29.7.2023 – Photos by Arkadi Laptenko
Belka and Strelka in Novosibirsk have their heads filled with ideas for what to do during the day. Their first ‘job’ is to wake up mama Gerda.
Good morning, Strelka! Don’t you think it’s time for mama to wake up.
What luck we have several strategies!
Lying on her back should do the trick.
I can also try the classic ‘stand on mama’s back’ trick.
Mama, please, rise and shine! You can’t sleep the whole day!
Dear Sis, I think our job is done now!
It’s very hot already in the morning but luckily we have our Arctic Corner.
The snow feels so cool and soft under my paws.
The keepers had brought some cucumbers for their bears.
I’m cool as a cucumber!
Mama told us this idiom may be based on the fact that in hot weather the inside of cucumbers remains cooler than the air. Our mama knows everything!!
A cucumber is a nice snackie on a hot day – but salmons are not so bad either! Maybe we can go fishing tomorrow ….
Of course, even papa Kai was treated with a fair share of the green stuff!
As usual the morning exercises ended at Gerda’s milkbar. Hmm, Gerda doesn’t look so amused this time – maybe because of the hot weather.
Back to the snowy shadow
Kai: On behalf of my family I wish you all cool days!
Allerliebst! 😍💓 Fein,dass man den guten Kai auch mal wieder mit sieht! 💓 🥰
LG Brigitte
Thank you very much dear Mervi and Arkadi.
Best wishes to Kai, Gerda, Belka and Strelka.
Dear Arkadi and Mervi!
Thank you for the cute pictures!
The twins have a good time and a cool mum who is doing a great job. The arctic corner is a wonderful tool to get through a hot summer, the bears appreciate it and make good use of it.
I wouldn’t have considered cucumbers as suitable food for polar bears, not cool either and Kai doesn’t seem that enthusiastic either… But as a refreshment on a hot summer day, they are certainly welcome even for polar bears.
Although Belka and Strelka have grown properly, their mother Gerda still looks enormous in comparison.
Hugs
Anke
Dear Arkadi,
Dear Mervi,
I am always surprised that the carnivorous polar bears are so often offered fruit and vegetables, most of which they also like. Think of Knut, who especially loved grapes, but sometimes threw back the salad. Dave created the classic exclamation “no salad” to go with this.
Melons instead of cucumbers would certainly be more palatable to the bears in Novosibirsk, as we know from many other zoos that could happily take an example from the Arctic corner for the bears on the increasingly hot days all over Europe!
Mervi, thank you for your funny and appropriate comments, which again tell a real story of how little bears keep their tired mums on their toes.
Arkadi, thanks for the great photos and best wishes!
Britta-Gudrun
Liebe Arkadi,
liebe Mervi,
ich wundere mich immer darüber, dass man den fleischfressenden Eisbären so oft Obst und Gemüse anbietet, das sie zum größten Teil auch gerne mögen. Man denke an Knut, der Weintrauben besonders liebte, aber den Salat auch manchmal zurück geworfen hat. Dave hat dazu den klassischen Ausruf “kein Salat” kreiert.
Melonen statt Gurken würden auch den Bären in Novosibirsk mit Sicherheit besser schmecken, denn das wissen wir aus vielen anderen Zoos, die sich gerne ein Beispiel an der Arktis-Ecke für die Bären ein Beispiel nehmen könnten an den immer häufiger werdenden heißen Tagen in ganz Europa!
Mervi, vielen Dank für deine lustigen und passenden Kommentare, die wieder eine richtige Geschichte sind dazu, wie kleine Bärchen ihre müde Mama auf Trapp halten.
Arkadi, danke für die tollen Fotos und liebe Grüße!
Britta-Gudrun
Diese tollen Fotos und dazu die passende Geschichte sind jedes Mal eine besonders große FREUDE !! 👍👌👏😊🤗
Dear Mervi & Arkadi,
Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful images of Gerda and her twins.
I know polar bears love their vegetables but didn’t know cucumbers were on the list.
Dear Mervi and Arkadi
It is great to see Gerda bringing up another pair of cubs. I suppose it must be the weather in Novosibibirsk but they always look so big and fluffy.