Long ago my dad would take me early in the morning to the donut shop to get the freshest donuts. I remember how beautiful the donuts were when right out of the fryer the baker rolled them in granulated sugar and they just sparkled in the lights of the donut shop! Last Tuesday, May 12, we put over 100 bags of playground sand on the beach for the San Diego Zoo’s polar bears. And by Tuesday afternoon I had three beautiful “sugar donuts” sleeping on exhibit!
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You have all done great with your ideas for reducing your carbon footprints! (See comments posted in Polar Bear Anniversary and The Polar Bear World.) And you’ve posed so many questions, I’ll try to answer some of them here.

First, let’s talk about polar bear fur. Polar bears are very clean bears! Even in the wild they use snow, kelp, and brush to clean their fur. Here in San Diego they do jump in the pools and then use the mulch to dry off. They also lick their paws and legs to clean them. Often you will see them rubbing their faces and rubbing against the sides of the pool for cleaning. Their fur is a bit coarse and long on the outer, or guard hair, layer. The fur underneath is soft and wooly.
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Eight years ago, on March 30, 2001, 22 pounds of polar bear arrived at the San Diego Zoo. The little male was 12 pounds and the little girl was 10. At this size it was difficult to tell them apart, so we shaved a spot on the head of the male. We affectionately called them “Bubba” and “Sissy.” They clung to each other in the strange new world, so we quickly reassured them with warm formula, soft bedding, and a quiet room.
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Whew! It’s been a whirlwind of activity for the bear staff at the San Diego Zoo! Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to take stock and admire our handiwork.

I suppose the list of activities must start with the breeding of our polar bears. JoAnne has already written several detailed blogs about that activity, and perhaps we will be hearing the pitter-patter of little bear feet up at The Plunge. Kudos to those of you taking JoAnne up on her challenge to write about your carbon footprint reductions; there is no better way to help the polar bear! (Read JoAnne’s blog, The Polar Bear World.)
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We have just finished another celebration of our bears here at the San Diego Zoo with Bear Bonanza. Thank you to everyone who participated and donated to our bears! One of our promotions was meeting with some of you and talking about our wonderful polar bears. I met blog reader Susan, and I told her that I would write more blogs if you would all write how you are reducing your carbon footprint! This morning I read how three of you are doing this—great job!!!!!! Susan, I am holding up my end of the deal!
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The rollercoaster ride continues at the San Diego Zoo’s Polar Bear Plunge. We’ll try to answer as many of your question as possible! Yes, we are still firmly in breeding season. All three bears are continuing to be together every day. We give female Tatqiq (male Kalluk’s sister) the option of staying inside or going out, and she chooses to go out every day. It would appear that female Chinook is okay with this as long as Tatqiq stays up by the waterfall area, so we have been putting bedding, treats, and some of Tatqiq’s favorite toys up there for her.
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Inquiring minds want to know…yes, we are in polar bear breeding season! And yes, Kalluk and Chinook (pictured) have been, ahem, “amorous.” Phew! Now for some of the details…
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Well, it’s going on two months since I’ve returned to work from maternity leave. I can’t believe how fast time goes by. Thanks to everyone who sent their warm wishes and kind words. As much as I love being a mom, this was it for me. I now have one of each: a boy and a girl. I sometimes wonder what their relationship will be like, and I refer to another brother and sister pair I know, Kalluk and Tatqiq at the San Diego Zoo’s Polar Bear Plunge.
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San Diego saw its first glimpse at winter when snow fell at the San Diego Zoo’s Polar Bear Plunge. The snow was courtesy of WowWee Alive Cubs, and our bears couldn’t have been more appreciative. When Kalluk, Chinook, and Tatqiq stepped out into the white icy hill, you could almost see the smiles on their faces; you could definitely hear the laughter coming from our guests!
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Alicia Valencia is the San Diego Zoo’s 2008 Arctic Ambassador to the Polar Bears International Leadership Camp. She spent a week on the tundra in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, watching polar bears and teaming up with other dynamic teens to become leaders for polar bear conservation. Read her previous blog, Beautiful Northern Lights, and More Polar Bears Visit the Lodge.

(This blog is for Tuesday and Wednesday because I was on kitchen crew on Tuesday and traveling on Wednesday.)

Before this trip, I could have never fully understood how life-changing the Polar Bears International experience would be. But now, as I sit on a plane that takes me from my tundra Eden and PBI family, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without this opportunity. I have been fortunate to gain lifelong friendships with people who have a mutual dedication to a cause. I can say now, without a doubt, that through the last week I have grown as a person.
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