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| '''Flocke''' ({{IPA-de|/ˈflɔkə/}}) is a ] cub who was born in captivity at the ] on 11 December 2007. A few weeks after her birth, she was removed from her mother's care after concerns were raised for her safety. Despite an earlier decision to enforce a strict non-interference policy with its animals, the zoo chose to raise the cub by hand. This decision came at a time when the zoo was |
'''Flocke''' ({{IPA-de|/ˈflɔkə/}}) is a ] cub who was born in captivity at the ] on 11 December 2007. A few weeks after her birth, she was removed from her mother's care after concerns were raised for her safety. Despite an earlier decision to enforce a strict non-interference policy with its animals, the zoo chose to raise the cub by hand. This decision came at a time when the zoo was receiving negative attention from the media after another of its female polar bears reportedly ate her newly born cubs. | ||
| Similar to the media attention given to ], a captive-born and handraised polar bear at the ], Flocke ("snowflake" in |
Similar to the media attention given to ], a captive-born and handraised polar bear at the ], Flocke ("snowflake" in German) quickly became a media sensation. Her enclosure proved to be a popular tourist attraction after she publicly debuted on 8 April 2008. Her name was trademarked and she became the subject of toys and advertisements throughout the city. The zoo, who announced in May 2008 that ] Environment Program chief ] would be Flocke's official patron, hopes to use Flocke as an ambassador to encourage awareness of ]. | ||
| ==Infancy and controversy== | ==Infancy and controversy== | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| Flocke was born at the Nuremberg Zoo on 11 December 2007 to Vera (born 2002 in ]) and Felix (born 2001 in ]).<ref name="parents">{{cite web | url=http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/parents.html | title=Polar Bear Flocke: The Parents | accessdate=2008-04-30 | publisher=Nuremberg Online }}</ref> At approximately the same time, another Nuremberg female polar bear, Vilma, gave birth to what was thought to be two cubs; because zookeepers |
Flocke was born at the Nuremberg Zoo on 11 December 2007 to Vera (born 2002 in ]) and Felix (born 2001 in ]).<ref name="parents">{{cite web | url=http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/parents.html | title=Polar Bear Flocke: The Parents | accessdate=2008-04-30 | publisher=Nuremberg Online }}</ref> At approximately the same time, another Nuremberg female polar bear, Vilma, gave birth to what was thought to be two cubs; because zookeepers did not disturb the animals, enforcing a strict non-interference policy, it is not known exactly how many cubs were born.<ref name="eaten">{{cite news | title =Polar bear 'may have eaten cubs' | publisher =BBC News | date =2008-01-08 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7176575.stm | accessdate =2008-04-30 }}</ref> The zoo reportedly did not wish to create a ] similar to the one that surrounded ], an orphaned polar bear at the ] who became an international celebrity the previous year.<ref name="footsteps"/> Days after the zoo reaffirmed its non-interference policy, mass circulation daily '']'' ran a story with a headline reading "Why Won't Anyone Save the Cute Baby Knuts in Nuremberg Zoo?"<ref name="mum">{{cite news | title =Mum Ate 'Baby Knuts': German Zoo Under Fire After Polar Bear Cubs Die | publisher =Spiegel Online | date =] | url =http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,527184,00.html | accessdate =2008-04-30 }}</ref> | ||
| At the beginning of January, Vilma appeared nervous, agitatedly scratching at her feedbox, and there was no further sign of her cubs. It was believed that she ate them for reasons unknown, although Nuremberg zoo director Dag Encke stated at the time that they could have been ill, a circumstance under which polar bears in the wild often eat their young.<ref name="eaten"/> The zoo quickly faced harsh criticism throughout Germany and from the worldwide media for seemingly allowing the death of the cubs. The director of the German Animal Protection Society said the zoo had acted irresponsibly and that "it was the ethical responsibility of the management to give the polar bear cubs a chance of life. Using the argument 'That's Nature' as an excuse for intervening far too late is cynical and inappropriate."<ref name="mum"/> Angry visitors |
At the beginning of January, Vilma appeared nervous, agitatedly scratching at her feedbox, and there was no further sign of her cubs. It was believed that she ate them for reasons unknown, although Nuremberg zoo director Dag Encke stated at the time that they could have been ill, a circumstance under which polar bears in the wild often eat their young.<ref name="eaten"/> The zoo quickly faced harsh criticism throughout Germany and from the worldwide media for seemingly allowing the death of the cubs. The director of the German Animal Protection Society said the zoo had acted irresponsibly and that "it was the ethical responsibility of the management to give the polar bear cubs a chance of life. Using the argument 'That's Nature' as an excuse for intervening far too late is cynical and inappropriate."<ref name="mum"/> Angry visitors gathered in front of the polar bear enclosure and shouted "rabenmutter" ("evil mother") every time Vilma appeared.<ref name="burnout">{{cite news | title =Mum Ate 'Baby Knuts': German Zoo Under Fire After Polar Bear Cubs Die | publisher =The Times Online | date =] | url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3174894.ece | accessdate =2008-09-30 }}</ref> | ||
| Meanwhile, Vera was first seen emerging from her den; her single cub, helpless at only four weeks old, appeared to be in good health. A couple days after the media backlash that followed Vilma's missing cubs, Vera began displaying strange behavior such as carrying her then-unnamed cub around the enclosure and repeatedly dropping it on the hard rock floor |
Meanwhile, Vera was first seen emerging from her den; her single cub, helpless at only four weeks old, appeared to be in good health. A couple days after the media backlash that followed Vilma's missing cubs, Vera began displaying strange behavior such as carrying her then-unnamed cub around the enclosure and repeatedly dropping it on the hard rock floor. Concerned for the cub's safety, the Nuremberg Zoo made what was considered a controversial decision to remove her from her mother's care and raise her by hand.<ref name="footsteps">{{cite news | title =Polar bear cub following in star’s footsteps | publisher =MSNBC | date =] | url =http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22576534/ | accessdate =2008-04-30 }}</ref> | ||
| ==Fame== | ==Fame== | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| Less than a week after Vera's cub was removed from the polar bear enclosure, the zoo |
Less than a week after Vera's cub was removed from the polar bear enclosure, the zoo dedicated a website to her. This site, which provided frequent updates of her health and development as well as exclusive photographs and videos, enabled the zoo to hold a competition in which fans could choose the cub's name.<ref name="website">{{cite news | title =New Polar Bear Cub Gets Own Web Page | publisher =Fox News | date =] | url =http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,322490,00.html | accessdate =2008-06-11 }}</ref> The official name was announced on 18 January 2008 by ], the mayor of Nuremberg, and broadcast live on television. Despite the overwhelming amount of e-mailed suggestions from across the world (including "Stella", "Knutschi", "Sissi" and "Yuki Chan"<ref name="fanclub">{{cite news | last =Crossland | first =David | title =Flocke gets a name and a worldwide fan club | publisher =Times Online | date =] | url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3213111.ece | accessdate =2008-04-30 }}</ref>), the zoo officially named her Flocke, which is German for "flake", as in "snowflake". "Flocke", which had already been used by the media in reference to the cub, was the nickname originally given to her by zookeepers because of her white fur.<ref name="snowflake">{{cite news | last =Kucharz | first =Christel | title =Baby Polar Bear Named Flocke | publisher =ABC News | date =] | url =http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=4154118&page=1 | accessdate =2008-04-30 }}</ref> | ||
| Flocke's growth was heavily reported by |
Flocke's growth was heavily reported by the media. Four zookeepers took turns bottle-feeding the cub with 140 milliliters of artificial milk every four hours<ref name="name-a-polar-bear">{{cite news | title =Name-A-Polar-Bear Competition: Nuremberg Zoo to Christen Famous Cub | publisher =Spiegel Online | date =] | url =http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,529215,00.html | accessdate =2008-07-08 }}</ref> and news of her eyes opening for the first time made headlines a few days before she was officially named.<ref name="eyes">{{cite news | title =Polar Bear Orphan Opens Eyes | publisher =Discovery News | date =] | url =http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/01/16/baby-polar-bear.html | accessdate =2008-07-08 }}</ref> At five-weeks-old, she was referred to by ''Bild'' as Mrs. Knut, suggesting that the two German-born polar bears might become mates when they mature.<ref name="dubbed">{{cite news | title =German Polar Bear Cub Dubbed "Flocke" | publisher =CBS News | date =] | url =http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/18/world/main3728990.shtml?source=RSSattr=World_3728990 | accessdate =2008-04-30 }}</ref> As she grew, Flocke's diet was enriched with dog food, and boiled bones were supplied for her to chew on when she was three months old.<ref name="star"/> She was soon taken to the zoo's beginners pool to practice her swimming skills.<ref name="star"/> The zoo had previously stated that they were seeking another orphaned polar or ] cub to raise alongside Flocke in order to improve her development.<ref name="footsteps"/> | ||
| On 8 April 2008, Flocke made her first public appearance in the polar bear enclosure that had once been home to Vilma; the adult polar bear had previously been relocated. The four-month-old cub was greeted by more than 160 journalists and a half-dozen camera crews |
On 8 April 2008, Flocke made her first public appearance in the polar bear enclosure that had once been home to Vilma; the adult polar bear had previously been relocated to another zoo. The four-month-old cub was greeted by more than 160 journalists and a half-dozen international camera crews.<ref name="star">{{cite news | last =Kucharz | first =Christel | title =A Star Is Born: Flocke's Big Day | publisher =ABC News | date =] | url =http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=4610000&page=1 | accessdate =2008-04-30 }}</ref> On 9 April, the zoo began using a video transmission and recording system from ] Security Systems to transmit TV-quality live images of the cub to a pair of 46-inch large-format screens. This system, which includes one screen outside the enclosure, was implemented to help the zoo meet the high demands of visitors wanting to catch a glimpse of Flocke.<ref name="bosch">{{cite web | url=http://www.boschsecurity.com.au/content/language1/html/2374_ENU_XHTML.asp | title= Baby polar bear "Flocke" at Nuremberg Zoo now admired on big screen around the clock | accessdate=2008-06-11 | publisher=Bosch Security Official Website }}</ref> | ||
| Shortly after her debut, however, Flocke became the focus of controversy when prominent animal conservationist Jürgen Ortmüller, chairman of the Whale and Dolphin Protection Forum, hired a lawyer to stop Nuremberg Zoo's exploitation of the polar bear cub.<ref name="bossi">{{cite news | last = Boyes | first =Roger | title =Crowds flock to Flocke as Rolf Bossi is hired to protect her privacy | publisher =The Times Online | date =] | url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3706431.ece | accessdate =2008-06-11 }}</ref> Claiming that Flocke's public exposure would have damaging effects and that the zoo is only concerned about earning money, Ortmüller recruited high-profile lawyer Ralf Bossi to challenge |
Shortly after her debut, however, Flocke became the focus of controversy when prominent animal conservationist Jürgen Ortmüller, chairman of the Whale and Dolphin Protection Forum, hired a lawyer to stop Nuremberg Zoo's exploitation of the polar bear cub.<ref name="bossi">{{cite news | last = Boyes | first =Roger | title =Crowds flock to Flocke as Rolf Bossi is hired to protect her privacy | publisher =The Times Online | date =] | url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3706431.ece | accessdate =2008-06-11 }}</ref> Claiming that Flocke's public exposure would have damaging effects and that the zoo is only concerned about earning money, Ortmüller recruited high-profile lawyer Ralf Bossi to challenge them in court.<ref name="fire">{{cite news | last =Siddique | first =Haroon | title =Zoo under fire over Flocke publicity effect | publisher =guardian.co.uk | date =] | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/09/conservation.wildlife?gusrc=rss&feed=environment | accessdate =2008-06-11 }}</ref> | ||
| ==Merchandising and branding== | ==Merchandising and branding== | ||
| Soon after Flocke was rescued in January, the city secured branding rights to |
Soon after Flocke was rescued in January, the city secured branding rights to her name.<ref name="fanclub"/> An official logo was subsequently released by the zoo.<ref name="logo">{{cite web | url=http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/eisbaer/logo.html | title=Das offizielle Logo "Eisbär-Flocke" | accessdate=2008-06-11 | publisher=Nuremberg Online }}</ref> Flocke became part of a major publicity campaign in Nuremberg when she was depicted along with the phrase "Knut war gestern" (Knut is yesterday's bear) on posters for the city's metropolitan region. These posters were displayed at numerous bus and train stops all over the city.<ref name="star"/> | ||
| Dubbed "Flocke fever" by the press (similar to "Knutmania" that had been experienced a year previously), the cub's popularity soared in early 2008. Her image has been used for games, diaries, soft toys, DVDs, postcards and more.<ref name="shop">{{cite web | url=http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/aktuell_16886.html | title=Zoo Shop Now Open | accessdate=2008-05-06 | publisher=Nuremberg Online }}</ref> The first product to be |
Dubbed "Flocke fever" by the press (similar to "Knutmania" that had been experienced a year previously), the cub's popularity soared in early 2008. Her image has been used for games, diaries, soft toys, DVDs, postcards and more.<ref name="shop">{{cite web | url=http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/aktuell_16886.html | title=Zoo Shop Now Open | accessdate=2008-05-06 | publisher=Nuremberg Online }}</ref> The first product to be released, a Flocke-based board game that was released in February, was made by the ]-based firm Noris-Spiele, a unit of Georg Reulein GmbH & Co. KG.<ref name="toys">{{cite news | title =‘Flocke’ polar bear toys to hit the market | publisher =MSN | date =] | url =http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23053033/ | accessdate =2008-06-11 }}</ref> The well-known toy company ] began selling a variety of Flocke stuffed animals the following May. The income from the merchandise is currently going towards the zoo and to species survival programs.<ref name="shop"/> | ||
| ==Current life and future== | ==Current life and future== | ||
| In April 2008, the zoo |
In April 2008, the zoo decreased human interaction with the cub, hoping that one day she could coexist with members of her species and not be dependent on humans. Becoming more independent from her keepers, Flocke was later reported as often playing happily on her own.<ref name="dummy"/> She was given a plastic "dummy", similar to a child's teething ring, tied to the bars on the inside of her stable door to suckle on while resting. This suckling resulted in the cub's nose appearing bent either to the left or right; her muzzle remained in this shape for some time before returning to normal.<ref name="dummy">{{cite news | title =Squint Nose from Sucking Dummy | publisher =Nuremberg Online | date =] | url =http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/aktuell_18123.html | accessdate =2008-07-08 }}</ref> | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| At the age of six months, it was reported that Flocke, whose diet at the time consisted mostly of a kilogram of beef, assorted vegetables and a liter of puppy milk a day, was at the correct weight for her development at {{kg to lb|45}}. The zoo's vet, Bernhard Neurohr, also remarked upon the bear's sweet tooth, stating that "Flocke is very enthusiastic about grapes, melon, kiwi fruit and pears", but she particularly enjoys bananas.<ref name="sweet">{{cite news | title =Polar bear Flocke has a sweet tooth | publisher =Nuremberg Online | date =] | url =http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/aktuell_18038.html | accessdate =2008-06-27 }}</ref> | At the age of six months, it was reported that Flocke, whose diet at the time consisted mostly of a kilogram of beef, assorted vegetables and a liter of puppy milk a day, was at the correct weight for her development at {{kg to lb|45}}. The zoo's vet, Bernhard Neurohr, also remarked upon the bear's sweet tooth, stating that "Flocke is very enthusiastic about grapes, melon, kiwi fruit and pears", but she particularly enjoys bananas.<ref name="sweet">{{cite news | title =Polar bear Flocke has a sweet tooth | publisher =Nuremberg Online | date =] | url =http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/aktuell_18038.html | accessdate =2008-06-27 }}</ref> | ||
| United Nations Environment Program chief Achim Steiner became Flocke's official patron in May 2008.<ref name="patron">{{cite news | title = UN environment chief becomes German polar bear cub's patron | publisher =''International Herald Tribune'' | date =] | url =http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/28/europe/EU-GEN-Germany-Polar-Bear.php | accessdate =2008-06-11 }}</ref> By taking on this role, Steiner acknowledged Nuremberg Zoo's efforts towards local climate protection, stating "I am happy to have been asked to become 'godfather' to Nuremberg's polar bear cub Flocke. I sincerely hope that during her lifetime we will be able to implement a global green economy."<ref name="godfather">{{cite news | title =Achim Steiner Becomes Flocke's "Ambassador" | publisher =Nuremberg Online | date =] | url =http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/aktuell_17474.html | accessdate =2008-06-11 }}</ref> | |||
| In June 2008, a new poster campaign featuring Flocke was announced with the goal of strengthening public awareness that individuals can contribute to climate protection. Sponsored by the Nuremberg Zoo in conjunction with the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region, the poster showed Flocke and the phrase "Klimaschutz beginnt vor Ort ("Climate Protection Begins At Home").<ref name="athome">{{cite news | title =New Poster Campaign with Flocke | publisher =Nuremberg Online | date =] | url =http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/aktuell_18039.html | accessdate =2008-06-16 }}</ref> The zoo also published a pocket-sized brochure featuring Flocke. Entitled "Little Guide to Climate Protection", it |
In June 2008, a new poster campaign featuring Flocke was announced with the goal of strengthening public awareness that individuals can contribute to climate protection. Sponsored by the Nuremberg Zoo in conjunction with the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region, the poster showed Flocke and the phrase "Klimaschutz beginnt vor Ort ("Climate Protection Begins At Home").<ref name="athome">{{cite news | title =New Poster Campaign with Flocke | publisher =Nuremberg Online | date =] | url =http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/aktuell_18039.html | accessdate =2008-06-16 }}</ref> The zoo also published a pocket-sized brochure featuring Flocke. Entitled "Little Guide to Climate Protection", it taught visitors how to decrease their ] emissions.<ref name="athome"/> | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 14:08, 2 October 2008
Flocke (Template:IPA-de) is a polar bear cub who was born in captivity at the Nuremberg Zoo on 11 December 2007. A few weeks after her birth, she was removed from her mother's care after concerns were raised for her safety. Despite an earlier decision to enforce a strict non-interference policy with its animals, the zoo chose to raise the cub by hand. This decision came at a time when the zoo was receiving negative attention from the media after another of its female polar bears reportedly ate her newly born cubs.
Similar to the media attention given to Knut, a captive-born and handraised polar bear at the Berlin Zoo, Flocke ("snowflake" in German) quickly became a media sensation. Her enclosure proved to be a popular tourist attraction after she publicly debuted on 8 April 2008. Her name was trademarked and she became the subject of toys and advertisements throughout the city. The zoo, who announced in May 2008 that United Nations Environment Program chief Achim Steiner would be Flocke's official patron, hopes to use Flocke as an ambassador to encourage awareness of climate change.
Infancy and controversy
Flocke was born at the Nuremberg Zoo on 11 December 2007 to Vera (born 2002 in Moscow) and Felix (born 2001 in Vienna). At approximately the same time, another Nuremberg female polar bear, Vilma, gave birth to what was thought to be two cubs; because zookeepers did not disturb the animals, enforcing a strict non-interference policy, it is not known exactly how many cubs were born. The zoo reportedly did not wish to create a media circus similar to the one that surrounded Knut, an orphaned polar bear at the Berlin Zoo who became an international celebrity the previous year. Days after the zoo reaffirmed its non-interference policy, mass circulation daily Bild ran a story with a headline reading "Why Won't Anyone Save the Cute Baby Knuts in Nuremberg Zoo?"
At the beginning of January, Vilma appeared nervous, agitatedly scratching at her feedbox, and there was no further sign of her cubs. It was believed that she ate them for reasons unknown, although Nuremberg zoo director Dag Encke stated at the time that they could have been ill, a circumstance under which polar bears in the wild often eat their young. The zoo quickly faced harsh criticism throughout Germany and from the worldwide media for seemingly allowing the death of the cubs. The director of the German Animal Protection Society said the zoo had acted irresponsibly and that "it was the ethical responsibility of the management to give the polar bear cubs a chance of life. Using the argument 'That's Nature' as an excuse for intervening far too late is cynical and inappropriate." Angry visitors gathered in front of the polar bear enclosure and shouted "rabenmutter" ("evil mother") every time Vilma appeared.
Meanwhile, Vera was first seen emerging from her den; her single cub, helpless at only four weeks old, appeared to be in good health. A couple days after the media backlash that followed Vilma's missing cubs, Vera began displaying strange behavior such as carrying her then-unnamed cub around the enclosure and repeatedly dropping it on the hard rock floor. Concerned for the cub's safety, the Nuremberg Zoo made what was considered a controversial decision to remove her from her mother's care and raise her by hand.
Fame
Less than a week after Vera's cub was removed from the polar bear enclosure, the zoo dedicated a website to her. This site, which provided frequent updates of her health and development as well as exclusive photographs and videos, enabled the zoo to hold a competition in which fans could choose the cub's name. The official name was announced on 18 January 2008 by Ulrich Maly, the mayor of Nuremberg, and broadcast live on television. Despite the overwhelming amount of e-mailed suggestions from across the world (including "Stella", "Knutschi", "Sissi" and "Yuki Chan"), the zoo officially named her Flocke, which is German for "flake", as in "snowflake". "Flocke", which had already been used by the media in reference to the cub, was the nickname originally given to her by zookeepers because of her white fur.
Flocke's growth was heavily reported by the media. Four zookeepers took turns bottle-feeding the cub with 140 milliliters of artificial milk every four hours and news of her eyes opening for the first time made headlines a few days before she was officially named. At five-weeks-old, she was referred to by Bild as Mrs. Knut, suggesting that the two German-born polar bears might become mates when they mature. As she grew, Flocke's diet was enriched with dog food, and boiled bones were supplied for her to chew on when she was three months old. She was soon taken to the zoo's beginners pool to practice her swimming skills. The zoo had previously stated that they were seeking another orphaned polar or brown bear cub to raise alongside Flocke in order to improve her development.
On 8 April 2008, Flocke made her first public appearance in the polar bear enclosure that had once been home to Vilma; the adult polar bear had previously been relocated to another zoo. The four-month-old cub was greeted by more than 160 journalists and a half-dozen international camera crews. On 9 April, the zoo began using a video transmission and recording system from Bosch Security Systems to transmit TV-quality live images of the cub to a pair of 46-inch large-format screens. This system, which includes one screen outside the enclosure, was implemented to help the zoo meet the high demands of visitors wanting to catch a glimpse of Flocke.
Shortly after her debut, however, Flocke became the focus of controversy when prominent animal conservationist Jürgen Ortmüller, chairman of the Whale and Dolphin Protection Forum, hired a lawyer to stop Nuremberg Zoo's exploitation of the polar bear cub. Claiming that Flocke's public exposure would have damaging effects and that the zoo is only concerned about earning money, Ortmüller recruited high-profile lawyer Ralf Bossi to challenge them in court.
Merchandising and branding
Soon after Flocke was rescued in January, the city secured branding rights to her name. An official logo was subsequently released by the zoo. Flocke became part of a major publicity campaign in Nuremberg when she was depicted along with the phrase "Knut war gestern" (Knut is yesterday's bear) on posters for the city's metropolitan region. These posters were displayed at numerous bus and train stops all over the city.
Dubbed "Flocke fever" by the press (similar to "Knutmania" that had been experienced a year previously), the cub's popularity soared in early 2008. Her image has been used for games, diaries, soft toys, DVDs, postcards and more. The first product to be released, a Flocke-based board game that was released in February, was made by the Fuerth-based firm Noris-Spiele, a unit of Georg Reulein GmbH & Co. KG. The well-known toy company Steiff began selling a variety of Flocke stuffed animals the following May. The income from the merchandise is currently going towards the zoo and to species survival programs.
Current life and future
In April 2008, the zoo decreased human interaction with the cub, hoping that one day she could coexist with members of her species and not be dependent on humans. Becoming more independent from her keepers, Flocke was later reported as often playing happily on her own. She was given a plastic "dummy", similar to a child's teething ring, tied to the bars on the inside of her stable door to suckle on while resting. This suckling resulted in the cub's nose appearing bent either to the left or right; her muzzle remained in this shape for some time before returning to normal.
At the age of six months, it was reported that Flocke, whose diet at the time consisted mostly of a kilogram of beef, assorted vegetables and a liter of puppy milk a day, was at the correct weight for her development at Template:Kg to lb. The zoo's vet, Bernhard Neurohr, also remarked upon the bear's sweet tooth, stating that "Flocke is very enthusiastic about grapes, melon, kiwi fruit and pears", but she particularly enjoys bananas.
United Nations Environment Program chief Achim Steiner became Flocke's official patron in May 2008. By taking on this role, Steiner acknowledged Nuremberg Zoo's efforts towards local climate protection, stating "I am happy to have been asked to become 'godfather' to Nuremberg's polar bear cub Flocke. I sincerely hope that during her lifetime we will be able to implement a global green economy."
In June 2008, a new poster campaign featuring Flocke was announced with the goal of strengthening public awareness that individuals can contribute to climate protection. Sponsored by the Nuremberg Zoo in conjunction with the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region, the poster showed Flocke and the phrase "Klimaschutz beginnt vor Ort ("Climate Protection Begins At Home"). The zoo also published a pocket-sized brochure featuring Flocke. Entitled "Little Guide to Climate Protection", it taught visitors how to decrease their carbon dioxide emissions.
See also
References
- "Polar Bear Flocke: The Parents". Nuremberg Online. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
- ^ "Polar bear 'may have eaten cubs'". BBC News. 2008-01-08. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
- ^ "Polar bear cub following in star's footsteps". MSNBC. 2008-01-09. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Mum Ate 'Baby Knuts': German Zoo Under Fire After Polar Bear Cubs Die". Spiegel Online. 2008-01-07. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Mum Ate 'Baby Knuts': German Zoo Under Fire After Polar Bear Cubs Die". The Times Online. 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "New Polar Bear Cub Gets Own Web Page". Fox News. 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Crossland, David (2008-01-19). "Flocke gets a name and a worldwide fan club". Times Online. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Kucharz, Christel (2008-01-18). "Baby Polar Bear Named Flocke". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Name-A-Polar-Bear Competition: Nuremberg Zoo to Christen Famous Cub". Spiegel Online. 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Polar Bear Orphan Opens Eyes". Discovery News. 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "German Polar Bear Cub Dubbed "Flocke"". CBS News. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Kucharz, Christel (2008-04-08). "A Star Is Born: Flocke's Big Day". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Baby polar bear "Flocke" at Nuremberg Zoo now admired on big screen around the clock". Bosch Security Official Website. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- Boyes, Roger (2008-04-09). "Crowds flock to Flocke as Rolf Bossi is hired to protect her privacy". The Times Online. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Siddique, Haroon (2008-04-09). "Zoo under fire over Flocke publicity effect". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Das offizielle Logo "Eisbär-Flocke"". Nuremberg Online. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Zoo Shop Now Open". Nuremberg Online. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
- "'Flocke' polar bear toys to hit the market". MSN. 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Squint Nose from Sucking Dummy". Nuremberg Online. 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Polar bear Flocke has a sweet tooth". Nuremberg Online. 2008-06-10. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "UN environment chief becomes German polar bear cub's patron". International Herald Tribune. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "Achim Steiner Becomes Flocke's "Ambassador"". Nuremberg Online. 2008-05-26. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "New Poster Campaign with Flocke". Nuremberg Online. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
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