Our beloved Lady Mercedes in the Highlands...Man glaubt es nicht, da steht man ganz harmlos auf, öffnet seine Mails und was findet man? Einen Link, der einen direkt zu den aufregendsten Nachrichten nach Schottland führt...(Mittlerweile auch schon wieder ein paar Tage her...). Nach Knuts Umzug zu drei älteren Damen im September (auch wir werden noch irgendwann davon berichten!), wird nun Walker Mercedes Gesellschaft leisten. Walker ist mittlerweile 23 Monate alt, wir alle kennen ihn besonders durch die tragischen Umstände im März letzten Jahres, bei denen sein kleiner Bruder Swimmer ums Leben kam. Mutter Huggies ist wieder schwanger und um in Rhenen angemessen Platz zu haben, hat man Walker auf Anraten des European Endangered Species Program (EEP) auf eine fast 24 stündige Reise per Lorry und Fähre geschickt. Umstandslos begab er sich in die Reisekiste, die Reise selbst verlief ohne Schwierigkeiten, nach seiner Ankunft inspizierte er gleich seinen Innenbereich, ein paar bauliche Modifizierungen waren vorgenommen worden, damit beide Bären separat betreut werden können. Gerochen und gesehen haben sich die beiden schon, allerdings noch unter Beibehaltung der Absperrung. Walker soll sich erst an seine neue Umgebung gewöhnen, bevor er Mercedes richtig kennenlernt.
...and adorable young Walker/Photo: Zoo RhenenMan geht davon aus, dass Walker bis zu seiner sexuellen Reife, also noch mindestens 3 Jahre, wie die Parkleitung auf ihrer website schreibt, bei Mercedes sein kann, bevor er in ein separates Gehege auf die entgegengesetzte Seite des Parks kommt, um dort eine neue Generation britischer Zoo-Eisbären zu zeugen (mit wem bloß???). Gespannt ist man auf Mercedes Reaktion, die nach Barney's Tod vor 13 Jahren immer allein gelebt hat. Obwohl Eisbären gerne allein leben, haben sie jedoch ein ausgezeichnetes Gedächtnis, im Fall von Mercedes verlässt sich die Zooleitung darauf, dass sie sich gut an ihr früheres Leben zusammen mit Barney und der Aufzucht ihrer beiden Jungtiere To-Nuik und Ohoto erinnert und sie so etwas wie Mutterstelle bei Walker einnehmen wird, der bis kurz vor seinem Umzug noch mit Mutter Huggies zusammen war.
Walker's arrival in the Highlands/Photo:Aaron SneddonDutch polar bear ends Mercedes' 13 years of solitude
After being alone for 13 years, Mercedes the polar bear finally has company, but the relationship will be strictly platonic. Until yesterday she was the only polar bear in a UK zoo but she will now share accommodation with a new, younger male companion from Holland. However, two-year-old Walker, who has taken up residence at the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, near Kingussie, having been transported from Rhenen Zoo, will not reach sexual maturity for another three years. At that stage, he will be moved to another enclosure where it is hoped he will breed with other females.
Walker's arrival in the Highlands/Photo:Aaron Sneddon
Walker was transported by road and ferry to his new home and yesterday wa s released into a holding pen where he and Mercedes saw each other for the first time. Douglas Richardson, the park's animal collection manager, said: "We are looking forward to seeing how he and Mercedes react to one another once he is released into the holding pen." Special modifications have been made to the park's polar bear enclosure so Walker and Mercedes can be managed separately and gradually introduced.
Walker taking in the Highland air as he investigates his new surrounding at Kincraig/Photo:Peter Jolly
Once Walker has become familiar with his surroundings in the holding pen, he will be released into the specially designed natural extension of the enclosure. The Royal Zoologicial Society of Scotland, which runs the park, announced plans last year to keep polar bears in its collection for the foreseeable future and, in the long term, to contribute to the conservation of the increasingly threatened species.
Walker makes himself familiar.../Photo:Aaron Sneddon
"The current polar bear enclosure at the Highland Wild life Park spans four acres and has a natural pool and tundra-like environment. In preparation for Walker’s arrival, a specially designed natural extension has been added to the enclosure, which will allow keepers to initially manage Walker and Mercedes separately. The bears will be gradually introduced to each other with a view to them living together, with both having permanent access to the whole facility. Although polar bears are generally solitary animals that are happy being alone, they have an excellent memory. Mercedes has been with other bears before so we are expecting the introduction to go fairly smoothly. Walker will not reach sexual maturity for at least another three years so should present no threat to Mercedes – being a teenager he will no doubt have a cheeky side, but we expect him to see Mercedes as a mother figure having been recently separated from his own mother. In the future, Walker will be moved to a new enclosure on the other side of the park and will be our future breeding male."
Walker enjoying himself already/Photos: Aaron Sneddon
Fortsetzung folgt...More coming soon!
Sources & photo credits: 
Walker was transported by road and ferry to his new home and yesterday wa s released into a holding pen where he and Mercedes saw each other for the first time. Douglas Richardson, the park's animal collection manager, said: "We are looking forward to seeing how he and Mercedes react to one another once he is released into the holding pen." Special modifications have been made to the park's polar bear enclosure so Walker and Mercedes can be managed separately and gradually introduced.
Once Walker has become familiar with his surroundings in the holding pen, he will be released into the specially designed natural extension of the enclosure. The Royal Zoologicial Society of Scotland, which runs the park, announced plans last year to keep polar bears in its collection for the foreseeable future and, in the long term, to contribute to the conservation of the increasingly threatened species.
"The current polar bear enclosure at the Highland Wild life Park spans four acres and has a natural pool and tundra-like environment. In preparation for Walker’s arrival, a specially designed natural extension has been added to the enclosure, which will allow keepers to initially manage Walker and Mercedes separately. The bears will be gradually introduced to each other with a view to them living together, with both having permanent access to the whole facility. Although polar bears are generally solitary animals that are happy being alone, they have an excellent memory. Mercedes has been with other bears before so we are expecting the introduction to go fairly smoothly. Walker will not reach sexual maturity for at least another three years so should present no threat to Mercedes – being a teenager he will no doubt have a cheeky side, but we expect him to see Mercedes as a mother figure having been recently separated from his own mother. In the future, Walker will be moved to a new enclosure on the other side of the park and will be our future breeding male."
Fortsetzung folgt...More coming soon!
- Dutch polar bear ends Mercedes 13 years of solitude/The Newcotsman 06.11.2010
- Walker the polar bear /Highland Wildlife Park 05/11/2010
- UK's Only Polar Bear Gets New Playmate/SkyNews 05.11.2010 incl.video
- Britain's only polar bear who spent 13 years without a friend finally has company /MailOnline 05.11.2010
- Polar bear happy with dirty deal at new Highland home/The Press and journal 06.11.2010
- New polar bear in Highland Wildlife Park breeding plan/BBC 03.11.2010
The first photos of Aaron Sneddon - our exclusive photographer from the Highlands are here on flickr, please enjoy!!! Please note Aaron's photos are copyrighted & not for public use unless you got his authorization.
Related posts:
- Bad news from Hollland...Swimmer didn't make it/21.03.2010
- RIP Swimmer...Kleines Frollein ganz groß!/ 22.03.2009
- Swimmer - 22 days ago/ 12.04.2009
About Mercedes you will find lots of postings here, starting in October 2009 when she was moving to the Highlands....Just check the Search function
