Farewell to Anouk the Polar Bear Girl, her departure from Hamburg is confirmed - Anouk, the young woman famed for her resemblance to a polar bear, has departed from Hamburg.
Polar Bear Anouk Departs Hagenbeck's Tierpark for France
Hamburg's Hagenbeck's Tierpark, home to numerous exotic species, has bid farewell to a cherished resident. The zoo announced that polar bear cub Anouk, the first polar bear baby born at the facility since 2002, has relocated to the Safari Resort Lumigny near Paris, France.
As Michael Flügger, Hagenbeck's senior vet, explained, polar bear cubs typically remain with their mothers for approximately two years. Given this, the impending departure of Anouk was expected. Flügger stated that Anouk's genes are crucial for the preservation of the endangered polar bear species.
Anouk's mother, Victoria, currently resides alone in the enclosure. Efforts by the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) are underway to find a compatible mate for Victoria to conserve the rare genetic material of the animals and potentially welcoming more polar bear cubs at Hagenbeck's Tierpark.
Since September 2015, Anouk has moved to a more spacious and naturalistic environment at the Safari Resort Lumigny. There, she will have the opportunity to mate with a male polar bear, contributing to the genetic diversity and sustainability of the captive polar bear population.
Zoo: Hagenbeck's Tierpark, Hamburg, GermanyDestination: Safari Resort Lumigny, Paris, FranceMother: VictoriaSpecies: Polar BearDate of Departure: September 2015
The Commission has also been consulted on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the conclusion of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as Hagenbeck's Tierpark staff ponder on Victoria's new lifestyle at home-and-garden, tailored to suit a polar bear enclosure. Anouk, now thriving in her new home, may one day return to contribute to the renewal and sustenance of her species and provide a new generation of polar bear cubs for Hagenbeck's Tierpark.
