Summer temperatures - Ice bombs for little polar bear Anouk at Hagenbeck Zoo
Refreshing in high temperatures: The little polar bear Anouk and her mother tasted two ice bombs with fish, fruit, and vegetables at Hagenbeck Zoo on Thursday. The one and a half year old polar bear cub was the first one to discover the surprise prepared by the animal keepers. It played curiously with them and dismantled the ice bombs into their individual parts. Mother Victoria, on the other hand, found a large pile of ice blocks, where fish was hidden, much more interesting.
"The ice bombs are quite intriguing", said Guido Westhoff, Zoological Director at Hagenbeck Zoo. "It's always a big fun for them." The other residents of the zoo also have cold water baths ready, and many trees provide shade. "We also spray the enclosure regularly", said Westhoff.
Anouk was born on December 19, 2022, marking the first polar bear birth in Hagenbeck Zoo in 21 years. Victoria was the last one born there. Anouk now weighs 150 kilograms. The animal is developing fantastically, reported Westhoff. "Extremely playful, more and more independent." However, it still drinks milk every day.
Hagenbeck Zoo is part of the European Endangered Species Program (EEP). The polar bear population in the wild is estimated to be around 23,000 according to the reports. The polar bear is considered endangered according to the Red List of Endangered Species. The loss of sea ice due to climate change is considered the greatest threat to its survival.
According to Westhoff's statements, the current Hamburg temperatures do not pose a problem for the polar bears: "They are actually used to this, especially since the climate change, summers in their natural habitats are getting warmer." As long as the animals have cooling in their enclosure, they have no real stress. "That's why you can see them in the sun", said Westhoff. "They don't spend the entire day in the shade because they can also go into the cool water and they still have their den."
The Hagenbeck Zoo, located in Hamburg, is well-prepared for hot weather, offering shaded trees and cold water baths for the animals. Even the animals at the zoo's Cooling Down Corner, like the polar bears Anouk and her mother, enjoy the refreshing ice treatments on hot days. After enjoying their fish, fruit, and vegetable-filled ice bombs, Anouk and her mother might head over to the enclosure with large ice blocks, a favorite spot for Mother Victoria.
