Taronga Zoo Polar bears at Taronga
- Thread starter zooman
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Taronga had a performing polar bear act in about 1965, presented by a German professional trainer named Alfons Arndt.
He had been contracted by Taronga to train their newly acquired dolphins. Dolphins were the "hot" new species in Australia at that time, and a number of commercial marine parks were established along the eastern coast of Australia in the 1960s to display them. Taronga's seal pool had been deepened to allow the keeping of dolphins, but unfortunately their mortality rate was rather high and so they weren't the fashionable species for too long.
Taronga had always had a small circus consisting mainly of dogs, ponies and monkeys, but things got a lot wilder when Alfons Arndt developed both a lion act and a polar bear act for it. The lion act was, I think, 8 young lions which performed a standard, circus type act. The polar bear act (which I saw only once) consisted of 4 or 5 bears, if memory serves me right, which did a fairly basic act (sit-ups, slippery-dip etc.) Polar bears are regarded as the most dangerous large carnivores to train, and the fact that Arndt presented the act for a couple of years and lived to tell about it was a triumph in itself.
Now for the gaps which I can't fill in; Where did the bears come from? They were presumably young animals sourced via American zoos. They weren't Taronga's "regular" polars, which remained in the bear pits in the lower part of the zoo during this time. Where did the bears (and indeed Alfons Arndt) go when his contract expired? (They didn't remain at Taronga.) Steve Robinson could probably shed more light on this. (Come on Steve - write the book!)
Probably the most famous of the old-time polar bear trainers was Willi Hagenbeck of the famous German zoo and circus family. During the wars he regularly presented an act consisting of 18 polar bears in Europe. On one occasion he presented 60 polar bears in the one ring. He was occasionally attacked by his bears, but managed to survive. The German/American tiger trainer Charly Baumann, in his book "Tiger Tiger" wrote; "Hagenbeck's lameness was the result of a polar bear attack early in his career. During this or another assault, I was told, he was also castrated by a bear.....castration has been feared by men working with polar bears because the animals often attack a man's stomach and genitals."
He had been contracted by Taronga to train their newly acquired dolphins. Dolphins were the "hot" new species in Australia at that time, and a number of commercial marine parks were established along the eastern coast of Australia in the 1960s to display them. Taronga's seal pool had been deepened to allow the keeping of dolphins, but unfortunately their mortality rate was rather high and so they weren't the fashionable species for too long.
Taronga had always had a small circus consisting mainly of dogs, ponies and monkeys, but things got a lot wilder when Alfons Arndt developed both a lion act and a polar bear act for it. The lion act was, I think, 8 young lions which performed a standard, circus type act. The polar bear act (which I saw only once) consisted of 4 or 5 bears, if memory serves me right, which did a fairly basic act (sit-ups, slippery-dip etc.) Polar bears are regarded as the most dangerous large carnivores to train, and the fact that Arndt presented the act for a couple of years and lived to tell about it was a triumph in itself.
Now for the gaps which I can't fill in; Where did the bears come from? They were presumably young animals sourced via American zoos. They weren't Taronga's "regular" polars, which remained in the bear pits in the lower part of the zoo during this time. Where did the bears (and indeed Alfons Arndt) go when his contract expired? (They didn't remain at Taronga.) Steve Robinson could probably shed more light on this. (Come on Steve - write the book!)
Probably the most famous of the old-time polar bear trainers was Willi Hagenbeck of the famous German zoo and circus family. During the wars he regularly presented an act consisting of 18 polar bears in Europe. On one occasion he presented 60 polar bears in the one ring. He was occasionally attacked by his bears, but managed to survive. The German/American tiger trainer Charly Baumann, in his book "Tiger Tiger" wrote; "Hagenbeck's lameness was the result of a polar bear attack early in his career. During this or another assault, I was told, he was also castrated by a bear.....castration has been feared by men working with polar bears because the animals often attack a man's stomach and genitals."
Just one more comment:-
A European animal trainer named Hans Brick put it rather well; "The polar bear is mean tempered,deceptively quick in attack and what's more his face gives away nothing. When a lion is angry with you, he shows it in his face; but a polar bear keeps a calm expression as he comes, fast, to kill you."
A European animal trainer named Hans Brick put it rather well; "The polar bear is mean tempered,deceptively quick in attack and what's more his face gives away nothing. When a lion is angry with you, he shows it in his face; but a polar bear keeps a calm expression as he comes, fast, to kill you."
Taronga's performing polar bears went to Bullens but none of the family could work them so they ended up behind the scenes at Wallacia.
After his stint at the zoo Mr Arndt was a security guard in Sydney for some years. He also did some freelance training, some of which was of great value to a young Steve Robinson.
I last saw him a few years back, living in Tenterfield in retirement.
Mr Arndt presented two big male lions at Taronga in a barber shop type comedy act.
Before his arrival at Taronga, the performing animals were trained and presented by the Cells family. Their subsequent claim to fame was as owners of the celebrity TV chimpanzee Wally Walpamur.
Hans Brick was one of the world's most underrated animal men. He never went to school but he could draw in great detail such things as an elephant's skeletal structure. Although I never met him, his work had a great influence on my life with animals.
After his stint at the zoo Mr Arndt was a security guard in Sydney for some years. He also did some freelance training, some of which was of great value to a young Steve Robinson.
I last saw him a few years back, living in Tenterfield in retirement.
Mr Arndt presented two big male lions at Taronga in a barber shop type comedy act.
Before his arrival at Taronga, the performing animals were trained and presented by the Cells family. Their subsequent claim to fame was as owners of the celebrity TV chimpanzee Wally Walpamur.
Hans Brick was one of the world's most underrated animal men. He never went to school but he could draw in great detail such things as an elephant's skeletal structure. Although I never met him, his work had a great influence on my life with animals.
thorney_devil
Well-Known Member
Taronga should re-develop Kodiak Canyon after thier last Kodiak passes away...
I don't think Polar Bear Shores at Seaworld is that suitable (climate wise),
It would be awesome if it was fully covered with glass roofing to keep it chilly!
Taronga has sucsessfully bred them back in the dark ages,
I remember they kept some old bear cages for historical terms with info panels...
Unsure what happened to them, anyone know?
I don't think Polar Bear Shores at Seaworld is that suitable (climate wise),
It would be awesome if it was fully covered with glass roofing to keep it chilly!
Taronga has sucsessfully bred them back in the dark ages,
I remember they kept some old bear cages for historical terms with info panels...
Unsure what happened to them, anyone know?
torie
Well-Known Member
I really doubt that that would ever happen. the kodiak canyon is going to be home to the sun bears last i heard which is a more appropriate choice of secies given the zoos recent focus on asian animals and the face that the canyon is opposite wild asia. the bear museam still exists at the very base of the zoo in the final row of currently unused exhibits. its near gso and the exit to the sky safari
I know I'm re-opening a very old thread, but I would really appreciate it if anyone "in the know" could advise whether Taronga ever bred polar bears.
thorney_devil, back on 27/7/2008 stated that "Taronga has successfully bred them back in the dark ages", and I also have an old (circa 1960) guide book that states that Taronga has bred and raised polar bears. I find that very hard to believe. Everything I read on the subject suggests that polars are difficult to breed and raise in zoos, requiring specialised cubbing dens and strict privacy and security for the pregnant female. Taronga's dens were simple barred lock-off areas, fairly open and in no way conducive to privacy for the female.
If anyone has access to Taronga's records on the subject, I'd appreciate the information.
Thanks.
thorney_devil, back on 27/7/2008 stated that "Taronga has successfully bred them back in the dark ages", and I also have an old (circa 1960) guide book that states that Taronga has bred and raised polar bears. I find that very hard to believe. Everything I read on the subject suggests that polars are difficult to breed and raise in zoos, requiring specialised cubbing dens and strict privacy and security for the pregnant female. Taronga's dens were simple barred lock-off areas, fairly open and in no way conducive to privacy for the female.
If anyone has access to Taronga's records on the subject, I'd appreciate the information.
Thanks.
Hi Ara, I remember the dolphins and display polar bears. At that time did Taronga also show elephant seals? I'm not talking about Mac, Maude and Nella who arrived in the 1980's, but an employee used to talk of the days of sea elephant and sea leopard shows and I was just wondering if they had these species back then?
Taronga's last polar bear was a female named Ingrid. She was born at the Detroit Zoo in 1962 and left Taronga in 1984 to go to Auckland Zoo. She had previously been housed with an aging male and his death prompted her transfer to New Zealand. The exhibit (which had been closed to the public) was subsequently demolished. This was all WAY before my time but it's been great to polar bears at both Sea World and the Singapore Zoo. They're an awesome species and very popular with visitors.
Gryphon - I don't remember Taronga having Elephant Seals before the 1980's lot, but they may have done? I know that they always seemed to have a Leopard Seal or two over the years......
Duerener1 and Lynx - thanks for that information - it filled in some gaps for me.
I remember way back (about 1970) watching Ingrid play with a pebble, putting it with her mouth onto the back of her paw, flinging it into the pool and diving for it. This was true play, not stereotyping, and she seemed to enjoy it very much. So did I. I watched her doing it for about 15 minutes.
Duerener1 and Lynx - thanks for that information - it filled in some gaps for me.
I remember way back (about 1970) watching Ingrid play with a pebble, putting it with her mouth onto the back of her paw, flinging it into the pool and diving for it. This was true play, not stereotyping, and she seemed to enjoy it very much. So did I. I watched her doing it for about 15 minutes.
Found this article:
‘Snowball’ a Polar Bear cub bred at Taronga Park Zoo is sent to Auckland Zoo
Snowball, a young Polar bear, who was born at Taronga Park last year, has been sold to the Auckland zoo, and will shortly make the Tasman crossing.Snowball, which is the second bear that has been reared at Taronga Park, is regardedas a fine specimen. The first Taronga polar bear was sent to Cairo. A special box is being constructed in which Snowball will travel as deck cargo. Tin lining is being fitted to prevent him tearing his way to freedom on board the ship. Closely set bars in front of the box are an additional precaution. Since his birth,Snowball has been a real mother's boy. This will be the first time that he has ever been, separated from her said the secretary (Mr, Brown). Taronga Park is the only zoo in Australia that has bred Polar bears satisfactorily. There is a ready market for healthy specimens.
-Courier-Mail (Aust.) 25 June 1936
‘Snowball’ a Polar Bear cub bred at Taronga Park Zoo is sent to Auckland Zoo
Snowball, a young Polar bear, who was born at Taronga Park last year, has been sold to the Auckland zoo, and will shortly make the Tasman crossing.Snowball, which is the second bear that has been reared at Taronga Park, is regardedas a fine specimen. The first Taronga polar bear was sent to Cairo. A special box is being constructed in which Snowball will travel as deck cargo. Tin lining is being fitted to prevent him tearing his way to freedom on board the ship. Closely set bars in front of the box are an additional precaution. Since his birth,Snowball has been a real mother's boy. This will be the first time that he has ever been, separated from her said the secretary (Mr, Brown). Taronga Park is the only zoo in Australia that has bred Polar bears satisfactorily. There is a ready market for healthy specimens.
-Courier-Mail (Aust.) 25 June 1936
That sounds awesome! Quite similar to the London Zoo's Mappin Terraces. I was only two years old when Auckland's last two polar bears passed away so I have no memory of them but it would have been great to see them and their enclosure.
The director said although Ingrid would do little to enhance the zoo's collection, she ought to be taken on humanitarian grounds. I don't think he could have been more wrong as crowds turned up in the thousands to see her public debut over the Labour Weekend of 1984. I bet if she were alive today she would have had a large following on Facebook.
Ingrid died on the 31st October 1995 and Joachim on the 4th December 1995, just a month later.
G'day Tiffany,
Would you please email me on admin@darlingdownszoo.com.au.
There are lots of things that I would like to catch up on.
Cheers.
Would you please email me on admin@darlingdownszoo.com.au.
There are lots of things that I would like to catch up on.
Cheers.