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Else Poulsen, Mammal Head Zookeeper  All photos courtesy of Tom Roy What is the current health status of Bärle? What has she been thru in the way of recovery? Barle is very healthy and in great shape. When she came to us she had not had a chance to do much exercise at the circus so she had the shape of a pear. Now she is svelt and has definite muscle definition. She can dive to the bottom of the pool with ease and grace where as she had to struggle to do that when she first started to swim.
 Has she been introduced to all of the bears?
She has been introduced to all of the bears and she is doing very well with them. Vilma is her best girl friend because they spend time together playing ball in the pool. Triton is a particular favorite of hers because they are both rather young at heart and like to play much of the day. Upon Triton's introduction he gave a rather large tree branch as a gift. She took it but still would not let him sniff her behind, as I believe Triton had hoped the exchange meant!
 Does she have any distinguished features/markings that help you identify her? She is the smallest of all our polar bears and has an amazingly beautiful face.
How would you describe her personality? Bärle is young in her actions because she lived so many years in a simplistic environment and she could not fully develop. She is doing that now. She is learning about other bears as she interacts peaceably with them. She is no pushover...in that she will tell Adak when it's her food and not his. Perhaps she learned that from Vilma. She has a very sweet disposition.
 Does she have a favorite food? Favorite toy?
No favorite foods...she has tried many different foods since she arrived.
Is she on the ice side/land side, or both? Bärle switches sides every 24 hours because if we leave her on the Pack ice for any greater length of time the stereotype that she used to do all day long in the circus environment reappears. So she alternates from side to side as does her association with other bears. This way they are all taught that they have to get along.
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