03/11 ~ The baby black bear, Kohl, was born
Date: March 11, 2007
For Immediate Release
Photo Opportunity for Media:
Aldergrove – Monday, March 12th at 1 pm the Greater Vancouver Zoo will
be holding a sneak peek for the media to view our youngest black bear
and his mom, getting settled in the North American Wild (NAW) section
of the Zoo.
The baby black bear, Kohl, was born at the Greater Vancouver Zoo in
January 2005 within the NAW section of the Zoo. A few days later
Kohl was moved to a temporary enclosure along with his mom, Mama, in
order to allow Kohl to grow and get stronger before reintroducing them
back together. Black bears for the first few years of their life
must learn all their survival skills from their mom, so they can in
turn defend or protect themselves.
Kohl - January 2005
Kohl & Dr. Burton (Zoo Vet) – newly born
Last summer a temporary holding area was built adjoining the NAW, so
that we could introduce Mama and Kohl gradually back to the wonderful
natural beauty of the NAW and with their other friends. In
October 2006 Mama and Kohl were moved to the new holding area, where
Mama and Kohl could interact through the fence; and would be absorbed
with the sights, sounds and smells of the other black bears and wolves.
It is very important to know that a gradual approach is of the utmost
importance when introducing either new animal’s to a current group or
in this case a re-introduction; as always our first priority is for the
care and safety of all our animals.
The plan was to introduce Mama and Kohl into the NAW in the month of
December, but as a result of the extreme weather conditions and
extensive tree and fence damage during this time, we had to delay the
re-introduction until this week. On March 8, Kohl and his mom,
Mama, “walked out of their temporary holding area sniffing and checking
out every inch of their new home. In no time at all they started
climbing trees and foraging around in the bushes,” says Lead Keeper
Phil Feenstra.
Mama & Kohl in the North American Wild – March 2007
The NAW section of the Zoo was first built in 1998 and opened to the
public in 1999. We are very proud of the NAW which is home to 4
other black bears and a pack of Vancouver Island Wolves in one section,
and the other area has a herd of Plains Bison, Roosevelt Elk and Black
Tailed Deers. The NAW is approximately 10 acres with numerous
trees for the bears to climb in (as they are avid climbers), bushes and
a wonderful creek to swim in and enjoy the day.
Three of the black bears came to the Greater Vancouver Zoo as orphans
or abandoned cubs, and the other bears where later born at the
Zoo. Mama bear was one of the orphans and is now 14 years.
Black bears may live up to 30 years and are found in Alaska, Canada and
in the wild areas of the lower United States. Black bears aren’t always
black, but they range in color from glossy blue-black to cinnamon or
silver. They weigh approximately 110-350 lbs (50-150 kg) and have
acute senses of hearing, smelling and can quite often see very well.
The Greater Vancouver Zoo offers a 15-20 minute narrated educational
bus tour that goes through the NAW section, but had to recently close
down the area due to the extreme weather conditions and the extensive
damage of trees and fences. As of March 13 the public will be
welcomed back through this wonderful area to discover Kohl, Mama and
all their other friends together again!
Media Contact:
Jody Henderson
Marketing & Promotions Manager
Phone: 604.856.6825 x 33
Email: jhenderson@gvzoo.com
To learn more about the good things we do at the Zoo visit us at: www.gvzoo.com or better yet come visit us in person!
Since 1970….dedicated to conservation, preservation & protection of endangered species!
