Inuka facts for kids
Inuka, pictured in December 2013
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| Sex | Male |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 December 1990 Singapore Zoo |
| Died | 25 April 2018 (aged 27) Singapore Zoo |
| Parent(s) | Nanook and Sheba |
Inuka (Inuit for "Silent Stalker") was a male polar bear and a famous mascot of the Singapore Zoo. He was born and lived in a special cool home. Inuka was known as the world's only "tropical polar bear."
Contents
Inuka's Life Story: A Unique Polar Bear
Inuka was born at the Singapore Zoo on December 26, 1990. He was the first and only polar bear ever born in a tropical country! This happened thanks to a special breeding program at the zoo.
There were four polar bears at the Singapore Zoo in total. These were Nanook, Sheba, their son Inuka, and another female named Anana.
How Inuka's Parents Came to Singapore
Inuka's parents, Nanook and Sheba, arrived at the Singapore Zoo in 1978. Nanook came from Canada, and Sheba came from Germany. Nanook was caught in the wild when he was 11 months old. Sheba was born in a zoo and was 14 months old. They arrived early in the morning when it was coolest. Zoos often bring one male and one female animal for mating and conservation efforts. Anana, another female polar bear, arrived from Canada in 1979. She passed away in 1999.
Inuka's Birth and Name
On December 26, 1990, Sheba gave birth to a tiny cub. He weighed only about 350 grams! The zoo held a contest to name the cub. Over 10,000 people sent in names. "Inuka" was chosen from 390 suggestions.
In 1993, a newspaper called The Straits Times listed Inuka as one of "28 people and things to call our own." He was mentioned alongside famous things like the Vanda Miss Joaquim flower.
Inuka's Family and Milestones
Inuka's father, Nanook, died in 1995 when he was 18. He had been sick with heart and lung problems. Inuka was then raised by his mother, Sheba. Sheba lived a long life, passing away in 2012 at age 35. She had been unwell and was put to sleep after doctors saw she would not get better.
In 2000, Inuka had a big 10th birthday party at the zoo. More than 300 guests enjoyed free cake! Special Inuka notebooks were also given away. The zoo even thought about making Inuka their main mascot. This role was held by the orangutan Ah Meng at the time.
A group called SPH Foundation helped support Inuka since he was born. They helped organize his birthday parties and other events.
Inuka's Home: The Tropical Tundra
In 2006, the Singapore Zoo thought about moving Inuka to a zoo in Europe. This would happen after his mother passed away. The idea was part of an "animal exchange program."
However, in 2007, the zoo changed its mind. They decided Inuka would stay in Singapore even after Sheba died. This decision came from the zoo's Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee. The zoo also said they would not bring in any more polar bears. They planned to make Inuka's home even better. This included improving the water quality and adding soft areas for him to walk on.
In 2010, the zoo announced exciting news! The polar bears would be a main attraction in a new area called the Frozen Tundra. This new exhibit would be part of the River Safari theme park. It was planned to open in 2012.
Later, in 2013, the Frozen Tundra exhibit was moved to the Singapore Zoo itself. New animals like wolverines and raccoon dogs were also added to this cool new area.
Inuka's Health and Care
Polar bears are used to very cold places. Living in a warm, humid country like Singapore meant Inuka needed special care.
Keeping Inuka Healthy
In 2004, Inuka and his mother had algae growing on their fur. This made them look a bit green! The zoo explained that the algae was harmless. It grew because of the hot, humid weather. To clean them, the zoo sprayed the bears with a special solution.
People sometimes worried about the polar bear home at the zoo. Their enclosure was much smaller than the huge areas polar bears live in the wild.
An animal welfare group, ACRES, talked with the zoo about Inuka. They suggested moving him to a zoo in a cooler country. ACRES said Inuka and Sheba showed signs of stress. These included being less active and doing unusual repeated actions. They also noted the pool water was warmer than in the Arctic.
The Singapore Zoo said they took good care of the bears. They pointed out that Inuka was born in the tropics. The zoo spent money to improve the polar bears' area. They added more air-conditioners in their den. They also put in misting fans and shades to keep the area cool, around 22 °C.
Inuka's Final Days
In 2018, the zoo announced that Inuka was not as active as usual. He had a health check-up in April 2018. The results showed his health was getting worse. His keepers noticed he preferred to rest instead of playing. His daily interaction sessions with visitors were stopped.
Another health check was done on April 25, 2018. It showed Inuka was not getting better, even with lots of treatment. The Singapore Zoo made the difficult decision not to wake him up from the anesthesia. Inuka passed away peacefully on April 25, 2018, at about 9:30 AM.
Remembering Inuka
Inuka's skeletal remains will be kept. They will be used in schools for educational purposes. This way, people can continue to learn about this special polar bear.
See also
- List of individual bears
