14.10.2023 by Ralph Morton
On Sunday 10 September I was at the entrance to Hagenbecks Tierpark when it opened for the day. I hurried to the Polar Bear enclosure.
Victoria was standing on the rocky shoreline in front of the main viewing window looking fit and well.
Victoria took a ball and as most Polars like to do, she threw it into the water.
The great advantage of the narrow enclosure is that it encourages the Polars to show how agile they are underwater.
A visitor was taking full advantage of Victoria’s show.
Anouk, Victoria’s daughter, had been playing at the far end of the pool. Seeing her mum playing by the glass she came to join in.
The cub is now just as able to scramble up the rocky shore as Victoria.
Anouk enjoys playing ball too
The viewing glass is carefully designed to allow visitors to really get close to the bears underwater.
Heads and tails!
Victoria was watching Anouk playing and ….
Victoria slips into the water.
Sometimes twigs get into the pool and Victoria had to shake this one off.
Victoria had her own ball and was keeping it for herself.
It is only possible to see the back of the pool through an underground window. But the bears can also withdraw into their den.
The den can be watched on a viewing screen.
Some nice signs in the underground den.
Although the Hamburg enclosure appears cramped compared with other zoos the main viewing window does work well. Victoria and Anouk spent a lot of time there before going up to the back of the enclosure where they have quite a lot of space to relax privately.
So Day 2 had been another great success. Monday to Thursday would see me in Aalborg but Molly Merrow is going to tell that story.
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