Theo and the Three Bears at Anchorage Zoo

 We know what you're thinking--Theo and the Three Bears--we're stepping into a fairytale but no, we're wandering around the zoo in Anchorage to see the bears. Now there are bears in other zoos, but it's not often we get to see the bears up close. 

First stop . . . we have the chance to see what we haven't seen for a long time--a polar bear. Even though we're farther away that we'd like to be, we can still catch a glimpse of him. Polar bears used to be at the Philadelphia Zoo but no more. So this is a real treat. Why?

It comes down to statistics. Polar bears evolved from brown bears nearly 200,000 years ago. They are the largest land predators in the world. In captivity, they can live forty years. In the wild, that number is reduced to twenty years. Male bears can weigh 1300 pounds. Females weigh near 600 pounds. They eat seals and whale carcasses. The global population is less than 25,000 bears due to arctic warming, global pollution, and increased human activity which squeezes them out. In 1973 five countries signed an agreement to protect the polar bears. That is why they are a precious sight to see:

It's not often we get to see bears eating a watermelon, but we're getting ahead of ourselves.

Theo spots the black bear first. We are only a few feet from him, separated by the bars of a cage, but we can smell him even from this distance. Theo can't get any closer and if he were smaller, he probably would have squeezed his body through the bars. 

"He may eat you," we have to remind Theo. "Not all animals are friendly. This bear isn't Smokey the Bear's brother or cousin."

Of course, Theo knows that, but he is intrigued. Bears are one of the mysteries of life.

I am on high alert, far enough away to give Theo space, but close enough to whisk him away if there's any danger. There isn't.

This bear doesn't give a hoot about Theo. He's interested only in the watermelon that suddenly appears. He can smell it and he'll eat it. 

"This is fun, isn't it?" I ask.

Theo is mesmerized. It's not everyday you can watch a black bear eating a watermelon.

Finally, we move on . . . to bear #3, the brown bears. Brown bears and grizzly bears are the same species. Brown bears live on the coast and hibernate when food is scarce in winter. Their body temps, heart rate and metabolism becomes lower. Brown bears in milder climates don't hibernate at all.

Bears love salmon and will tolerate hanging out with other bears in a large group when the salmon are running. They also eat plants and large prey such as moose or caribou.

Bears also quickly associate a food source with a human and that's when they become dangerous. It is illegal to feed a bear or leave garbage where they can access it or kill a bear that is attracted to food or garbage. Bear attacks on humans are rare. From 1900 to 1985 only 20 people have died from bear attacks. On the other hand, humans are a bear's biggest threat to survival.

In the wild these bears can live for 30 years as compared to in captivity where they can live for 40 years.

Male brown bears can weigh up to 900 pounds. Females usually weigh closer to 500 pounds.

As we're slowly walking away, I can't help but say, "Now you know how Goldilocks felt with her three bears."

Theo is not amused. This last bear, the brown bear, is quite a character. He naps on top of the table, then leans against the table as if he's posing or, perhaps, thinking about life. 

Theo's Zoo Visit-From a Falcon to a Reindeer

 Traveling with a gangster cat isn't easy. Sometimes we have to bribe Theo with treats, but not this time. From Theo's point of view, there's nothing that beats going to the zoo. 

Dan, Theo and I go to the Philadelphia Zoo all the time. We've visited the zoo in Washington, DC to see the elephants. We've hung out with the koala bears in San Diego. We've been to zoos all around the world--Rome, Beijing (to see the panda bears), Hawaii, London, and even the Schonbrun Zoo in Austria.  

Of course, since we're in Anchorage we must go to their zoo--founded in 1969 to conserve the Arctic species--and see animals we don't usually see up close and personal. How will Theo react to animals he's never seen or sniffed before? That is the question. Who will his favorite be?

The air is cool, and the sun is almost shining. It's the kind of day that when you take a deep breath, you taste the power of Mother Nature at her finest.

First stop is a Peregrine Falcon, which has an interesting history. Human have hunted these falcons since 2200 BC in China. Even William Shakespeare enjoyed the sport. The peregrine was always admired and reserved for hunting with royalty. These falcons themselves hunt all kinds of birds and are the fastest birds in the world (we're talking 238 miles an hour) when in pursuit of prey.

Peregrines declined in the USA due to DDT pesticide (banned in 1972). Falconers helped to breed and release over 5,000 peregrines from 1974 to 1999, when they were removed from the endangered species list. 

Theo is all agog. After all, the Peregrine Falcon is a bird. His fondest wish is to stalk, sniff and hopefully catch a falcon. Ha. Ha.  We literally have to drag Theo away from the falcon.

"There are other animals to see." 

We spot what looks like a buffalo but is really a Tibetan Yak and Theo is instantly mesmerized by this glorious animal with the funny horns. 

"Theo, this is a domestic yak. The males weigh up to 1200 pounds and can live for 25 years. In contrast wild yaks live between 14,000 and 20,000 feet in cold, oxygen poor air. They have extra red blood cells for carrying oxygen and two extra rib pairs for deep breathing. Less than 10,000 wild yaks remain alive as compared to twelve million domestic yaks who live on the Tibetan Plateau. Yaks fear hunters, cross-breeding efforts, disease from the domestic yaks and livestock grazing that push wild yaks from grassland habitats.

 

Theo has no comment. He wants to get closer to the yak and at one point reaches his paw through the fence. Unfortunately, the yak is conked out (mid-morning snooze) and doesn't react. 

A Bactrian Camel is next. This is the second time we've seen a camel in a zoo, but their wild brothers live in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and China. The desert has harsh conditions--rain once every three years and sandstorms that can blow the paint off a truck. But the camel has long eyelashes, clear eyelids, ear hair and nostrils and lips that seal shut. They can survive temperatures of 40 degrees below zero to 120 degrees above zero, can drink salt water, and have survived nuclear testing in the Gobi Desert. 

The domestic camel can carry 600 pound loads for 30 miles a day. 

There is something intoxicating about a camel. Theo and I took a camel ride in the Sahara Desert and we met a baby camel in Morocco so Theo has no fear. He cat walks up to the fence and meows. "Just let me sniff you," he seems to be saying. But the camel prefers not to. 

Next up is a Caribou. "Look at those antlers, Theo."

Why does a Caribou look like a reindeer?

Answer: In Alaska caribou is a wild reindeer. In Europe all wild and domestic caribou are called reindeer. Geez. They can adapt well to Arctic conditions. Their fur is hollow and well insulating. Their hooves are hard for ice traction. They can live up to 20 years in captivity and 10 years in the wild. They weigh between 300 (females) and 600 (males) pounds. An adult reindeer can eat twelve pounds of plants a day. 

We can't resist talking about Santa Clause and the reindeer. Theo listens patiently, rolls his eyes only a little and as soon as we're finished, lobbies for a snack. One more thing--we talk about how climate change has affected the animals. 

By this time his cat eyes glaze over.

He's right. We need a break. As we're walking to the very small cafe/counter where there's food, I have to ask him. "What's your favorite so far?"

He doesn't miss a beat. "The falcon."

Of course. Birds on the brain always if you're a cat.