23.5.2024
Yesterday we received the sad news of polar bear Tom’s passing in the Almaty Zoo. This lovely bear will always be in our loving memory. The following article by Martina Ho was first published 17.10.2022.
Tom was born in 2007 in Zoo Brno together with his brother Bill, their parents are Cora and Umca. They were the first cubs raised at the Brno Zoo. Tom moved to Prague in 2009.
Berta was born in 2003 at the Prague Zoo (mother Bora, father Alík). At first they thought it was a boy, so he was named Albert. It was later discovered that she was a girl. They started calling her Berta.
Berta
Tom, Berta and Bora lived happily together for years, Bora has already died.
Berta
Tom
I don’t go to the Prague Zoo very often, I don’t know the bears well personally. I live near Brno, so I often visit Cora.
Tom is a playful polar bear, he likes different toys, he likes to swim in the water. Berta is calmer, but she gets well with Tom and likes to play with him in the water. Their favorite food is sea fish. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to raise the cubs so far. But there is still hope.
Tom
They were separated during our visit. So I didn’t have the chance to see them together.
Berta
Tom’s mighty paws. Don’t try to shake paws with him! 🙂
Dear Martina and Mervi
This is a first chance to meet Tom and Bertha. Both Polars look in very good condition and thank you for your report.
Dear Martina!
It was a great pleasure for me to publish your excellent photos and the informative words in this magazine. I guess this is the first time we can meet Tom and Berta here so I’m sure the readers are gladly surprised, too.
Both bears look healthy and beautiful. Now we also now something about their ‘history’ – for example how Berta got her name!
Thank you so much for this wonderful contribution!
Hugs from Mervi
Dear Martina!
I am very glad to read your report from the zoo Prague. Berta is no more young, but she looks very good. Tom is a gorgeous polar bear. His paws are huge. It is great that he and Berta live peaceful together since many years.
Hugs
Ludmila
Dear Martina,
I am very happy about your report and the great photos of the polar bears from Prague Zoo. Through you we get to know again two new bears in a European zoo, of which we knew nothing until now.
The story about Albert, who later became Madame Berta is quite amusing and with BERTA at least BERT was obtained from Albert, a good idea!
I look forward to more reports from you and greet you warmly!
Britta-Gudrun
Thank you very much dear Martina. Best wishes to Tom and Berta.
Dear Martina!
What great pictures from Prague Zoo! Thank you very much!
I’m glad to get to know something about Tom, whom we haven’t heard much about so far. Tom is an imposing character and his Berta is a very pretty bear. It’s great that the two of them get along well and play together.
I especially like the photo of Berta standing upright and the following ones.
Both seem to be well prepared for the winter.
Hugs
Anke
Hallo Martina
Its nice, to get news from Prague Zoo.
Tom and Berta both look very good! 🙂
Welcome in Mervis Magazine. Maybe
we also can hear from Brno Zoo,
where you live?! 🙂
Greetings
Chris
Ein letztes und trauriges Adieu für dich ,lieber Tom,ich hätte es dir anders gewünscht. 🖤😢
LG Brigitte
This is so sad😢. These pictures are showing how great he was
Es tut mir sehr leid um Tom und auch ich bin traurig. Wir haben ihm so sehr ein gutes Leben gewünscht und er hätte Besseres verdient gehabt.
Hoffentlich führt diese traurige Geschichte zu einem Erkenntnisgewinn bei den Verantwortlichen, Stichwort: Mindeststandards! Für Tom kommt das allerdings zu spät…
Traurige Grüße
Anke
I’m very sorry about Tom and I’m sad too. We wished him a good life and he deserved better.
Hopefully this sad story will lead to those responsible realising the importance of minimum standards! However, this comes too late for Tom…
Sad Greetings
Anke
Vielen Dank für die Fotos und den informative Bericht über die drei Eisbären des Prager Zoos!
Die gestrige Nachricht, dass Tom unter mysteriösen Umständen kurz nach seinem Umzug verstorben ist, hat mich sehr geschockt und berührt, auch wenn ich über die drei Bären im Prager Zoo nichts wusste.
Dank dem Bericht, weiß ich nun etwas über sie und dass Tom ein Bruder von Bill ist,stellt für mich nun einen Bezug her…
Eine traurige Geschichte…🐻❄️💖
Es ist sehr traurig, dass Tom gestorben ist. Es ist auch sehr traurig, dass man die Ursache nicht mitgeteilt hat.
Ich habe es aufgegeben, zu verstehen,
was zwischen den Zoos und dem EEP läuft.
Zu viele Todesfälle und auch verschwundene
Bären in den letzten Jahren. Hört auf zu
züchten, wenn es keine gescheiten Unter-
bringungs-Möglichkeiten gibt. Bestimmte
Länder sollte man ohnehin boykottieren.
Es ist ein Elend 🙁
It is very sad that Tom passed away so early!
Thanks for the info and the report from Tom’s past!
Vor allem die häufige Todesfolge bei und kurz nach Transporten sollten ein Weckruf für die Verantwortlichen sein!
Außerdem wirft das lange Schweigen über seinen plötzlichen Tod kein gutes Liicht auf den Zoo
Chris, ich bin vollauf deiner Meinung.
Adieu Tom!
I am so sorry. May Tom rest in peace. We will never forget him. We will always love him. We love you Tom. He will always be in our hearts. We are all so sad.