Berlin. The bear canyon at the zoo has been reconstructed. It’s like South America now. What a spectacle awaits visitors.
Some are good swimmers, divers and smelly, others look like they’re wearing goggles. Both animal species are native to the same areas of South America. And now also in the same area of the Berlin Zoo. Forest dogs and spectacled bears recently shared an enclosure newest shared apartment in Friedrichsfelde.
“Associations of various animal species not only promote the natural behavior of animals, but also offer guests a varied animal experience“, explains zoo curator Maren Siebert. The zoo follows the concept of geozoologicalwhere animals can be found according to the regions in which they live in the world.
Create more understanding of natural habitats
“With our ambassador animals, we want to gain a more comprehensive understanding of them natural habitats and inspire people to protect them,” says the zoo and animal park’s director, Andreas Knieriem. To keep the spectacled bears and forest dogs together, the bears’ canyon was converted and adapted to the demands of modern animal husbandry.
The spectacled bear Hans was also joined by a female bear.
© Tierpark Berlin | Berlin Zoo
The work is completed just in time for the summer holidays. The cost of the entire project was total 375,000 euros and were made possible by donations from the community of supporters of Tierpark Berlin and the Zoo as well as supporters of Tierpark. The renovation allows spectacled bears to be kept together with forest dogs at the zoo for the first time.
The family of four forest dogs was the first to move into his new home near the polar bears in late June. Initially, they were allowed to explore the facility on their own. Later, spectacled bear Hans showed up and also gained a new companion for company. Tinka the Spectacled Bear arrived at the zoo on July 2 from Planckendael Zoo in Belgium.
The two spectacled bears first need to get to know each other
The two bears first need to carefully get used to each other, so they can only be seen alternately in the outdoor area. Five new climbing trees provides spectacled bears with additional employment opportunities and a newly created tunnel enriches the enclosure for forest dogs.
The forest dogs are still a little shy in their new home. After all, they are the newcomers to Bärenschlucht. The forest dogs will also like a smelly customer because they secrete an unpleasant secretion that supposedly deters predators. But they would rather live in a nice apartment shared with spectacled bears.