promised myself to do that every year again (Sorry Dumba, I know that I have missed a great event and next time, I will be there too).

Because it was Easter Sunday, there were not so many people in Zoo (well at least not until 11:30 a.m.) and so, it was time to face my second obstacle and to conquer my fear. Bea and I planned to visit – for the first time – the “erweiterungsgelande” and therefore I had to cross the bridge (a situation that in normal life I try to avoid to all possible extents and if such circumstance occurs beyond my will – for example crossing the bridge over the Rhine by train, I close my eyes and starts praying that the nightmare is soon over). A thing that helped me very much was that Bea has forced me on Friday when we were passing under that bridge with the boat to look at the construction of this bridge. Well, to rephrase her words: do you see that bridge and that stable and strong construction?, Well, that is the bridge that you will cross on Sunday and be assured, it can carry your weight (jajaja!!!). Well, so said, so done (but very fast, believe me).

While we were walking around there, I noticed that the enclosures of the animals are pretty large and made me wish that Zoo Berlin would be in the possibility to gain (by whatever means) more space there. Nice anecdote: a famous chocolate brand had organized a trip for children in Zoo Berlin during which the kids had to search for the Easter Bunny (all information was to be found at the entrance). When Bea and I were at the Erweiterungsgelande (how do you call this actually in English???), at a certain moment, we saw a big purple bunny and a young guy asking us whether we were also participating in the game. Unfortunately for him, we did not so he had to stay there for a bit longer. And then, back to the “normal” part of Zoo Berlin. Where we paid a visit at the Monkeys’ House. Except for the Old Grand Lady Fatou, we did not see the gorilla’s, but we saw their new outer enclosure, which is really great. For me, the highlight was the hide-and-seek game of Enchke and Djashinga (hope that this is the correct spelling of their names). And this time, it was also the first time that I could have a good view on Satu. At a certain moment, she was playing a bit too wild and jumping from here to there, just til the moment that Mucke grabbed her and I must confess that I was feeling relieved because her playing was very wild and reckless.

Then back to the feeding of Knut where Giovanna gave an extra demonstration of all her female tricks. And before leaving Zoo Berlin, one of the last to visit was dear BaoBao. And then, it went straight to The Knuipe to have again another wonderful dream. The lady of the restaurant is a great Knut fan and she has made special menu cards for us. Now, I am wondering whether I have ever had such fun and big laughter ever before in my life but I do not think that I am telling a lie when saying that none of us was stopping with laughing. The one funny story followed the other joke and vise versa.

And then, on April 5, I had to come back home to my cats in Leuven, but with a lot of Sehnsucht. But what helped me was the fact that all my cats were at least happy to have their mamma back and that the neighbours had decorated my kitchen for my birthday and as a welcome. And now, I have to start feeding my piggie bank and to think about the new plans to come back (hopefully in September and if at all, possible, sooner).

And so, that was my ninth visit to Knut and Zoo Berlin. I hereby would like to take the opportunity to thank Gudrun for her never-ending efforts in organizing the beary deliveries and the lovely evenings at Joe’s. During our days in Berlin, we were followed by a television group who wanted to make a documentary about the Knut world. Well, they were friendly and very discrete and I truly hope that they too have now a better insight in the meaning of Knut’s world and the Knutians.

Oh and by the way, Dear All, if you would not have noticed it yet, Ralph is madly in love with Katjuschka. And exactly like he is saying: a life without Knut is possible but doesn’t make sense, because he is bringing so much joy.

You’ll find the photos here