ursus maritimus
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
A year ago today, the world’s oldest polar bear, Debby, was euthanized at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg. She was 42 years old and left behind six cubs. Her death was met by a variety of reactions — many Winnipeggers had fond memories of visiting her at her zoo enclosure; others lamented the fact that she lived her entire life in captivity. In a run-down, shabby zoo, no less (though the condition of the Zoo is scheduled to be ameliorated over the next ten years as part of a $180M improvement effort — including a new polar bear enclosure).
Given that Debby was an orphan cub, it is a near certainty that she would have died had she not been taken into the custody of humans. Whether a life in captivity for such a majestic mammal is preferable to an early death is a question for animal lovers, ethicists and philosophers to debate.
But let’s take a moment on the anniversary of Debby’s passing to celebrate the majestic polar bear, which is something of a provincial emblem here in Manitoba, though polar bears live only in the very farthest northern portion of the province, nearly 1000 km from the bulk of the population.
Of course, it’s not like that’s a bad thing, because these bears are huge, wild, and rather dangerous as huge, wild animals the world over tend to be. That’s why bears have always been my favourite animals: they are both fat and deadly.
Remember that time Rick Mercer and The Mercer Report went to Churchill? (Rumour has it they were less-than-welcome in the town, with their characteristic Torontonian southern entitlement, but still.)
Flickr user ucumari has a lovely photo set of rescued polar bears Wilhelm and Masha, who reside in North Carolina.
While we’re on the subject of Wilhelm (also known as “Willy”): my pal LMac pointed me to this recent news story about a special delivery of ice cubes spiked with maple syrup that was recently delivered to his enclosure. He enjoyed it. Witness:
Despite the fact that polar bears’ natural habitat is far, far from the city of Winnipeg, our city is home to many polar bears — in statue form. They’re part of an anniversary project called Bears on Broadway, to celebrate CancerCare Manitoba’s 75th anniversary.
And now, some cool polar bear stuff.
urone317's felted polar bear at Flickr
Ibride's cardboard polar bear shelf
Hello, I Love You art print by Julia Pott
The Hat Menagerie knitting pattern -- makes not only this super cute polar bear baby hat, but other animals as well!
I couldn’t end this post without mentioning my favourite fictional polar bear (well, sort of): Iorek Byrnison, from Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, pictured here with heroine Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon:
Illustration by Gold-Seven