14.8.2024 – Photos by Arkadi Laptenko
I have just seen the bad news from Novosibirsk telling us that Belka and Strelka have already been separated from their mother Gerda. The twins are still much younger than two years! I don’t know yet why there was such a hurry with the separation. There’s some text in a video in Youtube but unfortunately not very informative.
I made this article before I heard/saw the news. These are probably some of the last photos of Gerda and her twins together. So sad!!!
A very good morning wishes to you from Gerda, Belka and Strelka in Novosibirsk! A new day is beginning.
Gerda leads her twin girls to the Arctic Corner.
The idea of offering snow and ice to the polar bears is great. I’ve been glad to notice that many other zoos are doing the same.
No doubt the family is happy about their cool spot …
…. especially one of them. 🙂
After the ‘cool hour’ the family posed nicely to the visitors’ cameras. Thanks to the snow their furs are incredibly white!
Again one of the twins found an interesting spot to observe the surroundings. 🙂
Time to go swimming.
Gerda seems to be wondering if the water is too warm.
Oh bear, there’s a traffic jam! 🙂
On a hot day water is the right element for a family meeting! 🙂
Finally the whole family was frolicking in the water.
Papa Kai was as cool as always – even on a hot day.
Why wasn’t the twins allowed to stay with their mother until they were at least 2 years old …. I’m deeply disappointed, upset and sad.
Arkadi Laptenko (and his photographer colleagues) and all the keepers and visitors in Novosibirsk must be next to devastated because of this ‘loss’.
Wishing all the bears and the before mentioned ones all the best!
I feel sorry for Gerda and her cubs but also for the keepers and other people in Novosibirsk who love them.
Grandios schöne Aufnahmen sind was wieder von grandios schönen Eisbären. Vielen Dank nochmals!
Dear Mervi and Arkadi!
What a pity that these will be the last pictures of this great mother/daughter team. I am very sorry for the bears and for everyone who loves them. Yes, it is sad!
Many of the decisions made by those responsible are difficult to understand and sometimes don’t seem to be in the best interests of the animals.
Hugs
Anke
Das ist wirklich ganz sehr schade,meine besten Wünsche weiterhin für die ganze liebe Familie! 💓 👍 🥰
Das ist keine gute Nachricht und die frühe Trennung ist auch nicht nachzuvollziehen, zumal Gerda und die Zwillinge soviel Harmonie ausstrahlen!🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️😔
Kai wird sich freuen, wenn er wieder mit Gerda zusammenkommt…🐻❄️🐻❄️
Mervi, one can only speculate about the separation of the bear cubs in Novosibirsk with an attractive sales deal and a new breeding with Gerda and Kai, which is even more reprehensible, so soon after 2 twin births!
Poor little cups!
I was so sad to read the news. I also saw the video of the girls pacing in their “new” enclosure. Are there still going to be videos of them? They looked soooo unhappy and it was such a change from just having seen some videos of them playing in the water. Does anyone thing this is because Gerda is going to be bred again?