8.9.2025 – Photos by Pat Waldron
I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that every polar bear friend loves Flocke. Ever since she was born on the 11th of December 2007 in Nuremberg people throughout the world have been following her.
Pat has visited our Snow Queen at Jimmy’s Farm on the 19th of August and, of course, she took lots of wonderful photos of Flocke.
Some information in a nut shell for those who don’t know Flocke so well. Her parents are Vera and Felix. Because Vera couldn’t take care of her baby bear Flocke was hand raised by her keepers.
In April 2010 Flocke moved to Antibes, France, together with Rasputin aka Raspi. In June 2021 it was time for her to move to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park and in March 2024 she came to Jimmy’s Farm.
There were doubts if the hand raised Flocke could be a good mother but she proved she was an excellent mama to her off spring. In Antibes she gave birth to Hope in 2014 and in 2019 she gave birth to three cubs Tala, Indiana and Yuma. It was amazing that all three cubs survived! The father of all Flocke’s babies is Raspi.
Hope is also a grandmother. Her daughter Hope has two sons – Nanook and Noori who live in the Peak Wildlife Park.
Now Flocke enjoys her life at the wonderful Jimmy’s Farm where even her daughters Hope and Tala live. Indie and Yuma stayed in the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
To Pat’s great surprise mama Flocke was more active in the water than Tala who usually is the turbo bear. 🙂
Hello everybody!
Just floating is so relaxing!
Flocke is a very beautiful polar bear lady.
I guess one of the reasons for why we love her so much is that she was born a year after Knut and thus closely connected to our sweet memories from that time. Now that the world situation is awful we need to cherish our memories and Flocke is our ‘bridge’ to the happier days.
Excuse me for showing my boomsie to you ….
….. but I really must take a break now!
Flocke – you really are our darling!
Everybody loves Flocke. She was a special baby, and has grown up to be a magnificent mama and a lovely lady bear. I will always remember those days from her babyhood, wonderful stories and photos, and so many friends made because of Flocke.
Molly
Oh mein Flöckchen, was bist Du immer noch hübsch.
Wer hätte damals gedacht, dass Du mal Stammmutter
einer ganzen Sippe werden würdest… 😀
Dear Mervi and Pat!
Thank you for the wonderful pictures of Flocke. She is a beauty. She is a very good mother. I am very glad that she lives in a good zoo.
Hugs
Ludmila
Bei Flocke war es ein ganzes Team, das sich um die Aufzucht sorgte. Bei Knut war es anfangs nur Thomas Dörflein. Um Flocke war der Hype nicht so enorm wie bei Knut und ihre frühe Vergesellschaftung mit dem Jungtier Rasputin und dem Umzug nach Antebes gestaltete ihr Leben weniger menschenbezogen, wie es bei Knut der Fall war. Ihre tolle Mutterschaft widerlegt die These, dass Handaufzuchten keine guten Mütter wären.
Sie ist eine hübsche Madame und Oma und darf hoffentlich dort auch immer bleiben.
Vielen Dank für die wunderschönen Fotogrüße von ” unserer” Flocke, sowie den informativen Bericht, in dem Mervi ihren Lebensweg hat Revue passierenlassen!👍🐻❄️👌😊
Knut, Wilbär und Flocke gehören für mich zusammen und allen Spekulationen zum Trotz hat Flocke jede neue Situation ihres Lebens bisher mit Bravour gemeistert. 🐻❄️👏
Dass sie auf Jimmy’s Farm nun noch viele Jahre mit ihren beiden Töchtern Hope und Tala zusammen sein kann und auch mit Ewa, die neben Hope eine Gefährtin von Wilbär gewesen ist, das wünsche ich ihr sehr…🐻❄️💝
Dear Pat and Mervi!
I agree with the previous commenters. Flocke is a beautiful polar bear lady and a wonderful mother, and I wonder if she still dreams of Rasputin sometimes.
She looks content and healthy in the photos, which makes me very happy. I especially like her pretty bottom and the pictures of her relaxing in the water.
Thank you!
Hugs
Anke
Dear Pat and Mervi
Thank you for this album devoted to Flocke. Her story has been a real journey from her first appearances on Bavarian TV to her retirement in England with all her children.