White Christmas in Ranua

23.12.2025 – Source: Ranua Wildlife Park

Inuvik and Kara met for the first time 🐻‍❄ 🐻‍❄ After arriving to Ranua, both polar bears were first given time on their own sides of the enclosure to explore the new environment and settle in. Once the initial excitement had calmed a little, the gate between the enclosures was opened, giving Kara and Inuvik the opportunity to meet each other as well. Their first encounter was calm and full of curiosity.

Kara stepped back several times, but Inuvik’s gentle presence encouraged her to return again and again. Moment by moment, the initial tension faded, replaced by growing interest in one another.

Although polar bears usually live solitary lives in the wild, experience from zoos shows that the presence of another bear and the chance for varied social interactions can enrich their lives and bring valuable stimulation. ❄️

Now the girls have been wrestling and having fun in the snow.

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Kara was a little puzzled of all whiteness around her …

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…. maybe she thought she was only dreaming.

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No, it’s not a dream. There really is snow everywhere!

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Inuvik was also exploring her new home.

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What a nice place this is! I hope we’ll have a long Winter!

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🦭 In search of food, polar bears break apart snow dens built by seals on the ice by jumping on them — just like Kara does in the video. 🐻‍❄️ Seal pups born in these snow dens in spring are an easy and important food source for polar bears, and are usually a polar bear cub’s first solid food.

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Even in the wildlife parks polar bears ‘behave like polar bears’. 🙂

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This time, however, no food was found beneath the ice, as the pool was drained for the winter to prevent damage caused by freezing.

The 21 year old Venus looks gorgeous with her white and fluffy fur. She will be introduced to Kara and Inuvik in due course but all in good time …

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Inuvik welcomed Santa who lives very close to Ranua.

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This is how Winter looks in North Finland.

Ranua wildlife park

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You better watch out – Santa Claus is coming to you! 🙂

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Together with all the readers of this Magazine I wish all the animals and keepers in the Ranua Wildlife Park a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

5 Comments

  1. Liebe Mervi, schön zu sehen, dass die beiden Bären sich gut eingelebt haben und sich miteinander vertragen.
    Diese Schneemassen sind natürlich ganz aussergewöhnlich, aber er gefällt ihnen auf Anhieb.
    Bleibt zu hoffen, dass auch Venus die neue Gesellschaft freuen wird.
    Liebe Grüße
    Britta-Gudrun

  2. Dear Mervi!
    That appears quite promising, even though both bears were initially very cautious in their reactions to each other. I hope that Inuvik and Kara will develop fur as beautiful as Venus’s.
    I assume that the snow is very welcome and wish them much fun playing in it.
    I wonder if Father Christmas gave the polar bear ladies any presents.
    Thank you for this delightful update!

    Hugs
    Anke

  3. Kara und Inuvik haben es wirklich gut getroffen und dass die beiden Eisbärinnen sich so gut verstehen, wertet den neuen Platz noch mehr auf!!👍❄🐻‍❄️🐻‍❄️❄💝
    Hoffentlich bilden sie dann mit Venus ein harmonierendes Eisbärentrio und genießen den Winter in Ranua mit ihr gemeinsam…🐻‍❄️🐻‍❄️🐻‍❄️✊

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