25.11.2022 by Mervi, Photos by Marko Junttila
The 25th of November 2016 was a happy day in the Ranua Wildlife Park. Polar bear lady Venus gave birth to a tiny cub. The park announced the news only in January when the cub had made it through the first critical weeks. What a happy day that was for me!
Today you are exactly 8 years old. Time flies faster than I want ….
The cub was a boy and in mid March Venus decided to present her precious baby to the media and to the visitors.
Sisu was immediately very interested in the surroundings. In this photo it seems that he’s checking that the walls of the enclosure are strong enough. 🙂
It was snowing during Sisu’s first outing so Venus had a perfect timing for the presentation of her son.
The little fur ball immediately charmed everybody and I certainly fell in love with this sweetie pie.
Cuter than cute!
Living in Ranua in north of Finland Sisu could enjoy the snow until late May.
He made snow balls that were almost bigger than him. 🙂
Tender moments with mama in the Winter ….
…. and in the Summer
The ice was thick enough to carry the weight of a polar bear. When this photo was taken Sisu already looked quite impressive ….
…. but still a cute little cubbie! I love those paws!
This photo is one my absolute favourites. The snow on the licorice nose – isn’t that cute!
Salmon is a polar bear’s best friend – next to mama, of course …. 🙂
The long Winter in Ranua is very suitable for polar bears.
What a beautiful photo of a mother and her son!
Sisu grew bigger and bigger and so the day came when it was time for Venus to kiss her son goodbye.
In mid December 2020 Sisu left Ranua and came to the Yorkshire Wildlife park. I’m very glad he found a good home and loving keepers (rangers) there. Thanks to Ralph, Sheila, Philip and Pat I’m still able to follow my Sisu’s life.
Sisu has a good life in YWP where he has good polar bear friends, too.
Sisu with Nobby
Flocke’s son Yuma is also a very nice chap!
Sisu is now as big as his papa Manasse was but he’s still ‘my baby bear’.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MY SWEET SISU! Always be a happy and healthy polar bear boy!
Dear Mervi!
Thank you for this wonderful and touching story to the Sisu’s birthday. He is a huge bear now, but for 6 years he was a little cute cub.
Happy Birthday, dear Sisu!
Hugs
Ludmila
Dear Mervi!
It is very clear to see how much you have taken Sisu, the Finnish Viking, to your heart!
This is a very loving and touching post for his sixth birthday.
Sisu has grown from a droll and lovable little bear to an imposing and large polar bear and is very lucky with his new home in Yorkshire, where he has even made some friends to both roughhouse and hang out with.
Happy Birthday dear Sisu! I wish you health, happiness and well-being for the new year and the rest of your life and sing, ” How wonderful that you were born!”
Hugs
Anke
Happy birthday dear Sisu!!!
Dear Mervi
Thank you so much for your lovely collages for Sisu’s 6th birthday.
Your pictures are absolutely adorable. Once you’ve seen something like that with your own eyes, you’ll never forget it. I’m sure there will be a big party at YWP today.
Hugs,
Anita
Dear Mervi
Thank you for sharing your birthday card ti Sisu with us.
He i now a very loved bear in Yorkshire.
Thank you very much dear Mervi.
Happy birthday dear Sisu. Best wishes to you.
It’s a long time ago I had the occasion to wave you a tender “TERVE!”.
Thanks to Mervi’s loving report of your life accompanied by the gorgeous photographs of Marko Junttila (made in RANUA), there’s again the chance
to do it again and to wish you a new year of your life filled with happy/lucky days as you met them till now as to our knowledge. Please stay in full health, you impressive huuuuuuge polar bear
It’s amazing what giant-like polar bear you have grown to and isn’t it nice to know that out there there are people who love you still as much as they did when you was a tiny, charming, most active cub in The RANUA WILDLIFE PARK.
Just like when reading KNUT-friend Anita’s article about QUINTANA’s 6th birthday some days ago, I am puzzled by having got aware that also you turned already to 6(SIX!-unbelievable!) today.
– – –
Thanks for this ‘circuum vitae’ dear Mervi, written in your special loving style for your favourite polar bears and also for the lovable pics by Marko you have chosen out of his precious treasure of photographs. They all are so beautiful – but my absolute favourite is: “What a beautiful photo of a mother and her son!” !!!
And for sure I was also touched by lots of the other shots
(e.g. “… it was time for VENUS to kiss her son Good Bye”.
Dear Mervi,
Thank you so much for the amazing photographs and wonderful story of Sisu’s early life with mamma before he came to live here at the YWP. I can clearly see how you fell in love with this tiny white bundle of fur…….how could anyone possibly resist! He has turned into such a happy, playful and inquisitive bear and made lots of polar bear friends…….even though he gives Indie a wide berth at times and runs past him. I really don’t know why as Sisu is much larger, I guess he just doesn’t know his own strength. Will give him your love 💕 when I see him next week.
Pat 💕🐻❄️
Dear Mervi,
oh yes, I still remember very well your first reports about your Finnish bear SISU and with how much love you commented on all his photos. For example, his first experiences with the plants in spring, after the long cold winter was finally over and new impressions were waiting for Sisu.
You also visited him in Orsa and of course lost your heart to the charming Viking!
The fact that he has now ended up in this Wildlife Park after the sad end of Orsa is really a great stroke of luck. Even though he has to do without the fantastic snow of the far north here, he is doing brilliantly and you can see that in every one of the great photos.
I share your happiness and wish him all the best for his birthday and the rest of his life!
Best wishes
Britta-Gudrun
Dear Mervi!
Your birthday tribute to the proud and handsome Viking is and remains wonderful and touching! I can hardly believe that he is already eight years old… Time just flies by. I sincerely wish Sisu a happy birthday, plenty of snow in the coming winter and all the best for the new year: health, happiness and well-being!
Hugs
Anke
Dear Mervi,
Thank you so much for once again sharing this wonderful 6th birthday tribute to your Finnish Viking Sisu. As you know, Sisu has settled in extremely well since his arrival at the YWP and he is much loved by everyone. I am so pleased that after several months on his own he is reunited with other polar bears……namely Luka, they get along very well.
I went to see Sisu today to wish him a Happy Birthday…..I also sent him your love & hugs! After a stroll around the enclosure he settled down by the fence in front of me to nibble on the grass (I think he had his fill of fruit, vegetables & meat a little earlier!). Sisu then decided it was time to roll around the grass with a red ball…….so lovely to watch him.
I must also say a big thank you to Marko for all the absolutely beautiful photographs.🩷
Hugs
Pat W.
Happy Birthday, dear Sisu!
I am sure you have a nice day in YWP with your polar bear friends.
Hugs
Ludmila
Vielen Dank für die schönen Fotos von den Geburtstagsbären Sisu, der wirklich ‘cuter than cute’, als kleiner Eisbär und zusammen mit seiner Mama gewesen ist ❣🐻❄️
Es freut mich sehr, dass Sisu im YWP ein neues Zuhause bekommen hat und dass er nun zusammen mit Luka auf der Anlage ist!!🐻❄️🐻❄️ Ich wünsche Sisu alles GUTE für das neue LEBENSJAHR!🐻❄️💝