8.3.2024 – Photos by Sheila and Philip Baker
Knuti’s Magazine wishes all women – both humans and animals – a happy International Women’s Day with this article of our beloved lady Flocke!
Who would have imagined that the little hand raised cubbie Flocke would become an excellent mother to four kids.
Flocke is a very beautiful polar bear lady – no matter if her fur is white ….
… or shall we say very off-white … 🙂
When she gave birth to her first cub Hope some ‘experts’ had doubts of her being able to raise her baby. However, Flocke soon showed them she was as good as any more experenced mother!
Flocke and Hope in the Marineland in Antibes, France (Photo by MoniK)
Flocke is a very special polar bear to many of us because she’s a link to the ‘Knut aera’. Just like Knut she connected people throughout the world – and still does!
It’s very rare that the triplet of newborn polar bears all survive but Flocke’s trio made it!
Oh yeah! I had three wonderful cubbies and they have all grown to good looking teenagers!
Flocke and her daughter Tala are still together and seem to be getting along just fine in the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
The boys Indiana and Yuma are living separated from their mama but they live in the same park.
I can’t tell who’s who but as you can see they are both just gorgeous!
The blue canu is one of the favourite toys.
Oooops! It sank but I’m sure the rangers (keepers) have more canus in store.
A tender moment between Flocke and Tala
Rasputin aka Raspi is the father of all Flocke’s cubs. He’s now living in the Tallinn Zoo but maybe one day he and Flocke can be united again ….
Photo by Imbi Taniel
Dear Sheila, Mervi and Philip
Flocke is a very good symbol for women and mothers and how we all need them so much.
Hand reared because her young mum had been frightened by noisy journalists she went on to be one of the few Polar Bear mothers to raise three cubs from the same birth. Tala is that miracle cub and she spends every day celebrating life and Flocke. She also taught Indy and Yuma her brothers a lot.
Flocke is such a good mother and a beautiful bear. We’re so pleased she still lives with Tala at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, they are great company for each other.
Dear Sheila, Mervi und Philip
I have known Flocke for a very long time. The first time I saw her in person was shortly after she was introduced to the public, at three months old.
Flocke was a sweet and curious little bear.
Today, after raising four children, Flocke still looks incredibly handsome.
She is also clever and has shown everyone that hand-rearing – like her – can provide very good care for children.
Thank you for the appropriate ans sweet contribution for today’s International Women’s Day!
Hugs, Anita
Dear Mervi!
Thank you for this tribute to Flocke!
I agree with all the previous comments.
Flocke has proved to everyone that even a hand-reared bear cub can become a happy bear and that she is a wonderful mum, even though she missed the love of a mum. She looks impressive and gorgeous, just like a beloved bear should look…
Hugs
Anke
That was a pleasure to read and look. Detailed information and gorgeous pics of the polar bear beauty FLOCKE and her cubs and even her ‘husband’ RASPUTIN. Thank you very much, dear Mervi, for the title matching so perfectly the content of the day (March 8th = women’s day) and for the excellent photos from Sheila and Philip Baker.
Dear Sheila, Mervi and Philip!
Thank you for the pictures and story about Flocke.
She was a little hand-reared bear, then she became a wonderful mum. That is a miracle.
Hugs
Ludmila
Dear Mervi,
I think it’s great that you’re dedicating Womens Day to the model mum FLOCKE!
After all, she is an exemplary mother, both as a hand-raiser and as a first-time mother, who even raised triplets – an extraordinary success that even experienced older female bears rarely achieve.
Kudos to Flocke, who would have been our favourite wife in Knut’s day and who has also become an exemplary mother bear with Teddybärenmutti lovely stories about her preference for pink and fancy handbags!
Sheila and Philip, many thanks for the great photos and best wishes!
Britta-Gudrun
Liebe Mervi,
ich finde es klasse, dass du den Womens Day der Vorzeigemutter FLOCKE widmest!
Denn gerade sie ist sowohl als Handaufzucht als auch als Erstgebärende eine vorbildliche Mutter, die dann sogar Drillinge großgezogen hat – ein außergewöhnlicher Erfolg, der selbst erfahrenen älteren Bärinnen höchst selten gelingt.
Ein HOCH auf Flocke, die zu Knuts Zeiten unsere Lieblingsfrau für ihn geworden wäre und die mit den schönen Geschichten von Teddybärenmutti über ihre Vorliebe für pink und schicke Handtaschen auch eine vorbildliche Bärenmutter geworden ist!
Sheila and Philip, vielen Dank für die tollen Fotos und liebe Grüße!
Britta-Gudrun
Thank you very much dear Mervi, Sheila and Philip.
Best wishes to Flocke, Hope, Tala, Yuma and Indy.
Mit ihrem flockigen Fell macht FLOCKE ihrem Namen alle Ehre und trotz allen ‘Unkenrufen’ ist aus ihr nicht nur eine tolle Eisbärin, sondern eine ebenso großartige Mutter geworden!!!🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️
Da hat Mervi zum ‘Frauentag’ die richtige Eisbärin ausgewählt, zumal Flocke für immer mit Knut und Wilbär verbunden sein wird…🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️👌💝
Ob es für Rasputin und Flocke ein Wiedersehen geben wird… Schön wär’s….🐻❄️🐻❄️💝
How fitting that Flocke should be a perfect symbol for International Women’s Day. She is the picture of perseverance in the face of incredible odds. And she is international for she has lived in Germany, France and now the UK, but has fans all over the world, and her lovely Raspi lives in Estonia. Quite international. She is a great mother to Hope and the triplets, and a wonderful bear in every way. Truly a great lady bear.
Molly