Discuss “Pittsburgh Zoo welcomes polar bears”

1. Karen V. Stefanini
Sep 19, 2007 at 01:10 AM Report comment

Thanks to Cute Knut, of Berlin Zoo fame, I have become fascinated by polar bears and have declared myself a "self-proclaimed polar bear expert" and one of his many across-the-Atlantic Ocean aunties. It is amazing that since it's founding in 1717, there have only been two fatal polar bear attacks in Churchill Manitoba, which is considered the Polar Bear Capital of the World.
One was a youngster who was pounced on and crushed after foolishly throwing snowballs at a polar bear and another was of a dimwit who stuffed his pockets with raw meat and roamed through polar bear territory!! Sadly, both bears were hunted down and killed. It is also amazing that researchers are finding them to be at least as intelligent as the great apes. A real plus also is that the orphaned polar bear cubs bond quickly with their human caregivers and often form lifelong trusting relationships with their keepers. It helps to treat them with the utmost gentleness and to keep them well fed as they are prone to frustration being so highly intelligent. Peace of Japan is a great example of an enduring bond formed with his keeper. Thanks to cute Knut, that precious and still very adorable and getting more adorable bundle of love, I have become determined to help the polar bears in the wild and have donated to and joined numerous groups. Polar Bears International, World Wildlife Federation and Defenders of Wildlife are a few of the wonderful groups I have supported recently through their "adoption" programs and habitat conservaton endeavors. These magnificently beautiful and very majestic creatures need our support during their time of need. They face a dire future.