Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications
With Animal Keeper Alison Barr
Photo Credit: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo
Keema! A big grizzly bear makes a splash in the bear pool, 2022. |
Brown bear life expectancy in human care is just under 22 years for males and 26 years for females. Keema will celebrate its 29th anniversary this January! What is the secret of Keema’s golden age?
We closely monitor his appetite, activity level, and normal behavior. Any changes will be communicated to the animal health team and animal caretaker manager. Keema does not have a special diet, but he does take cosequin for joint health and has been trained to draw blood so that veterinary staff can monitor his health.
we love keema We know his keepers spoil him. What advice do you have for keeping an old bear curious and young at heart?
we love him too he is a special bear. His advice for keeping him young at heart is to keep him active, proactive, and curious by offering him various enrichment items, spending time with him, and yes… pampering him. is to keep
Keema sniffing the bear park to strengthen it in 2022. |
How did Keema react to sharing Sniffzone with Juniper? (Please note: Sniff Zone is not a scientific field, it is a nickname used by communications teams to describe a shared indoor space within a bear troop. No, but you can occupy it.We see, hear, and smell each other.)
Keema was curious as to who this little new born baby was. Initially, Juniper was kept indoors during the quarantine period, and Keema spent time on the doorstep, smelling it. All three bears will probably do the same when a new bear is introduced.
Are Keema and Juniper “conversing” with each other behind the scenes?
At first, they would yell at each other across the dressing room, but after getting used to seeing each other, they no longer spoke to each other. There is not much interaction between them.
Keema greeting visitors through a pool view in 2022. |
Has Juniper’s presence changed Keema’s behavior a bit? Likewise, what routines will change when other babies are introduced into the space?
Other than the fact that we first met, Keema’s behavior hasn’t changed much. We rotate the bear up to five times a day for him (one in a public outdoor space and one in a private garden or indoor backstage) but on a fixed schedule to keep the bear interested. not. Their food is hidden in exhibits and backstage, scattered, or placed inside toys. Lucky for us, we have a dedicated outdoor yard for strengthening bears outside of our exhibits. At first he may find it a bit difficult to keep the 3 bears, but as soon as he is ready, he hopes to bring the new bear and juniper along (I don’t think it will take too long). Junipers and new babies stay together except when we give them the majority of their food. We plan to hide or scatter some of their food and treats for them to find in the exhibit. The two groups, Keema and Cubs, will be on display throughout the day.
Keema and Denali playing in a creek in 1994! From the Woodland Park Zoo archives. |
Does Keema still like to shell peanuts?
If you’re about to play a trick, Keema will look at you sideways! Is he teaching Juniper some moves?
Keema’s sideways glance is a way of scolding us when we do something we don’t like. Juniper also started doing side-eye looks for the same reason.
Keema exploring the Living Northwest Trail in 2022. |
What is Keema’s favorite snack?
Is Keema still fishing for trout now that Denali (his brother, who died in 2020) is gone, or was it a two-bear operation?
Has Keema been sleeping better than before?
Keema seems to be getting less sleep as he rotates bears throughout the day. However, it still gets sleepy during the winter months.
Cozy Keema sleeping in a “nest”, 2022. |
When does Keema look happiest?
Who’s a brown bear and who’s a grizzly bear? How do you tell them apart?
Visitors viewing two juvenile bears will notice that although they are about the same age, they are quite different in size. That’s because junipers are coastal brown bears and new born cubs are inland grizzly bears (like Keema). We want to tell people that all grizzly bears are brown bears, but not all brown bears are grizzly bears. Coastal brown bears tend to be slightly larger than their inland grizzly relatives. This is mainly due to the high protein in their diet. Both bears are omnivores (they eat a variety of foods, including meat, fruits, vegetables, and grasses), but coastal brown bears eat more fish because they are more readily available.
Three bears! Clockwise from top: Keema the grizzly, Juniper the cub, Rescue the grizzly (names coming soon!). |
Allison, the scoop on Keema and everything you and your team have done to make sure he’s living the best old bear life amid all the cub pranks around. Thanks for the method! We can’t wait to see Juniper and the next bear. And we know his three bears will keep the Living Northwest Trail team busy this winter.
Keema is still the King of Living Northwest Trail! |