April 18, 2008---Our bears have arrived at the Minnesota Zoo

April 14, 2008---Soon our three Alaskan brown bears will be making their way to Minnesota. Here, "Sadie" inspects the shipping crates that will carry her safely to her new home. Photo by Doug Lindstrand.

March 21, 2008---Alaska received several feet of fresh snow the end of March. The bears enjoyed playing in the new powder. Photo by Doug Lindstrand

In the spring and summer of 2006, the Minnesota Zoo acquired three orphaned bear cubs in Alaska that will soon call Russia’s Grizzly Coast home. Even though the bears will remain in Alaska until 2008, they have already received media attention in Alaska, Minnesota, and beyond.

Sadie
The first, a female found near a landfill in Kotzebue, was rescued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in June, 2006. Officials named her “Sadie” after Sadie Creek, near where she was orphaned. She was transferred to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) in Portage Glacier. Now over a year old, she is definitely the inquisitive one of the group.

"Sadie" Summer 2006. Photo by Doug Lindstrand.

Sadie enjoying a snack, December 2007. Photo courtesy Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC)

Watch a video clip of "Sadie"

Haines
A second bear cub was found in July, 2006 and is nearly the same age as Sadie. This orphan was named “Haines” after he was found roaming the porches and yards around the town with his namesake. Shortly after being found, he joined Sadie at the AWCC. Haines is described as a very large bear for his age, with a calm and easy going disposition.

"Haines" Photo by Michelle Brandstedter.

Haines is getting really big! December 2007. Photo courtesy AWCC

Kenai
In September, 2006 a third bear cub was found orphaned along the coast near Seward. Called "Kenai,” he joined Sadie and Haines at the AWCC shortly after he was found. Kenai is smaller than Haines and regularly joins his adopted brother in daily wrestling matches.

Kenai sporting his "fluffy" winter fur. December, 2007. Photo courtesy AWCC

 

Four playful and inquisitive sea otters will make their home in Russia’s Grizzly Coast. Three of them, Capers, Rocky, and Jasper, were found as orphans off the coast of Alaska. The fourth, Katchemak, is a mature female from Shedd Aquarium. All four otters are in a special holding area at the Minnesota Zoo while their exhibit is being built.

Capers
In the spring of 2006, a sea otter pup was found alone in Kacemak Bay, Alaska after his mother was found deceased nearby. Named “Capers,” he was transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward where he was cared for until he was transferred to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago that summer. Capers arrived at the Minnesota Zoo in December, 2006 with a female otter named "Kachemak" who is on loan from the Shedd Aquarium to provide him with companionship. Both are located in a special holding facility, and the Zoo's marine mammal staff are getting to know their behaviors and personalities.

"Capers" the sea otter at only two weeks old—June 2006. Photo courtesy of Shedd Aquarium.
click to enlarge +

Watch video clip of Capers (from July 2006)

Learn more about Capers

Jasper & Rocky
On June 29, 2007, a male sea otter pup — estimated to be between 2-4 weeks of age — was rescued near Homer, Alaska. Named "Jasper," he was transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center where he was cared for around-the-clock by rehabilitation staff. On July 31, 2007, "Rocky" — estimated to be a bit younger than Jasper — arrived at the Alaska SeaLife Center after he was abandoned near Craig, Alaska.

Jasper and Rocky were transported to the Minnesota Zoo in August, 2007 where they continue to receive 24-hour care in their behind-the-scenes home including feeding, swimming, playing, grooming, and sleeping. Currently the pups are eating formula and a variety of whole fish and shellfish. As they grow and mature, they will slowly be weaned off the formula. They gain about 100-200 grams daily and are learning to groom themselves, dive, and play.

Watch a video clips of Rocky and Jasper.

Along with Capers, both pups will be on exhibit when Russia's Grizzly Coast opens in June, 2008.

 

Amur Leopards

The Minnesota Zoo recently acquired two female Amur leopards from Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. Sisters, they were born in October 2006 and arrived in Minnesota in late November, 2007. Their names are “Katya” and “Polina,” and they are cautiously getting used to their temporary holding area as we finish building Russia’s Grizzly Coast. They are genetically valuable with direct links to wild leopards—their great grandparents (via the sire's line) were from Russia and North Korea.

The Zoo hopes to obtain a third female leopard from the Mulhouse Zoo and Botanical Gardens in France. This leopard was born in April 2006. We are currently waiting on the proper paperwork and permit from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species or CITES. The Amur leopard is one of the rarest cats in the world and strict rules apply regarding transport. If all goes well, this third leopard will arrive in Minnesota this spring.

About Amur Leopards
Fewer 30 Amur leopards remain in the wild, trapped in a small pocket at the southern tip of Russia's Pacific coast. They live further north than any other leopard species and need large amounts of prey and a substantial wild range. This beautiful cat is on the brink of extinction but recent public campaigns have saved their last refuge with hopes that leopards may be reintroduced into protected habitats. Working with European and U.S. zoos, the Minnesota Zoo is in the process of obtaining Amur leopards for Russia’s Grizzly Coast.

 

 

 

Wild Boars
Last November, the Zoo acquired a breeding pair of wild boars from a private breeder in Tennessee. Although we don’t their exact ages, we believe they are between 2-5 years of age. If all goes as planned, Russia’s Grizzly Coast will feature an entire family! Stay tuned.

About Wild Boars
Found around the world, wild boars are very adaptable and successful. Boars eat almost anything they come across, including nuts, berries, carrion, roots, and trash. Such a wide range of food sources has enabled wild boars to thrive in a variety of environments, but are most often found in forests and woods. In Russia's Far East, boars grow especially big, mostly because of the availability of large and nutritious pine nuts.