My first visit to Yorkshire Wildlife Park 28 – 29 May 2016

2.6.2016 by Ralph, Photos by Uli & Jochen

I had been looking forward to this visit for several years. When I found out from Uli and Jochen that they were visiting England at the end of May and planned to visit the Park over the weekend, I was able to get my own plans sorted out. It was also great news as it meant that their wonderful photos would be available for you all to follow our visit.

Uli’s and Jochen’s report from Doncaster

Travelling by train in Britain, especially over a Holiday weekend, can sometimes be as fraught with delays and problems as flying (it is certainly nearly as expensive). However, at 0719 on Sunday morning, a smart train arrived on time at Oxford Station and I found myself a comfortable seat.

I had even been able to grab a coffee and two breadsticks (one with Cumberland Sausage for breakfast, and one with Smoked Salmon and Eggs Benedict to have when I reached the bears). I also took along a litre bottle of Welsh Strawberry flavoured water. Apart from my small mobile phone for communicating, I was really grateful to be able to leave the photography to the professionals. As you will see from their excellent websites, Uli and Jochen know what they are doing.

They had also found a good hotel to stay in for their visit. With the help of one of the ladies in the Library I was able to book and overnight room there as well online.

I could not believe my luck when the train arrived at Doncaster Station on time and I was able to jump in to a local taxi straightaway (there is a local bus service, but one of the rewards for not owning a car is that I treat myself to taxis now and again).

How to get there?

The journey to the Park took about 15 minutes. You will find it helpful to look at their website, as in addition to the Polar Bears, they have some interesting other animals that are being looked after.

My initial impression was of a very modern facility, with lots of signs to tell visitors what they were coming to. The entrance is taken up with a large and interesting shop, behind which are a number of other shops selling animal related merchandise. Some of you may not like this commercial approach, but revenue from visitors is important to fund the sort of high-level care we expect from Zoos. The Tierpark in Berlin for example could learn a lot from the way in which YWP both entertains and educates the families who are its main target audience.

I signed up for a year’s card and as a nice touch got a card with a Polar Bear on, as I had explained the purpose of my visit.

My aim was to get to the Polar Bears as soon as possible. The keepers at YWP are known as “Rangers” and at 1130 and 1600 give talks about the Polar Bears. However, there is always a Ranger around to speak to. They are young, friendly and well-informed about their bears.

After the normal Zoo Polar Bear enclosures, the Polar area at YWP comes as a welcome change. As one Ranger explained to me, it has been designed deliberately to give the bears as much interesting terrain as possible, and reproduce tundra of Northern Canada. There are already two connected areas of about 5 acres each, and two more are under construction. The larger of the two existing enclosures has a deep lake with an island in the middle. The Rangers are visiting other zoos and take part in meetings of those who keep Polar Bears.

On my arrival, Nissan and Pixel were feeding next to the lake. Viktor was patrolling the heights. Nobby was in the other area, swimming in the smaller lake there. It was clear that the bears have enough space to avoid one another for much of the time.

A purpose built Polar bear house allows the bears to be held separately. The Rangers are using treats to get each bear used to being examined without having to resort to tranquilisers. Viktor has a weakness for peanut butter sandwiches. Pixel enjoyed Cod Liver Oil (Lebertran), but also was fond of spraying his keepers with it, so he now has his favourite Mayonnaise instead. Nissan likes hot dog sausages from a tin. Nobby’s weakness is whipped cream from a can.

I was struck by the personal engagement of the Rangers with the bears. A far cry from the “animals as exhibits” approach that Knut had to endure. I found myself wishing that he could have joined this sanctuary for male bears.

By the afternoon, Uli and Jochen had arrived and started to take their photographs and we exchanged information about the bears. We were enthralled for hours trying to following the activities and interaction between them. I shall try and give what I think is the relationship between them, both from talking to the Rangers and by watching them.

But first, I must thank Uli and Jochen for being such great company. They gave me a lift back to the hotel and we shared a splendid evening over food and drink, discussing Knut and the Polar Bear world. This continued over an early breakfast and then for a whole further day the YWP.

Uli suggested we should also see some of the other animals at the YWP, especially the Siberian Amur Tigers, one of whom came from Wuppertal Zoo. YWP are trying to help the programme to raise awareness of the condition of these animals and take part in the international breeding programme.

I will now try and share what I found out about the four Polar Bears, though I am sure Uli will also be adding information on her excellent sites.

Viktor

As the oldest male bear, Viktor is something of a symbol for the Polar Project. If all goes well, he will live out a long retirement at Doncaster. He still occasionally does the stereotypical turn and head swing of a confined Zoo bear. According to the Rangers he is trying to get along with the younger bears, but except for Pixel, they are wary of his size. Viktor uses the whole range of the enclosures, both on land and in the water. Touchingly, on the first day, Pixel joined him in one of the two sleeping shelters. Pixel and increasingly Nissan are helping enliven Viktor’s day.

PIXEL

Pixel is the leader of the boys and also the best friend of Viktor. He enjoys throwing balls and cannisters, but most of all loves the mulch bed in one corner of the big enclosure, where he cuddled up with Nissan on the Sunday night.

NISSAN

He became famous in Britain because his truck was visited by some other less welcome visitors.

Nissan gets on equally well with Pixel and Nobby. On Saturday he curled up with Nobby in one of the shelters. On Sunday he and Pixel were snuggling up in the mulch. He is very fond of the water and playfighting.

NOBBY

Nobby has the distinctive white colouring and elegant head and pretty eyes of La Donna Giovanna. As the smallest of the four, he is somewhat of a loner. The tundra landscape seems to really suit him, and he spend a lot of time roaming both enclosures, sniffing and tasting every blade of grass. Watching him standing in the grass, with the hedges and countryside of England behind him, I was reminded of how peaceful this place is.

The keepers are very fond of Nobby and ensure that he is given every opportunity to have entertainment and enrichment. They were amused to hear that his fondness for sneaking other bear’s food away from them was an inherited trait from Giovanna. He is still very nervous around Viktor, perhaps because he was also the cub most nervous of father Yoghi in Munich.

Of course I had to treat myself to a few Polar Bear items from the shops. With so much to choose from, I am glad that I will be going back again. My choices this time were a cuddly Polar Bear head. He lives in his own special box, so that he looks as if he is peaking out of a travel crate.

Nobby has the distinctive white colouring and elegant head and pretty eyes of La Donna Giovanna. As the smallest of the four, he is somewhat of a loner. The tundra landscape seems to really suit him, and he spend a lot of time roaming both enclosures, sniffing and tasting every blade of grass. Watching him standing in the grass, with the hedges and countryside of England behind him, I was reminded of how peaceful this place is.

The keepers are very fond of Nobby and ensure that he is given every opportunity to have entertainment and enrichment. They were amused to hear that his fondness for sneaking other bear’s food away from them was an inherited trait from Giovanna. He is still very nervous around Viktor, perhaps because he was also the cub most nervous of father Yoghi in Munich.

Of course I had to treat myself to a few Polar Bear items from the shops. With so much to choose from, I am glad that I will be going back again. My choices this time were a cuddly Polar Bear head. He lives in his own special box, so that he looks as if he is peaking out of a travel crate.

My second big purchase was a reminder of little Lili in Bremerhaven and of course Knut.

I was really keen on a big studio size Polar Bear from Keel Toys, but I am not sure if I have room.

After a coffee break Uli and Jochen dropped me off at the station in plenty of time to catch my train back to Oxford. By ten oclock I was safely home and introducing my new friends to the Cotswold Bears.

I was delighted with the YWP and I am going to try and visit them again over the Summer. I am hoping that other zoos and parks take up the idea of giving a sanctuary to animals surplus to the breeding programme. The Gang of 4 may not be as cute as Lili but they are certainly worth watching and deserve our support. It is also great for me to visit Polar Bears without a passport and the hassle of airport security.