Winnipeg (bear) facts for kids
Harry Colebourn and Winnie, 1914
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| Other name(s) | Winnie |
|---|---|
| Species | American black bear |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | 1914 Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 12 May 1934 (aged 20) London Zoo, London, England |
| Known for | Inspiration for Winnie-the-Pooh |
| Owner | Harry Colebourn |
| Named after | The city of Winnipeg |
Winnipeg, often called Winnie, was a female black bear. She lived at the London Zoo from 1915 until she passed away in 1934. Winnie was rescued by a kind soldier named Harry Colebourn. She is most famous for inspiring the beloved character, Winnie-the-Pooh. This character was created by A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard.
Contents
Winnie's Early Life and Journey
How Winnie Met Harry Colebourn
In August 1914, World War I began. Lieutenant Harry Colebourn was a veterinarian in the Canadian army. He volunteered to serve his country. On August 24, he was traveling by train to join his unit. At a train stop in White River, Ontario, he bought a young bear cub. He paid $20 for her.
The cub's mother had likely died earlier that year. This meant the cub was very young. She had probably learned to be comfortable around humans. The hunter who sold the bear is not known.
Naming the Bear and Her Travels
Colebourn named the bear "Winnipeg," or "Winnie" for short. He named her after his hometown, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Winnie traveled with him to Valcartier, Canada. Then, she went all the way to England. She became the mascot for Colebourn's army unit. She was also a pet for the Second Canadian Infantry Brigade.
Before going to France to fight, Colebourn left Winnie at the London Zoo. He wanted her to be safe.
Life at the London Zoo
Why Winnie Stayed in London
Winnie was originally meant to go to the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg. However, when the war ended, Colebourn made a big decision. He decided to let Winnie stay at the London Zoo. She was very popular there. People loved her playful and gentle nature.
Inspiring Winnie-the-Pooh
One of Winnie's biggest fans was Christopher Robin. He was the son of author A. A. Milne. Christopher Robin had his own teddy bear. He loved Winnie so much that he changed his teddy bear's name. It went from "Edward Bear" to "Winnie the Pooh." This special teddy bear then inspired his father's famous stories about Winnie-the-Pooh.
Remembering Winnie
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Statues and Tributes
There are several statues and plaques that honor Winnie. The London Zoo has a statue of Winnie. It was made in 1981 by sculptor Lorne McKean. In Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park, there is another statue. It shows Winnie and Harry Colebourn together. This statue was created by William Epp. Epp's design is also seen in a statue at the London Zoo.
Winnie in Books and Movies
In 1996, Canada Post released a special stamp. It showed "Winnie and Lieutenant Colebourn, White River, 1914." The story of Winnie the bear was also made into a movie in 2004. It was called A Bear Named Winnie. The movie starred Michael Fassbender as Colebourn. A 1,000-pound male black bear named Bonkers played the adult Winnie. In 2011, a children's book about Winnie's life was written. It was titled Winnie the Bear by M.A. Appleby.
Images for kids
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Winnie the Bear as a cub with a sergeant of the CAVC
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Winnie plays with a soldier's sleeve
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Winnie the Bear as a cub with an unidentified Canadian soldier
