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Willy The Playful Polar Bear

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:52:40 +0000

Willy's elephant impression © Valerie Abbott/ Barcroft Media

Playful Willy the polar bear is spoilt for choice with his toys – and using them he can even do an impression of an elephant seal using a grey dustbin as he soars underwater.

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Gliding through his private the colossal 375kg animal delights onlookers as he splashes around.

Willy wears a swimming cap © Valerie Abbott/ Barcroft Media

Making a picture-perfect moment he creates a hilarious image popping one of his plastic toys on his head – and ends up looking like an Olympic diver wearing a swimming cap.

In another adorable moment the eight-foot six inch long bear make a picture perfect moment – popping his huge snout through a black tyre as he holds his breath underwater.

Willy pops his head through a tyre © Valerie Abbott/ Barcroft Media

The fun and games watched by hundreds at North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, USA., is the pinnacle of a happy ending for the 25-year-old bear who was saved from an horrific past.

In 2002 Willy and six other polar bears were rescued from the Suarez Brother’s travelling circus in Puerto Rico.

Entering the Caribbean country, the show had stumbled into the area patrolled by the US Fish and Wildlife Service who discovered the animals living in shocking conditions and living on a diet of vegetables – leaving them drastically underweight.

Seized by US Fish and Wildlife from the circus, the bears were relocated to zoos around America who could care for the captive bears properly.

Willy plays underwater © Valerie Abbott/ Barcroft Media

And now Willy enjoys his very own 115,000 gallon cooled pool in an area he has space to explore – just as a bear should.

Zoo spokesperson Rod Hackney, said: “Willy’s life is 100% better than it used to be when US government employees found him living at the circus in squalid conditions and homed in a cage only eight by eight metres.

“We have given this captive bear something as close to possible as his natural environment. We fill his enclosure with colourful toys and things for him to play with to keep him stimulated.

“The crowds love to watch him as he works them out.

Willy crunches a toy © Valerie Abbott/ Barcroft Media

“All of the bears that reside here are now rescue bears.

“It was not something we set out to do, but the North Carolina Zoo has a strong commitment to animal welfare and is proud of it’s efforts to rescue animals that have been mistreated and give them a better home.”

Willy’s enclosure makes up part of the zoo’s RJR/Nabisco Rocky Coast section and is a re-creation of an Arctic world

It provides visitors with both above and below water viewing at the polar bears and sea lions pools.

Willy plays with a giant frisbee © Valerie Abbott/ Barcroft Media

The exhibits are complete with jagged rocks, waterfalls, and streams, and are all part of the complex filtration process which pumps 1,600 gallons of water per minute.

The double laminated glass in the polar bear exhibit brings visitors face-to-face with Willy swimming in a twelve-foot-deep pool.

Words by Liam Miller

Lion Nearly Eats Tourists For Lunch At Oz Zoo

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:28:08 +0000

A new mane attraction at a zoo is proving to be a roaring success allowing visitors to live life on the wild side and stare at a lion face to face.

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A jeep has been placed in a lion enclosure and simply sliced in half by a reinforced glass screen.

As tourists and visitors sit in the 4×4 truck on one side, two fully grown male lions launch themselves onto the bonnet to sit and eat their daily meal.

The unique attraction gives animal lovers a great opportunity to come within a whisker of the lions and see them in all their majesty.

Robyn and Davin Price, both 34, and their children Ariel, five, Eden, three, and newborn Evie visited Werribee Open Range Zoo, Melbourne, Victoria, on Friday.

Robyn said: “It was absolutely amazing. You can’t even see the glass is there. It’s really frightening at first, but then when the lions get up close, you can’t help but be taken away by their beauty.”

Davin added: “The children were trying to reach out to touch the lions. It’s a brilliant idea.

“I’ve never been so close to such incredible animals before.

“And we got some great photos – I’m sure the lions thought our children were their desserts!”

There are two male lions currently in the enclosure, brothers Tombo and Tonyi.

A spokesman said the zoo planned to alternate the male and female lions so visitors can get close to both.

He said: “Visitors love that they have an opportunity to see our two male lions at extremely close range.

“Brothers, Tombo and Tonyi, are on regular display in the front section of the Lions On The Edge exhibit.”

He added: “Until now, only the female lions were on display in this area, with the males in the adjoining rear section. But now the male and female lions will be rotated through both areas.

“That means some amazing photo opportunities with the entire lion family!”

Heather Sargeant, who was also at the zoo on Friday, said: “You don’t realise just how big they are until they are staring you in the face like that.

“I did ask a staff member a few questions about how strong the glass was before I felt able to sit down.

“It’s both frightening, exciting and exhilarating all at the same time.”

There is no plan to close the exhibit but the scheme could be extended to other animals at the zoo.

Words by Jon Kaila

Get Your Car Cleaned At The Elephant Car Wash

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:56:53 +0000

A wildlife park is battling through the economic crisis by charging visitors to have their car washed – by a pair of elephants.

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African Elephants Alice and Tiki blast mucky motors with water from their trunks and finish the job with sponges.

The novelty car wash means amazed visitors at the Wildlife Animal Park in southern Oregon, USA., can get a priceless up-close view from inside their cars watching the massive beasts as they set to work.

At the same time the park picks up £12 per wash, bringing in much needed funds during the credit crunch.

Trainers at the park, who assist the gentle giants, hope to promote conservation through education while giving the 39-year-old elephants a fun task.

Both animals have been at the park since they were two. Park organisers say they enjoy their new work.

Words by Liam Miller

Baby Hippo Born In New Delhi

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:30:59 +0000

Shilpa the 15-day-old baby hippo cools off with her mother in Delhi
zoo as they try to escape the sweltering summer heat.

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Named by curious local visitors, crowds of onlookers have flocked to
popular Delhi zoo, eager to catch a glimpse of their new favourite.

And with temperatures approaching 38 degrees (100 Celsius) and with
the relative failure of the cooling monsoon, Delhi’s newest arrival
has had a tough first two weeks.

“Even though we have abundant wildlife here in India, African animals
still fascinate people,” says Anand Krishna, a spokesperson for Delhi
Zoo.

“It is because she is so cute right now that the public want to catch
a glimpse of her.

“It seems unthinkable that she will grow one day to almost two tons
and be nearly nine feet long.

“Visitors here have been really taken by her though and even though it
is not our policy to name our animals I think this one will stick.”

Built in 1959, Delhi’s Zoological park is home to nearly 2000 species
of animals and birds.

Housing wildlife from across the Indian sub-continent the zoo is
actively engaged with conservation partner schemes across the country.

Words by James Nye

Blondie The Albino Porcupine

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:37:16 +0000

A rare albino porcupine called Blondie is one of the newest additions at London
Zoo.

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Blondie is expected to be a real showstopper at the Friday’s Zoo Nights event,
the annual late-night opening of the Zoo. With her white prickles, she’s sure to
stand out, as her three sisters blend into the darkness.

Keeper Angela Ryan explains: “Blondie is quite an attention seeker anyway,
so being more visible than her sisters as it gets darker will suit her down to the
ground!”

Words by And Finally

Dog Becomes Surrogate Mother For Tiny Cubs

admin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:41:22 +0000

Zoo keepers in China are employing dogs as surrogate mother’s to
abandoned lion and tiger cubs.

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Pictured here at the Safari Park in Hefei, eastern China’s Anhui
province this unnamed mongrel is currently providing milk to these
the orphaned cubs (three lions and one tiger) who have been abandoned
by their mothers.

The art of introducing lion and tiger cubs for nursing from other
species is not unusual in China.

In 2007 pictures of “Hunai” feeding three tiger cubs became an
internet sensation and focus for animal lovers around the world.

According to animal experts however, it is common practice for
abandoned animal babies to be placed with surrogate mother’s of the
same species to avoid re-abandonment at a later.

And while it might be a dog’s life for the surrogate mothers, for now
however these four cubs are more than happy to cosy up to their
unusual parent.

Words by Jack Fletcher

Cheeky Chimps Make Lots Of Friends

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:15:23 +0000

Zoo’s are always teeming with life but when the doors close at this
German enclosure, an unlikely pair come out to play.

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Swinging around the children’s playground the playful pair are given
free reign at the Leintal Zoo in Schwaigern, Germany.

Watched over by their human carer, Barbara Struve (27), the female
chimps Panya and Malia have struck up and unlikely friendship with
Elvis, the 9-year-old mongrel.

“My children are very playful and curious”, says 27-year-old Barbara.

“And they love Elvis our mongrel – he is not too happy when Malia
pulls his hind leg, – but he would never harm the babies.”

Abandoned by their mothers at birth, Barbara has spent the last two
years raising the chimps at the privately run zoo, which boasts
Europe’s largest group of chimpanzees (36).

And as you would expect there is never a dull moment.

Each day after the visitors have left for the day, Barbara takes her
unconventional family to the zoo’s picnic site where they feast on 250
ml milk before an afternoon nap.

After dinner they head to the children’s playground where they play
and tease Elvis (9) and house cat, Claus, (14).

For Barbara, the pair’s aping around might be a little hectic, but it
is well worth the hassle.

“Little Panya was born into this group summer 2007,” says Barbara.

“One week later Malia, a second motherless chimp from a zoo in
Switzerland came to us.

“I am lucky to have raised them – they are like sisters and their
socialisation is very similar to humans.

“Eventually they will be able to survive with a surrogate and then
they will join an older group here at the sanctuary.”