23.10.2022 by Martina Ho
Polar bear Cora was born on November 27, 1998 in the Leningrad Zoo in Russia to the famous and legendary couple Uslada and Menshikov.
In March 2000, she moved to the Brno Zoo. Umka, who was born only 2 weeks earlier, was already waiting for her in Brno.
Umka was born in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan. His mother Kristina did not take care of him, he was hand raised by a keeper, drinking milk from a bottle.
In August 1999, he moved to Brno, where he continued to be bottle-fed. Umka had a very friendly relationship with people and especially with his keeper. He was a good-hearted bear.
Umka and Cora were a harmonious couple, they loved each other. They raised 5 cubs: Tom and Bill (2007), Kometa and Nanuk (2012) and Noria (2015).
Polar bears in Brno are very popular and have many fans.
Unfortunately, in August 2018, Umca died the second day after dental surgery, it was a shock to everyone. Since then, Cora has lived alone.
Cora loves to play, if she gets a new toy she will keep playing until she destroys it. Since September 2020, she has been enjoying swimming in the larger repaired pool. She likes to eat pears and beetroot.
The fans of this beautiful bear wish Cora a new enclosure, which the Zoo has been planning to build for several years.
Dear Martina,
thank you very much for the detailed information about Cora and her unfortunately deceased partner Umca.
Since Cora is now 24 years old, she will probably remain alone, which is a bit sad when you see how in other zoos same-sex bears live together quite well in a shared home. But older bears are not so easy to socialize anymore.
I wish her a bigger pool too!
Best regards to you
Britta-Gudrun
Thank you for allowing us to meet Cora again.
Zoo Polar Bears do seem to develop close bonds with other bears and also with keepers. Polar Bears are highly intelligent and very curious about the world around them so this is not surprising.
Cora is such a lovely polar-lady!
And we all know her kids well. It
was a tragedy with the early death
of Umca – handraised like Anton…
Dear Mervi!
Thank you for introducing Cora to us (again)!
She is a really beautiful bear and I sincerely wish her, should she remain alone, the love of her keepers, always toys and activities and the planned pool as soon as possible. Of course, I also wish her good health and a long life.
Hugs
Anke
Dear Mervi
Thank you for the wonderful article about Cora’s life.
She is a beautiful bear and seems to have no problems living alone. he picture of her and the rain barrel is just enchanting.
I was very happy to read something about Cora again.
Hugs,
Anita
Thank you very much dear Martina and Mervi. Best wishes to Cora.