4.6.2023 by Ralph Morton
22 to 24 May found me back at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP). The six Polar Bears at Project Polar One take a lot of looking after as they do not always get on with one another, or get too fond!
Nobby was enjoying the third enclosure on his own. Indy and Yuma were together. Luka had got the lively Hamish as his companion. Sisu was in the small area behind the dens in the middle of the complex.
I learnt that Sisu and Nobby were being kept separate because they both wanted to get close and bearsonal with Indy! In the absence of females this often happens.
The area is actually bigger than some Zoo polar enclosures and has grass throughout. The plunge pool is very popular. Sisu was making good use of it.
Sisu was of course keen to see what was going on outside his apartment and stood up showing how big he has become.
Tuesday found Sisu being allowed out on to the second enclosure which he had been watching on Monday. He is an impressive bear.
The wound from his absyss stays open. These photos show why. Sisu loves rolling and sliding in the grass.
Sisu kept coming back to the hill so that he could look at enclosure 1 opposite. The photos show how green everything looks compared with most Polar enclosures.
Sisu standing tall and watching Hamish and Luka opposite drew gasps of admiration from visitors.
Nobby had taken Sisu’s place in the small enclosure and was doing his usual patrol of the perimeter.
Sisu meanwhile settled down to watch Hamish pestering Luka to play in Area 1.
Wednesday found Sisu again watching Hamish and Luka but later on he decided to see if he could get to them through the system of tunnels at the den complex. All six Polars love these tunnels and despite having huge enclosures often just sit or stand in the tunnels.
Dear Ralph,
Sometimes it is tough to be a polar bear. Sisu is maybe best off by himself now, but he probably misses playing with Nobby.
How nice that you got to go to YWP again, and had good weather. It is indeed green this time of year.
Great photos of the great standing polar bear Sisu. He is majestic, especially when he stands up like a person.
Thanks for the photos and your wonderful explanations, as usual.
Molly
Dear Ralph,
when you can visit so many polar bears almost on your doorstep, it’s great and we get something out of it, because your reports always contain varied and accurate observations.
It’s great that the bears get along so well with the tunnel system, because they seem a bit threatening to me.
Sisu is a bit of a muckraker and prevents the wounds from healing better. This spot will probably remain bald for the rest of his life.
They are all doing well and that is the main thing.
Thank you for your beautiful report and best regards!
Britta-Gudrun
Dear Ralph!
Thank you so much for this Sisu Special! I’ve been missing news of him but you delivered some good news. If he only let the wound heal before rolling in the grass so much. Well, he’s having fun and the wound doesn’t seem to cause him any problems.:-)
All the enclosures in YWP are big and green so my boy is in a good place. I hope he has calmed down now so he can join Nobby or/and other bears.
Hugs from Mervi
Hallo Ralph
Sisu muss sich erst noch an die neue Situation gewöhnen.
Aber er hat ein schönes, grünes Gehege und hoffentlich
wird auch seine Wunde jetzt besser heilen… 🙂
Grüße
Chris
Dear Ralph!
Thank you for the report about Sisu. It is not good that his wound is still open. Unfortunately there is no way to prevent him from rolling in the grass.
Hugs
Ludmila
Dear Ralph!
Thank you for your report on your recent visit to YWP and especially Sisu, the beautiful Finn in Yorkshire.
He has become a handsome and big bear. The spot on his back continues to worry though. I suppose the wound has already healed to a large extent and no more fur is growing in the area, so the dark skin is showing. That won’t affect him much later on. Maybe the area is itchy and he’s trying to get relief by rolling around?
What do the keepers say?
The pictures of him standing upright are very impressive! A magnificent polar bear!
It is interesting that the male bears have homoerotic tendencies when there is no female around. The fact that they like to hang out in the tunnel system is also remarkable and should be questioned.
Hugs
Anke
This is an interesting report one could again learn something new.
Thank you. Of course, I was also pleased to get a bit more information about ‘my Finnish friend SISU” (May I ask you to whisper him a friendly ‘TERVE!’ from me when you see him next.
I like when polar bears stand on their hind legs inorder to see better and/or more of their surroundings. You caught very nice pics from SISU in this position and you show him even SITTING on a rather steep hill: as touching as funny. . . . Again: Thank you.
Perhaps he rolls in the grass because his wound gives him bad feelings??
All eight bears love tolling in the grass and mud and sliding aeound so there is nothing unusual in Sisu doing so.
His scar is kept under permanent observation but he seems fine according to keepers.
The reason the bears love the tunnels torest and even sleep in is that they are the routes between the three enclosures and Polars love to be near doors or gates that may open. They alsolove rubbing on the bars and concrete
Thank you very much dear Ralph.
Best wishes to Sisu, Nobby, Luka, Hamish, Flocke, Tala, Yuma and Indy.