10.1.2023 by Molly Merrow
The little rescued cub Qannik isn’t so little anymore, and she just celebrated her 12th birthday at the Louisville Zoo. A keeper told me she weighs about 550 pounds now.
Qannik and her sister were born on Alaska’s North Slope in an oilfield back in January of 2011. The mother bear and the twins were first spotted in February and the mom was fitted with a collar, which later slipped off. A storm likely separated Qannik from her family, and the little cub was found in late April, weighing only 15 pounds. She was taken to the Alaska Zoo, and then flown to the Louisville Zoo in late June, after she recovered her strength.
Every year the Louisville Zoo celebrates Qannik on a Saturday close to her designated birthday of January 10. A large crowd of visitors sang Happy Birthday to the bear, while Grizzly Bear Oits across the way watched. Lee, the other polar bear in Louisville, missed out on the party.
This year Qannik had pink and blue ice treats of apples and pumpkin, and Christmas trees with pumpkin chunks. But her favorite treat seemed to be the paper bag sign made by her keepers, and stuck to a big blue block with peanut butter.
Oh how she went for the peanut butter.
Qannik ripped the brown paper sign down, and then licked the peanut butter off the block.
Later she attacked the paper bag, ripping it up to find the peanut butter.
Sometimes she got a little too much peanut butter, and it made her stick out her tongue.
It was a perfect birthday for a bear who likes her treats.
Molly Merrow
Dear Molly!
What a nice birthday party the keepers had arranged for Qannik – and she deserves it.
I’m sure all the readers of this magazine remember this lovely bear because we followed her time in Alaska very closely. I’m so glad you could visit her and even make this wonderful report for us.
Oh bear, how time flies! Our Qannik is already celebrated her 12th birthday. We all grow older although sometimes I wish the time would stop …. 🙂
I love all the photos but maybe the last one with the beautiful smile is a favourite.
Thank you ever so much for this exclusive article!
Hugs from Mervi
Thank you, Mervi, for publishing my story and photos about Qannik. She seems to be loved all over the world.
Molly
Thank you very much dear Molly.
Happy birthday dear Qannik. Best wishes to you. We love you.
Dear Molly and dear Mervi!
I am very delighted to hear from Quannik, this sweet orphaned bear, after almost 12 years. She has grown into a beautiful bear lady and is obviously very loved by her keepers. I am always touched when keepers celebrate their fosters’ birthdays and spoil them on those days.
Quannik’s fondness for peanut butter is very sympathetic.
Thank you for this heartwarming update!
Hugs
Anke
Dear Mölly and Mervi!
It is great to see Quannik at her 12th birthday. The keepers did a great Job with preparing the celebration.
Hugs
Ludmila
Dear Molly and Mervi
I remember the excitement as UPS shipped Qannik and she had her own blog. You have shown us a beautiful grown bear enjoying that most American of treats: Peanut Butter.
Dear Molly,
Dear Mervi,
Quanik’s rescue 12 years ago was all over the press and we were able to follow its development in many reports afterwards. It’s great that she’s doing so well and that she’s found a lovely home in Louisville, where the keepers always give her a great birthday party.
Happy Birthday dear Quanik!
‘Happy Birthday Qannik……what a beautiful bear you are!’
Thank you Molly for sharing the lovely photographs to celebrate the occasion, Qannik certainly looked like she was enjoying herself.
Pat
QANNIK’s story is one of the unforgettable ones to us!
She is one of a kind (as also some others 😉 ).
Thanks for honouring her by this pictured report
at the occasion of her 12th birthday.