Sad news from Budapest... Bimba RIP!

Bimba

06.12.1987 - 03.05.2011

Photo: Bagosi Zoltán

Bimba, die erst vor einem Monat aus Pistoia nach Budapest umgezogen war, ist völlig überraschend letzten Dienstag gestorben. Sie hatte erst Montag abend zuvor die ersten Anzeichen einer Erkrankung gezeigt. Bei einer Autopsie wurde Leberkrebs im Endstadium festgestellt. Laut Homepage des Zoo Budapest kann bei einer routinemäßigen Untersuchung diese Krebsart nicht erkannt werden. -

Bimba, who moved only last month from Pistoia in Toscany to Budapest, died suddenly on Tuesday. It was only Monday evening, that she showed signs of illness. According to an autopsy, she was in the final stages of liver cancer. According to the Zoo’s web page, routine examinations cannot detect this kind of cancer.

Photo: Bagosi Zoltán

Bimba wurde am 6. Dezember 1987 in Pistoia geboren, wo sie bis auf die letzen 4 Wochen Zeit ihres Lebens verbracht hat. Sie war die Tochter von Eisbärin Miska, geboren 1968 und 1998 verstorben im Alter von 30 Jahren. Ihr Vater war Eisbär Romeo, der im Alter von 22 Jahren im Jahr 2000 verstarb. In Pistoia brachte Bimba 1999 Yoghi und 2006 Blizzard zur Welt.

Bimba was born in Pistoia on December 6, 1987 where she had spent her entire life until last month. Her mother was Miska, born in 1968 and deceased in 1998. Her father was Romeo, who died at age 22 in 2000. It was in Pistoia where she gave birth to Yoghi in 1999 and to Blizzard in 2006.

Bimba's first son Yoghi /Photo: Doris Webb

Yoghi, der berühmte Yoghi, der nun mit Knuts früherer Gespielin Giovanna lebt, war der Sohn von Romeo, der auch gleichzeitig sein Opa war. Und um es noch zuzuspitzen, er widerum ist nicht nur der Bruder, sondern auch der Vater von Blizzard.

Yoghi, the very famous Yoghi, now living with Knut's ex-mate Giovanna in Munich was fathered by his grand-father Romeo. And to make things worse, Yoghi himself fathered Blizzard when he was just 6 years old, which makes him brother and father at the same time.

Bimba with Blizzard/Photo:Zoo Pistoia

Again Bimba with Blizzard when he was a cub/ Photo source

Doch für diese ganze Inzuchtarie kann Bimba nichts. Sie war beiden eine gute Mutter und galt immer als liebe und verträgliche Eisbärin, unkompliziert im Kontakt und leicht umgänglich.-

However, this case of downright incest was not the fault of Bimba. She was a good mother to both of them, she was known as a gentle, affectionate polar bear who liked to socialise and who was easy to handle.

Bimba last month/Photo:Zoo Pistoia

Da man in Pistoia die Haltung von Eisbären zugunsten der von Braunbären und Pinguinen aufgegeben hat, musste Bimba letzten Monat am 4. April nach Budapest umziehen. Das Foto oben zeigt sie vor dem Umzug, vor dem Transport hatte man sie narkotisiert, die Fahrt verbrachte sie wach.-

As the zoo wants to engage more for brown bears and their conservation in the region, polar bear husbandry was ended in Pistoia. Decision was taken to move Bimba to Budapest. She was relocated only one month ago on 4 April. Above photo shows her before the transport, she had been anesthetised to get her into the crate, while traveling she was awake.

Bimba after arrival in Budapest, in the background Lady and Vitus
Photo: Zoo Budapest

Wie man bei Ulli J. nachlesen kann, war Bimba gut in Budapest angekommen. Sie wurde auf der fast 1000 km langen Fahrt von der Toscana nach Budapest von vier Mitarbeitern aus Pistoia begleitet. In den ersten Tagen war sie für die Zoobesucher nicht zu sehen, da sie zur Eingewöhnung in einem Innengehege untergebracht war. Seit Freitag, dem 8. April, war sie bereits auf der Eisbärenanlage des Zoos Budapest zu sehen. Sie hatte ein eigenes Gehege, getrennt von Lady und Vitus, von dem aus sie die beiden anderen Eisbären aber sehen konnte.-

In Ulli J's blog it was reported that Bimba had made a safe journey to Budapest, attended by four keepers during her 700 mile journey from Toscany to her new home. For the first few days, she was kept in the inner enclosure of the exhibit, not yet visible for zoo visitors. Since Friday, 8 April, she had been public at the Budapest Zoo. She had a private enclosure, separate from Lady and Vitus, although they were able to see each other.

Photo: Bagosi Zoltán

Bimba schien sich zunächst in ihrem neuen Zuhause wohlzufühlen, ganz besonders genoss sie das Schwimmen in dem Wasserbecken der Eisbärenanlage. -

At first Bimba had seemed at ease in her new home, she enjoyed especially swimming in the polar bear exhibit’s pool.

Photo: Bagosi Zoltán

Man hatte in Budapest auf Nachwuchs von Bimba und dem 19 jährigen Vitus, einem Ur-Kölner, gehofft. Bei einer Fruchtwasseruntersuchung im Januar 2009, war festgestellt worden, dass Lady, die letzte waschechte Budapesterin, keinen Nachwuchs haben kann. Bimba sollte hier einspringen, und Lady ersetzen, deren Umzug nach Bratislava geplant war.-

In Budapest, it was very much hoped that Bimba and the 19 years old Vitus, originally from Cologne, would produce some long expected offspring. In January 2009 the zoo in Budapest had arranged for an amniocentesis to find out why Vitus and Lady hadn't come up with cubs during their long relationship. The examination revealed that Lady, the last offspring from Budapest, can't get pregnant. Bimba was supposed to step in and to replace Lady who was to go to Bratislava.

Lady/Photo: Zoo Budapest

Laut einer Entscheidung des EEP-Koordinator wurde der Transfer von Lady in ihr neues Zuhause jedoch 9 Stunden vor der geplanten Fahrt gestoppt, obwohl der Umzug mit dem EEP Koordinator vorher abgesprochen worden war und das Gehege, wo sie dort untergebracht werden sollte, von ihm auch als geeignet angesehen wurde. In beiden Zoos war schon alles für die Abreise/Ankunft vorbereitet. In Bratislava war das Gehege schon hergerichtet und die Medien über die Ankunft informiert. Den Zoos sind die Gründe für die Entscheidung nicht mitgeteilt worden. Mittlerweile ist Lady nicht mehr in Budapest, ihr jetziger Aufenthaltsort ist noch ein Rätsel. -

But according to a decision from the coordinator of EEP (European Endangered Species Program) the transfer of Lady to Bratislava Zoo was stopped only nine hours before her transport was supposed to take place, although the relocation of Lady had been agreed with the EEP Coordinator, the enclosure was prepared and had been judged suitable. Both zoos were ready for the exchange. In Bratislava the accommodation was ready and the media had been informed of her arrival. The zoos weren’t informed about the reasons for this incomprehensible decision. After further consultation with Amsterdam, Lady stayed in Budapest, in the meantime she has left the zoo but it is not clear to which zoo she was eventually transferred.

Vitus/ Photo: jvno100

Der unerwartete Tod Bimbas ist ein Schock und ein schmerzhafter Verlust für den Zoo in Budapest und auch in Pistoia. Besonders traurig ist nun die Situation für Vitus, er ist nun alleine, ohne seine langjährige Partnerin Lady und ohne Bimba. -

The unexpected death of Bimba is a choc and a painful loss for the Zoo in Budapest and in Pistoia. Particularlay sad is now the situation for Vitus, he is now alone, without his long-time mate Lady and without Bimba.

Bimba in Budapest/ Photo: tamasb

Bye-Bye, Bimba!

Bimba in Pistoia/Archiv Zoo

Farewell and RIP!
You will be missed...!

Sources and credits:
-Bimba in Budapest verstorben/ Ulli j's Eisbärblog 06.05.2011
-Week of unbearable losses for Hungarian zoos/ Pestiside 06.05.2011
-Elpusztult az egyik budapesti jegesmedve/index 04.05.2011
-Zoo Budapest
-Bye-Bye Bimba/Budapest Photos tamasb
-Bimba ist angekommen-Lady noch nicht abgereist/Ulli J's Eisbärblog08.-09.04.2011
-Budapest:Lady verlässt ihren Partner Vitus-Pistoia:Bimba zieht nach Budapest/ Ulli J's Eisbärblog 04.04.2011
-Fruchtbarkeitsuntersuchung im Zoo Budapest/Ulli J's Eisbärblog Januar 2011
-Príchod medvedice Lady náhle stopli/Pluska 09.04.2011
-Photos von Vitus playing here and here

Related:
- Heute mal Querbeet- Blizzard, Kap, Maika, Bimba and Simba/16.12.2010

Auch Piraten müssen sterben....Farewell, Voda & Frosty from Denver...

Voda & Frosty in 2008

Manchmal überstürzen sich Ereignisse, auch die traurigen. Diesmal kommen sie aus Denver. Noch letztes Jahr hatte ich dieses Foto von der, wie ich finde, ausgesprochen fantasievollen Aktion in Denver gepostet, die mich automatisch an Piraten hat denken lassen...Kein Wunder, befindet sich Knuts Aussenposten doch im Indischen Ozean... Aber wie bei echten Piraten eher seltener, vor allen Dingen heutzutage, hatten diese beiden sogar einen Namen: Voda & Frosty...-

Sometimes events rush, also the sad ones. This time the sad news come from Denver. It was only one year ago, that I posted this photo of a very imaginative outdoor event at Denver Zoo which made me automatically think of pirates...No wonder, as Knut's Outpost is located in the Indian Ocean...But as in real pirate life rather rare, especially nowadays, these two pirates were known by name: Voda & Frosty...

Frosty in July 2007

Hier ist der 25 jährige Frosty alleine zu sehen. Am 24. Juni starb der in Cleveland am 11.11.1984 geborene Frosty als letzter männliche Eisbär der Denver-Eisbärengruppe. Er hatte unbehandelbaren Leberkrebs und musste eingeschläfert werden, da sich sein gesundheitlicher Zustand in den Wochen nach der Diagnose immer weiter verschlechtert hatte. Leberkrebs ist eine häufige Todesursache bei Eisbären, auch Olaf, der Vater des bekanntesten Nachwuchses des Denver Zoos, Klondike & Snow, starb an dieser Krankheit.

Die Tierärztin des Zoos, Dr. Felicia Knightly, äußert sich folgendermaßen: "Diese Tumore können enorm groß werden, zu einem Punkt, wo die Tiere so schnell und viel an Gewicht verlieren, dass man den betroffenenen Bären eigentlich nie genug zu fressen geben kann, sie fressen weiter, und unglücklicherweise trägt man mit der Nahrung, die man ihnen gibt, ungewollt zum karzinogenen Prozess bei."

Frosty war 2006 von Tulsa nach Denver gekommen im Austausch mit Kavec. Kavec, langjähriger Partner von Voda , starb bereits letztes Jahr an Nierenkrebs. Der Zoo hoffte auf ein Funken zwischen dem kinderlosen Frosty und der erfahrenen und geburtsfreudigen Voda, der erhoffte Nachwuchs stellte sich jedoch nicht ein. Frosty war zum Zeitpunkt seines Todes der älteste männliche Eisbär in einem US Zoo. -

Frosty im April, man kann sehen wieviel Gewicht er bereits verloren hatte...-
Frosty in April this year, one can see, how much weight he had already lost...

On the photo above (2) the 25 year old Frosty is seen alone. Born on 11.11.1984 in Cleveland, Frosty died as last male member of the Denver polar bear group on 24th June. Due to his liver cancer, his health deteriorated rapidly during the weeks before.So the decision was taken to put him down to spare him suffering.


"Cancer of the liver is common among bears. The disease also killed Olaf, the father of the zoo's most famous polar bear cubs, Klondike and Snow", says senior zoo veterinary Dr Felicia Knightly representatve . "These tumors can become enormous, to the point that the animal will literally lose weight at such a rapid rate that you cannot feed them enough. They will continue to eat, and you're basically unfortunately feeding a neoplastic or cancerous process, and it's very difficult."

Frosty came in 2006 from Tulsa to Denver in exchange for Kavec. Kavec, longtime companion of Voda, died already last year from kidney cancer.The zoo was hoping for a spark between Frosty, who had never sired offspring, and Voda, an experienced mother of several young. Unfortunately the hopes of the zoo did not come true. Frosty was at time of his death the oldest male living polar bear in an US zoo.

Voda

Dies ist Voda. Bereits am 27. April diesen Jahres musste auch sie eingeschläfert werden. Durch eine Nierenerkrankung hatte die Lebensqualität der 23 jährigen Bärin stark abgenommen und nachdem sie Essen nicht mehr bei sich behalten konnte, entschieden die Mitarbeiter, ihr weiteres Leiden zu ersparen. Voda war seit vielen Jahren eine ausgesprochen beliebte Bärin bei Mitarbeitern und Besuchern des Zoos, in dem sie 21 Jahre ihres Lebens verbrachte und ihre 5 Kleinen aufzog, Boris und Natasha (1999), Cranbeary (2001), Koda und Nuka (2004). Die Nachricht von Vodas Tod löste viel Trauer und Anteilnahme der Bevölkerung aus.

Voda with Koda & Nuka 2005

Above photos show Voda. Already on 27 April this year, Voda had to be euthanised. Because of a renal disease, she had already been under medical survey or a while, but the disease continued to progress, Voda rejected food, the condition of her kidneys declined rapidly. The decision to administer euthanasia was taken when Voda couldn't keep down the little food that she accepted.
Voda was a very popular bear at Denver Zoo, where she had spent 21 years of her life and brought up her cubs, Boris and Natasha (1999), Cranbeary (2001) and Koda and Nuka (2004). The news about Voda's death caused mourning not only among the staff at the zoo but also among the population.

Voda in August 2008

Bereits seit Ende April hatte ich mir vorgenommen eine ausführlichere Würdigung von Voda hier in den K-Files einzustellen, aus verschiedenen Gründen habe ich dies immer wieder verschoben.

Wer waren Voda und Frosty, mit wem haben sie gelebt und wer repräsentiert nun den eisbärigen 'Denver-Clan' ? Ein längerer Beitrag dazu ist geplant...-

When I learned of Voda's death in April, I wanted to honour her here in the K-Files, due to various reasons I always postponed my posting.
More about Voda and Frosty, their mates and families and the rest of the polar beary Denver 'Dynasty' will follow asap...

Farewell, Voda & Frosty, you are already missed terribly...RIP!

News Source:

- 2nd polar bear within two months dies at Denver Zoo/Denver Post 24.06.2010
- Denver Zoo loses Frosty the Polar Bear to Cancer/ Denver Post 25.06.2010
- Zoo mourns loss of polar bear/ 9news.com 29.04.2010 Deutsche Übersetzng hier auf Knutitis von Ulli

- Denver Zoo Polar Bear Voda dies/Denver Post 29.04.2010 -
Photo Story : Voda Through The Years/KDVR.COM (Denver Zoo Photos by Dave Parsons)
Related postings on the K-Files:
- Kavec from Tulsa Zoo is dead...RIP/18.05.2009 (with some background and pics of Kavec's & Voda's offspring)

- Piraten in Denver...Pirates in Denver/18.05.2009 (Voda with Frosty)
- Koda & Nuka...Kavec's Offspring/19.05.2009 (with some beautiful pics and video of Koda & Nuka)
- Olaf im Regenbogenland...Olaf in Rainbow Land Now/ 03.05.2008

Photo credits:

Dave Parson/Zoo Denver (1, 4) & MyAngel27 (Denver polar bears), for her complete photo stream visit her site on flickr - Thanks a lot for sharing the photos!

Already in September: Polands only polar bear Tuya died

This is Tuya, Poland's only polar bear until end of September 2009. Tuya, also known as Snow White as called so by her keepers, died on Thursday, 24 September of liver cancer at the age of 31.

She had been living for many years at Wroclaw Zoo (which was Breslau long ago). She came to Wroclaw from Upper Silesia 30 years ago with her brother Icicles. The polar bear siblings were born in the family of Hansel and Gretel in Chorzow Zoo in 1978, which was then quite a sensation. They were the first polar bears born born in the country - said Dr Miroslaw Piasecki of Wroclaw Garden.

Not a stamp of Wroclaw but from Poland anyway

Since then, Poland has failed to reproduce polar bears.

Tuya died at the age of 31, which means that she lived to a ripe old age, and as Polish zoos deem their conditions as unsuitable for polar bears, Tuya will probably remain in the country's memory as the last "Polish polar teddy bear".

In September, Tuya was supposed to go to Hanover, where a new polar enclosure is getting built. It is here where Olinka's twins from Vienna will be living. I was afraid, however, that Tuya would not survive until then", said Radosław Ratajszczak, director of the Wroclaw Zoo.

Tuya had cancer of the liver with numerous metastases. Liver cancer was also the cause of death for Hope from St.Louis and Olaf, the father of Klondike & Snow from Denver. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything so far about Tuya's brother Icicles and her parents. And here some general information about Wroclaw Zoo:

"The City Zoological Garden in Wroclaw was originally established in 1865, which makes it the oldest zoo in Poland (a slightly ironic boast, since in 1865 Wroclaw was the German town of Breslau!). As well as being the oldest, The Wroclaw Zoological Garden has the largest collection of animals in Poland, with almost 7,000 in number from 600 different species, in an area covering 33 hectares.

Like most institutions in Wroclaw, the zoo has a troubled history. In 1921, following the economic crisis in Germany, it was forced to shut down. It was reopened in 1927 and enjoyed a healthy period of growth, however the events of World War II saw much of the zoo destroyed and many of the animals were killed or lost. After the war, with Wroclaw returning to Polish hands, the resurgence of Wroclaw University and its vested interest in the natural sciences paved the way for the zoo to be reopened in 1948 – albeit with just 150 animals of 60 different species. Great support for the zoo amongst the townspeople ensured that the garden quickly grew in stature, overcoming a number more setbacks, so that by the end of the 50s it had expanded to its current size. "

More about bears in all Polish zoos you can find on an interesting site called bearproject.

And in a very informative article about the future of zoos in the Financial Times last year, " What are zoos for?", you will find more about the views of Wroclaw Zoo's director, Radoslav Ratajszczak, who "claims to have visited 407 zoos since he was a child", and who "was the first person from communist eastern Europe to attend a zookeeper’s training course in the west", which certainly had an impact on the zoo's recent development. It is a long article, so take some time, it's worthwhile!

More about bears in all Polish zoos you can find on another interesting site called bearproject.

Sources and photo credits: Zoo Wroclaw, Original article from 27.09.2009/pol., Gazeta/25.09.2009, English google translated version, Gazeta Wyborcza/25.09.2009