28.7.2026 – Photos by Sergej Iltjakov
The heat is on even in Novosibirsk but our friends Belka and Strelka spend a lot of time in the water.
The keepers served their food in the pool. This time it was a big fish.
Oh, what luxory! Dinner in the water!
Of course, the fish tastes yammy even on land.
Have you noticed that all five polar bears have wonderfully white and fluffy furs?
I hope even Belka and Strelka has an ‘arctic corner’ in their enclosure although it offers more shadow than the other enclosures.
As you may know there will be new and bigger enclosures for the polar bears. Let’s hope there will be enough space for all these bears including poor Rostik! According to the zoo he’s still in Novosibirsk although the visitors can’t see him.
Gerda and little Umka looking if their fans are there.
But why those tapir lips …. 🙂
Maybe they were just thirsty ….
One morning there was a nice surprise for Gerda and Umka. Their names were there!
I don’t know what the orange stuff is but it was nicely served!
After a good meal it’s great to cool off on snow.
Naturally papa Kai was treated with a yammy fish, too.
Ich freu mich wieder über alle,mögen alle genügend Schatten finden! 🥰💓👍
LG Brigitte
Hi Sergej,
Thanks for the lovely photos of the mother and cub in Novosibirsk.
Hopefully the new enclosure will be ready soon and all the bears there will have space to play, swim and relax on the shady ground with a grassy area.
Mervi, your articles are brilliant as always!
Dear Mervi and Sergej!
I agree with Britta-Gudrun and hope that the living conditions for all the cool polar bears in Novosibirsk will improve significantly with the new enclosures, that the keepers will not slacken in their efforts, and that there will be a lovely pile of snow for every bear every now and then.
I’m surprised that there are only three or four people commenting on these great posts now, and I think that’s a real shame! In my opinion, it’s been like this since the last crash. Perhaps some people haven’t realised yet that the new address is https://knutismagazine.se ? It would be lovely if a few more people joined in!
Hugs
Anke
Dear Anke!
Thank you for your kind words. I must confess I’m quite disappointed of the poor feedback here. Some people just take and never give anything back ….
Hugs from Mervi
Die große Eisbärenfamile in Zoo Novosibirsk wird mit allerlei schmackhaften Überraschungen verwöhnt! Und alle fünf Eisbären haben tatsächlich ein ungewöhnlich weißes, flauschigen Fell!!🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️👌😊
Das Foto von Gerda und Umka mit der “Tapir-Schnute” hat mich zum Schmunzeln gebracht und auch an Knut erinnert…🐻❄️🐻❄️😊💖