6.11.2025 by Michelle Rippey
It’s Polar Bear Week and today I’d like you to meet the newest 🐻❄️ to now call the Henry Vilas Zoo home….SIKU 😍 On Tuesday (4. Novemer) I headed to Madison to meet this handsome 15 year old male 🐻❄️. WOWZA! Siku is about 1200 pounds and has already stolen a piece of my ❤️. Here’s Siku and of course, beautiful Berit. ✌️❤️&🐻❄️
Habitat was just freshened up and fresh snackies are out….1st to come out is Berit😍
Where’s Siku? He’s still inside.
Berit enjoying her snackies.
Well …. hello, Siku! This handsome 15 year old transferred from the Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago).
Siku headed into the pool…. He was born at the Toledo Zoo on Dec 3, 2009.
Though the sun glare made these pics tough, Siku went right to splashing and playing. 🤩
Oh, 🐻❄️ & their huge barrels. Naturally, Siku’s giving it compressions.
His Mom is Crystal & Dad Marty (deceased).
In September of 2011 Siku was transferred to the Louisville Zoo (from Toledo)
Then in October of 2016, Siku was transferred to the Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago).
Siku’s going to be a fun & challenging 🐻❄️ to 📸
Siku’s quite the well mannered 🐻❄️
“Excuse me, Zookeeper….I’m ready to come in for my nap now. Are you done cleaning?”
“Smells clean …. please open my door.”
“You’re taking a lot of 📸 of me!”
“Excuse me, but I know I have an adorable tushie & tail!” 😍
On my next lap to 🐻❄️….Siku was investigating the other habitat. Note the 🐻❄️ have access to both habitats, plus behind the scenes.
And then Siku headed back in. I made an additional stop prior to departing hoping to catch Berit up (which I did). Stay tuned for Part 2 from my visit.
Dear Michelle,
Siku is a magnificent bear and posed for you in a funny and impatient manner.
Perhaps Berit will be in a better mood when you visit next time!
Thank you very much for the lovely photos and best regards.
Britta-Gudrun
Thank you for the nice photos!
Siku is an impressive bear &
Berit is a cutie too… 🙂
Das ist ja eine erfreuliche Nachricht, dass Berit nun Gesellschaft bekommen hat! 👍🐻❄️🐻❄️😊
Und wie es aussieht hat Siku, der ein toller Eisbärzu sein scheint, sich
schon sehr gut eingelebt!!👍🐻❄️😊
Beim nächsten Besuch gibt es bestimmt auch Fotos von Berit und Siku in trauten Zweisamkeit…🐻❄️🐻❄️😉
It’s always nice to see a story about Berit, and now Siku has joined the family. I knew his as a little cubbie, and he’s just as cute now as he was then. Very nice photos of this handsome bear. He will enjoy the pool, and also having two big grassy enclosures to play in. Thanks for visiting him on behalf of all his fans. Berit too.
Molly
Dear Mervi!
Thank you for the wonderful pictures. It is very good that Berit got a new handsome friend.
Hugs
Ludmila
Dear Michelle and Mervi!
Thank you for this exciting update!
I hope that the two are a good match and get along well in the long term. Siku is a handsome, big bear, and I hope that he wins the heart of the beautiful Berit.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
Hugs
Anke