Football fever in Karlsruhe

3.7.2025 – Photos by Petra Ballon

The Women’s European Championships 2025 in football will take place 2. July – 27. July in Switzerland. Little Mika is preparing himself to follow his Team Germany. Of course, he’ll be cheering the ‘Mädels’ loud and clear!

Hello fans! I’m training with this ball.

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I think this ball is quite OK.

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First I have to learn how to keep the ball.

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Messi can go and hide – I’m already better! 🙂

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My dear ball! I give you a piece of advice now. When I kick you, you must fly towards the net and in it so I can shout ‘GOAL’! Understood?

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I asked mama to be a goal keeper but then I noticed she’s too big. No ball would pass her!

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Hmm, I’m quite big, too. Can you tell who’s who?

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After the training session Mika was hungry but there was a snackie for him in the water.

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Even mama Nuka enjoyed a fishy snack.

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A couple of beautiful close-ups of Mika and Nuka.

It’s all there – the cute ears, the velvet eyes and the licorice nose!

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Nuka is a beautiful polar bear lady and a proud mama.

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Some news:

Karlsruhe has a new female tamandua, Papuri from Poland.

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New arrival at Karlsruhe Zoo: female tamandua Papuri. She was born on 3 November 2022 in Poznan and replaces Lupita, who has moved to Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Garden in Stuttgart. Papuri will live with Donnie, who has been with us since April 2022. As the previous pair did not produce any offspring, this exchange was initiated. Both animals have been together for several days now and, after some initial friction, are getting along quite well.

Donnie looks happy and content.

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The cute Terai presents her pink tongue.

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Herr Sebastian wishes you all a happy Summer!

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I have now even a real football so let’s enjoy the games! May the best team win!

Mika with Euro football

You can get all information about the Euro 2025 here

5 Comments

  1. Dear Petra,

    Mika is well on the way to becoming a football star, because his ball whispering is great! And his mum is still teaching him that the round ball has to go into the square.
    I wish the Tamadua couple a rosy engagement and a little one soon.

    In the current heat, I agree with Mr Sebastian, just keep the ball flat.

    Thank you for your beautiful photos and Mervi for the funny text!
    Britta-Gudrun

  2. Liebe Petra!
    Die Eisbären lieben die Bälle. Mika spielt schon sehr geschickt.
    Das Bild von Teral ist klasse.
    Hugs
    Ludmila

  3. Liebe Petra!
    Herzallerliebst! Es ist so toll, wenn kleine Eisbären neugierig und lebenslustig ihre Welt entdecken und herausfinden, was sie mit all den Dingen um sie herum anfangen können und schließlich damit spielen. Sie können quasi alles gebrauchen: Kanister, Bojen, Kajaks, Stöckchen und natürlich Bälle, was derzeit besonders gut passt…
    Mika ist bereits sehr geschickt im Umgang mit dem neuen Spielzeug und entlockt seinen Fans sicher auch weiterhin den ein oder anderen Laut des Entzückens.
    Den beiden Tamanduas wünsche ich, dass sie in Harmonie und Zufriedenheit zusammenleben werden und ein paar süße Minis aufziehen.

    Viele Grüße
    Anke

  4. Ja, Mika beherrscht den Ball perfekt und ist eine echte Konkurrenz für die Mädels, die das Runde ins Eckige schießen wollen…👍🐻‍❄️👏😉
    Auch Nuka und Mika sind ein gutes Team, nach dem Spiel ist eine Pause angesagt, inklusive einer kleinen Stärkung…🐻‍❄️🐻‍❄️💝
    Alles Gute für die bezaubernden Tamanduas, den frechen Roten Panda und den netten Herrn Sebastian…🌞

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