Photo: Annika Sorjonen / Korkeasaari Zoo
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The bears at Helsinki’s Korkeasaari Zoo have awakened from their winter hibernation and stepped outside to explore their snowy enclosure. The two female bears, aged 24 and 19, went into hibernation at the end of October but had a somewhat restless winter, waking up several times, possibly due to the unusually mild weather earlier in the year.
The older bear was the first to search for food hidden in the snow, with the younger one quickly following.
They roamed the enclosure, dug for treats, and engaged in brief sprints and playful wrestling. Both also rolled in the snow and scratched their backs against a tree before heading back indoors.
For the first time, the zoo monitored the bears’ hibernation with a camera, revealing that they moved frequently throughout their winter rest. Zookeeper Susan Nuurtila said the bears changed positions, took occasional bathroom breaks, and did not seem particularly interested in food during their lighter sleep periods.
During hibernation, the bears were fed a reduced diet of lettuce, carrots, and apples. Now that they are spending time outside again, their meals include dry food, with a gradual return to their normal diet expected as spring progresses. Before hibernation, both weighed around 220 kilograms, typically losing about 50 kilograms over the winter.
Hibernation allows bears to conserve energy during the winter when food is scarce. Their body temperature drops only slightly, but their metabolism slows significantly. At Korkeasaari Zoo, the bears usually wake up in February.
The bears will now have daily access to their outdoor area, depending on their energy levels. Mornings are when they are most active, and as spring advances, their appetite and activity will increase. In the early evenings, they usually return indoors to sleep.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
