News, Videos & Other Webcams > Mammals
Polar Bears - California / San Diego Zoo
Kinderchick:
Yes, I did see that blog today on the website, Elaine. So I guess we just wait to see. ;)
Elaine L:
Here is the latest from the head keeper for our polar bears:
--- Quote ---As soon as I arrived at the polar bear building at the San Diego Zoo, Chinook came out of her bed to say good morning, so I asked her, “Are you really going to have two?” She simply winked at me; if she does know, she’s keeping us all in suspense. Every week during her ultrasound exams we are so hopeful of finding just a little hint of what may be to come. We realize what an incredible task this is to find something so small in such a large belly!
Chinook’s behavior is still very consistent with a pregnant polar bear. A few weeks ago we stopped letting her out on exhibit with Kalluk and Tatqiq, since she seemed to be less tolerant of their presence. This week we stopped having Chinook on exhibit at all or letting Kalluk and Tatqiq into Chinook’s side of the bedroom area and yard. We will continue this for the next few months until we know for sure if our Chinook will be joined by one or two little ones. We are now in the expected due date range if Chinook is pregnant: October 9 to December 15. Believe me, we are all so hopeful and excited!
--- End quote ---
So date wise, I got it wrong: if Chinook is pregnant, we may not know it until mid-December.
Meanwhile, they added this report on our brother and sister team:
--- Quote ---Our other two polar bears, Kalluk and Tatqiq, are having a great time being full-time ambassadors. With autumn arriving, it seems they spend more time in the pool. Every day the brother-and-sister pair are enjoying roughhousing together. They are great playmates and always play to each other’s level, never getting too rough. It is so nice to see that their bond has stayed so strong.
--- End quote ---
Kinderchick:
My Kinderchicklets finally got to see Tatqiq munching on her healthy carrots this morning, right after their "healthy" snack time! ;D 8)
Elaine L:
Tatqiq is front and center right now, munching on her carrots. These polar bears must have really healthy teeth.
You can always tell Tatqiq from her brother because she does not have a black blob on her back. The blog site says that once Kalluk's fur grows back, the blob will disappear, but his back has been like this for months now, as the fur does not seem to be growing back. I gather it is nothing more serious, as they would have checked it out by now if they suspected it was.
The bears can see other wildlife, like elk/deer going by, from their enclosure, and they do not seem too interested; I guess if they saw a seal in the water, they would be more interested, as their hunting instincts would likely kick in, but there is no way of knowing this with any certainty. For the most part, the way they play, observe their surroundings, and eat reminds me more of my dogs than polar bears in the wild. It makes one wonder what wild polar bears would be like if they had the time to rest, relax, and have fun.
Elaine L:
For those of you who were asking about the camera, apparently it just freezes and then goes abit crazy every now and then, according to the Polar Bear Blog site. They don't seem to know why. But, if you wait a few minutes, or close the screen then wait abit before re-opening, it goes back to normal. Lately, it has also being timing out, and "No video available" pops up on the screen.
Still waiting to know if Chinook is pregnant, or not. If nothing happens by the end of the month, I guess we will know she is not, and that would be a real disappointment. She is still avoiding the other two, and takes her morning constitutional very early; she can see Kalluk and Tatqik over on the other side of their enclosure, and Kalluk looks at her very longingly, but she just gives him a passing glance. Her belly is just dragging on the ground, so if this is a false pregnancy, it is a pretty dramatic one.
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