10.10.2023 by Ralph Morton
Rotterdam Zoo has been Wolodja’s home after he left Berlin. It was my first stop in September.
As Rebecca Roth also found, Wolodya is now an impressive male Polar Bear.
I approached the Arctic Tundra exhibit as soon as the zoo opened. Wolodya was waiting for me.
The tundra landscape surrounds two pools which can be separated by a door in the ridge dividing them.
Between the two pools there is a large underground viewing chamber.
Both pools can be seen through separate large glass panels. Talks on the Arctic can be given while groups watch the bears.
Unfortunately the glass makes it hard to film the bears on a bright day. But Wolodja and Nivi did get together at ridge door to playfight in the water.
Nivi is also a male, which has led some I met to speculate that Rotterdam may be going to give up keeping Polar Bears. Younger keepers and visitors question the value of having animals which cannot be reintroduced to the wild. They want to focus on those animals which can be helped this way.
It is also felt that the bears still do not have enough space. As far as I could see Wolodja and Nivi were in excellent shape.
This charming bronze casting of a Polar Bear may one day be the only Polar Bear in Rotterdam Zoo. I admit that I felt rather down after this visit. The more so because the enclosure and its occupants had been so fine.
Dear Ralph!
What a nice report from your visit in Rotterdam!
I love the photos of Wolodja – they are like beautiful paintings!
Prince Nivi is also a handsome male and seems to be doing fine in this zoo.
I really hope Rotterdam doesn’t give up keeping polar bears. So many zoos have already ‘abandoned’ our white fluffy giants!
The bronze figure is very cute.
Thank you so much for inviting us to meet the polar bears in Rotterdam!
Hugs from Mervi
Dear Ralph!
Thank you for your great update on King Wolodja and your beautiful photos of him and Prince Nivi!
I understand and share your worries!
Like Mervi and you, I hope that there will continue to be polar bears in Rotterdam! I like the enclosure. It may not be very big, but it is well designed and has a lot of things polar bears need to be happy.
Wolodja really has become an impressively big and handsome male bear.
Hugs
Anke
Dear Ralph,
Your photos show a beautiful sanctuary where Volodya and Nivi live and feel comfortable. It would be a real shame if Rotterdam gave up keeping polar bears. I don’t understand the reason, because which animals in zoos could ever be released back into the wild? Because then they would have to separate from many other species.
Thank you for your information and I look forward to more reports from your bear tour!
Britta-Gudrun
Dear Ralph!
Thank you for the news from Rotterdam. The enclosure looks very nice. Wolodja and Nivi are doing well.
Hugs
Ludmila
Vielen Dank für die Fotogrüße von Wolodja und Nivi, sowie für den ausführlichen Bericht zur Eisbärenhaltung im Zoo Rotterdam!
Hoffentlich gibt der Zoo die Eisbärenhaltung nicht auf! Einerseits wurde in den letzten Jahren für Nachwuchs gesorgt und wenn die Eisbären erwachsen sind, wird die Haltung eingestellt!!
Nur gut, dass trotzdem neue Areale für die Weißen entstehen!! Ewa wird bestimmt nicht alleine auf ” Jimmy’s Farm” bleiben…
Dear Ralph
A few years ago I was in this zoo myself.
I liked it a lot then. The different geozones and how they were implemented.
The polar bear area is big, there are big swimming pools and there is also grass and soil for digging and gardening.
Thank you for your report from Rotterdam.
Hugs,
Anita
Thank you very much dear Ralph.
Best wishes to Wolodja and Nivi.
Wolodja ist ein gewaltiger Bär geworden.
Und trotzdem so in sich ruhend. 🙂
Die Eisbär-Bronze ist hübsch!