Polar Bears Get Some Snow

[rabid1st]

Two captive polar bears have a snowy birthday in So. Cal. 

These two are 30 and 32 which is quite elderly for polar bears and they live in a humid southern climate, so this was a real treat for them. Look at that blissful smile. :->





And this happy belly laugh...



The snow was artificial and a gift for their birthday. They also had frozen fish treats. 

Snow really is quite nice on a warm day. It deserves a big bear hug.




Of course, I always feel sorry for polar bears in captivity. And these pics make me feel a whole lot of human guilt, even as they make me smile. Still, I suppose, these days it is hard to be a polar bear in the wild, too.

Comments

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[auntiesuze.livejournal.com]

Wow, that polar bear looks so darn happy! :D

I know exactly how you feel about polar bears (and really any other animal) in captivity. On one hand, it's hard to see them reduced to such a small area, confined, etc. And yet, there is so little left of their natural habitat that this might be the best place for them right now (at least if we don't want them to go extinct). Tough call.

[keswindhover.livejournal.com]

Aww, happy polar bears. So cute, so liable to rip your head off and disembowel you if you meet one.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Yes! Polar bears are like tigers in that respect. You can't trust them not to eat you. Though, unlike tigers, polar bears have shown some discrimination when it comes to a good time. There are polar bears that have come into town to frolic with sled dogs with apparent peace and goodwill. Perhaps they are filled with a sense of such glee at the first snow fall that they love everyone. It's like a polar bear Christmas Truce.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Now we know that polar bears can smile. Probably they never had much to smile about before this.

I nearly set the ones at SeaWorld free. They were so distressed by the tiny cages that they kept pacing and pacing and took no interest in anything else. Poor little killer bears. I think large, roaming predators should not be caged. But these guys are pretty old and with all of the drowning going on in the wild, I do wonder if this is the only way to save the species now.

Of course, the real answer is for humans to learn to live in harmony with others. If only we were trainable.

[dw-10rosefan.livejournal.com]

That is so cute. I love polar bears.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it.