Press Release
For Immediate Release
August 28, 2007
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For More Information:
Cynthia Shipley
Manager, Marketing
(416) 392-5938
Erin Van Alstine
Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat
& Heritage Village
(705) 272-2327 x24
polarbearhabitat.ca |
TORONTO ZOO POLAR BEAR ENJOYS COCHRANE RETIREMENT
August 28, 2007, Toronto:
On Monday, August 20th, much loved Zoo Polar bear Bisitek, aged 27, was transported to the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village, where she will enter a restful retirement. Orphaned in the wild, Bisitek was donated to the Zoo in 1980 by the Canadian Wildlife Service. In Cochrane, Bisitek will re-connect with Nikita and Aurora who, donated to the Toronto Zoo in 2001, were the subjects of a very successful naming contest before moving on to their new location.
Accompanied by Maria Franke, Toronto Zoo Curator of Mammals, Keeper Grant Ankenmam and Veterinarian Resident David McLelland, the long term Zoo resident was sound asleep when she reached her destination. "We will miss Bisitek very much," says Maria Franke. "However, she is in good hands in her new home. The Keepers at Cochrane had treats already prepared for her and she settled right in. She will be a very spoiled and pampered bear.
As Phase 1 of the North Site Redevelopment Project, the Zoo will redesign and enlarge the existing Polar Bear exhibit to feature natural rock and substrate, a stream with a pool and a new state of the art holding facility. This "Tundra" phase is due to be completed in 2009. At this time, the Toronto Zoo will be ready to welcome new inhabitants to the refurbished exhibit.
The Zoo appreciates that the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village has gone above and beyond to give Bisitek such a wonderful new home and hopes that her dedicated fans will head up to visit her there.
