11.2.2023 by Ralph Morton
Visiting YWP does involve being ready to cope with Yorkshire weather. Tuesday was wet but still mild. After a full English breakfast at the Hex Hotel I got my thick green padded raincoat and trusty hat and set off for a day focussed on Polar Bears.
As usual I started off at Project Polar 2 to visit Flocke and Tala. A noticeboard reminds visitors that Polar Bears are “super mums”. That is certainly true of Flocke. She and Tala had been playing but decided to go inside the den and nap.
Walking across to Project Polar 1 at least one of the boys was out. Luka and Hamish were in the second enclosure.
Hamish was keen to get inside the den. It turned out that the other four Bears were inside their dens. I was able to catch a glimpse of Nobby snug in his straw fast asleep.
Luka and Hamish seemed to have been given the job of entertaining the visitors. The Rangers told me that the wet ground is bad for the bears’ feet and can cause them problems over time.
Luka manages to stay cleaner than Hamish and has shorter fur. As the two biggest bears at YWP they get along nowadays, though Luka often goes into one the rock dens on the enclosure for a time out.
The Rangers were cleaning the enclosures and putting down food and treats. Luka and Hamish went into the tunnel system and tried to visit the others but today was their quiet day. Having six big males requires a lot of managing by the Rangers. This includes giving Sisu especially a bit of a break from the others.
Hamish and Luka now had the whole of enclosure 1 to themselves and were soon marching along the perimeter. Luka was keen to get in the water, where he is able to match Hamish and dodge him if necessary.
They spent a long time in the water and I was able to watch them despite the rain. They were too far away to photo but I did get a shot of them leaving the water later.
The tunnel system works well (Polars are pretty smart and associate it with food and a place to rest) so moving them between enclosures via a system of sliding gates has become a smooth operation.
Hamish and Luka returned to enclosure 2 so that the Rangers could tidy up the other enclosures.
Back on the hills of enclosure 2 Hamish and Luka began looking for their treats.
The sequence of photos shows that even when eating a Polar Bear keeps his legs and paws groomed and cleaned.
It had been a good day with Hamish and Luka but I was beginning to envy Sisu, Nobby, Indie and Yuma in their nice warm dens. So I began the walk back to the hotel.
The giant otters and their cubs are normally outside in their big enclosure behind Project Polar 1. But it seemed even they preferred their warm house. I was able to get some shots of them feeding together.
There are various animals on the way back to the main entrance and I always stop to look at them. Usually they are too far to photo but the Tapirs seemed to like the rain. One was even jumping into the cold water of the pool. She then ran at full pace to the other Tapir.
I was told both are girls but like the Polar Bear boys it does not stop them having fun. 🙂
I had enjoyed my rainy day and still had a final morning to go.
Dear Ralph!
It was again a great pleasure for me to publish your report from YWP because I didn’t have to write anything myself. It’s pure luxory for me!
You have again brought a very entertaining and informative report which will be a pleasure to the readers of this magazine, too – I’m sure of that!
I can imagine the rangers have their paws – I mean hands full keeping an eye on their 6 male bears. Well, they seem to be doing a great job.
My Sisu is obviously the most gentle of the white giants in YWP so I hope the others will be kind to him. Hamish and Luka get along well now. Let’s hope it will stay that way even when the Spring feelings come. 🙂
The lady tapirs have lots of fun together – even when they’re imitating a male-female relation. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your impressions with us!
Hugs from Mervi
Dear Ralph!
Despite the lousy weather during your visit, your report sounds like joy at seeing your favourite animals again.
It is understandable that the ladies and two of the boys preferred the dry indoor areas in this weather.
As always, you observed the bears closely and explain their behaviour well.
I also like that you appreciated the hard work of the keepers.
Thank you for these interesting impressions and the lovely trip to Yorkshire from the comfort of my sofa…
Hugs
Anke
Dear Ralph
It is a great pity that the day was so rainy.
However, I may state. Polar bears don’t like rain. So of course the majority of the bears were in the barn, in the dry.
What a polar bear fan does. He puts up with a long journey. Of course, you can be with the bears even when it’s raining.
You get wet yourself, while the bears are in the dry and you can’t see them very much.
Yes, the polar bear fans are something very special.
Thank you for your interesting report and the pictures!
Hugs,
Anita
Dear Ralph,
your report is again very interesting and detailed – in words and pictures!
The cages impress me as always very much, but hopefully the bears do not have the same associations with this labyrinth as we humans do. It’s just great to see how the bears communicate with each other and make friends.
The work of the keepers is great and often exhausting, because they always have to be highly concentrated when cutting off the individual passages, because even one mistake would be fatal for them. Nevertheless, they love their giants, I am quite sure.
Unfortunately your visit was accompanied by bad weather, but a real fan like you is not deterred by that and tapirs are not water shy just like you!
Thank you and best regards to you, our tireless bear ambassador!
Britta-Gudrun
Thank you very much dear Ralph.
Best wishes to Flocke, Tala, Yuma, Indy, Nobby, Sisu, Luka, Hamish and the other animals in YWP.
Dear Ralph,
Another lovely and informative report on YWP from you once again. So sorry our Yorkshire weather wasn’t very kind to you, obviously this didn’t spoil your enjoyment.
Hopefully the sun will be shining next time you visit.
Pat