Polar Bear Days

A magical sight I will never forget

The Buffalo Zoo was in sync with Buffalo’s weather, that was for sure, when it planned Polar Bear Days for this week.

These really are Polar Bear Days!

Yesterday it was 12 degrees and windy, and I was not going to go anywhere. But you know me, I have to go out for a walk. I am German, I can’t help it, I have to go out in the cold. So I walked around the Ring Road in Delaware Park. I actually felt pretty warm, not cold. My friend Janet gave me this scarf, big thick acrylic. The heck with wool, you know? Acrylic is the answer to everything. This scarf kept me warm.

Until I was almost home. There is this part of the Ring where snow is piled really high. And the air was full of blowing snow. And I thought: I cannot go there.

I detoured into the zoo parking lot.

I did not even think the zoo was open. It was just so darned cold! However this frozen-looking guy was out there directing people in. And so I followed his direction and I went in.

There was this mailing I had received about Polar Bear Days. Different keepers are giving talks. I plan on going Wednesday, I am going to tell you that right now, to see the talk by the Keeper of the Giant Anteater. That is a person I would like to meet!

The Polar Bear Keeper was speaking today and so I headed toward the Arctic exhibit. However. I never got there. I was delayed.

By the Polar Bear!

This was our cute Luna. Our huge Luna, I should say. Luna was in the pool and there was an area I had never noticed before where you are next to this glass and the pool is right next to you.

No one was there at first but me and Luna.

I almost died. It was just so magical. To see a bear this close — to have the bear aware of you, showing off for you, inches away from you — I was just standing there with my mouth open.

The bear’s paws! Huge!

This is why I think we need zoos. I explained this a couple of minutes later to a Channel 2 photographer who showed up. We introduced ourselves and got to talking. I said, you would never be able to understand from a photo or from TV what this is like. There is just nothing like being there.

I shot the video up above, not knowing if it would come out or what. You can hear me saying, “Oh, man. Oh, man.” I was honestly speechless.

The reporter, when she showed up, was awed as well, to her great credit. Her name was Penny. Penny was wondering about the Arctic Fox and I competently pointed them out. I am growing proud of my Zoo expertise. Then I just turned my attention back to the bear.

Oh, man. Oh, man!

There was ice and condensation on the glass that got in the way of our viewing Luna closely. Luna helpfully began clearing the glass off. It worked! We could see her better.

I do not think in my life I will ever shoot a video more exciting than this one. The polar bear, cleaning the glass!

I mean, the polar bear, clearing the glass!

The size of those paws!

I just could not move as long as that bear was there. I could not get over the majesty of the big beast.

People came by with little kids. For whatever reason the zoo has become the provenance of little kids. I mean, really little kids. It is kind of a pity. They have no idea what they are seeing. The parents called Luna “cute” and the kids were kind of distracted. One little boy, though, didn’t want to get close to the bear. I liked that. He understood.

“Charlie, don’t you want to get up close?”

“No.”

Here is my new friend Penny, from Channel 2, interacting with Luna.

Can you believe this?

Is this a wonderful world or what?

I am looking forward to the talk by the Keeper of the Giant Anteater. The Giant Anteater’s keeper speaks at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Rainforest Falls exhibit.

However, this will be a tough act to follow!