The first thing Moscow bears wake up after hibernation decide to have a bite to eat

Then the zoologists invited the animals to take a walk

Bears woke up at the Moscow Zoo – this year it happened a week later than last year. For the first time since November, Rose entered the outdoor enclosure, but Aladdin decided to postpone the walk and stayed in a cozy den.

As MK learned, the brown bear Rosa and the Himalayan bear Aladdin woke up from their winter sleep a few days ago. This season, the bears did not sleep well – the reason for this was not enough cold winter. Their sleep was intermittent, they sometimes woke up, wandered around the lair, drank, and again fell on the side.

On Wednesday, the employees decided to open the doors to the street – the toptygins themselves had to decide whether they wanted to go out into the fresh air or not. Rose did not hesitate and climbed out, while Aladdin remained inside for now. Perhaps the March rain did not please him.

The bears were offered the traditional first treat – pumpkin, iceberg lettuce and carrots. To a normal way of life clubfoot will return gradually. During sleep, their biological processes slow down, the bears lose a lot of weight. For example, before hibernation, Rose weighed about 600 kg, and Aladdin about 400 kg. During wintering in the den, they lose about 30-40% of their weight. Therefore, they need to carefully “start” the process of digestion. At first, their menu consists only of light, low-calorie foods – fruits, vegetables, porridge with honey. In the coming months, they will gradually return to their usual diet, appetite will gain momentum, and the diet will become richer and more varied.

The first walks after waking up are usually very short. Bears spend 30-40 minutes outdoors, and then go to their dens. They have an afternoon nap: the animals are happy to take a nap for an hour or two.

In addition to Rose and Aladdin, the zoo contains three Himalayan bears rescued from poachers: Granny, Fanya and Vasya. These pets had to endure difficult trials before they ended up in the capital under the care of zoologists. This year, the bears did not go into hibernation for health reasons.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 29000 dated March 30, 2023

Newspaper headline:
The first thing the bears wake up after hibernation decide to have a bite to eat