Fighting for food

When the polar bears in the Copenhagen Zoo don't eat up, the birds take over. The seagull here have a bit of a fight with the two hooded crows, that keep harassing it until it gives up. They do keep their distance, though.

Getting close

One of the most anticipated things about the new Arctic Ring area at Copenhagen Zoo is that you can get really close to the swimming polar bears. Only a thick glass wall separates the spectators from the bears and as a tunnel of glass brings you under the basin as well, you can really enjoy the animals in their element. I'm looking forward to going there on a day, where I don't have to use my elbows to get a glimpse of the action, though.

Exhausted

 

 

With all the new surroundings and the crowds of people watching, it's no wonder the polar bear here needs a power nap. The Arctic Ring in Copenhagen Zoo is a huge success, but it does take its toll on the bears.

The Arctic Ring

The new area in Copenhagen Zoo is amazing. Called the Arctic Ring there's a bigger area and basin for the polar bears and a cliff for North Atlantic birds. At the moment the only downside is that it's very popular so there's always big crowds of people, so I think I'll wait a few months before I'll be able to get really nice pics of the diving polar bears.

Moving soon II

As told before, the polar bears in the Copenhagen Zoo will soon be moved to a new home. The new enclosure for these magnificent predators will be finished at the beginning of the new year and it is something to look forward to for both the animals and the visitors. It'll be possibly to watch the polar bears and the seals swim next to each other, only divided by a thick glass wall, and a tunnel will lead the visitors underneath the big basins. This area, called the Arctic Ring will also feature a bird cliff with North Atlantic birds.

Moving soon

The new area for the polar bears, seals and north Atlantic birds will open this winter, and especially for the bears will it be a major improvement. Maybe they already sense the upcoming move as they were very restless yesterday.

The shot ice bear

"Polar bear with cubs" is a statue in Langelinie and represents Greenland. It was cast in bronze by the Danish sculptor Holger Wederkinch and was awarded with gold medal in 1929 in Paris. If you look closely you will notice the polar bear has some bullet holes, made by a German soldier under the Occupation of Denmark. -RS

Keeping a Distance

The black-headed gull here did like the polar bear's treat laid out on the cliffs, but it kept its distance before it became dinner itself.

Watch out for the bears

Some of the birds of Copenhagen enjoy the Zoo as a place to get some extra food. This hooded crow does seem to tempt fate a bit, though, as the background is one hungry polar bear. So it kept one eye on the bear and one on the food, and before it became dinner it took to the air.

No steak today

The polar bears are omnivorous so this watermelon was a treat though i bet they would have preferred a bloody steak instead. The Copenhagen Zoo have a policy that their animals should work for their food instead of getting it on a silver platter so to speak, so it's often hidden in small portions around their enclosure.

Standing up

When a polar bear stands on it's hind legs, you realise how big an animal it is. This one from Copenhagen Zoo had caught the smell of the fish that the nearby seals were fed.

A melting polar bear

On Nytorv in Copenhagen this polar bear made of ice have been quickly melting in the mild December weather. Another symbol of the melting glaciers and polar caps this was made by English artist Mark Coreth with the skeleton frozen inside an 11 ton ice cube to begin with. Not much ice left here, and this photo was taken more than a week ago. A similar polar bear have been placed on Trafalgar Square in London.

This is the last day of the climate meeting in Copenhagen. Now we might return to normal again after a week of demonstrations, traffic jams and media hype. Tomorrow the Christmas Holiday starts for many so then my Christmas theme will begin too.

Playing with polar bears

The polar bears are Copenhagen Zoo's largest carnivores and the ones with the smallest area to play in. But there's good news for the bears, as the Zoo has planned to renovate and enlarge their enclosure along with building a cliff for the Arctic birds. It will be finished in 2012 so the bears have to be patient.