Bears at Korkeasaari Zoo have emerged from hibernation, exploring their snowy enclosure and adjusting to spring.
The elder bear was the first to discover the hidden treats buried beneath the snow. Photograph: Annika Sorjonen / Click to view the gallery
The bears at Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki have woken from their hibernation and are spending time outdoors in their snow-covered enclosure.
Their hibernation this winter was restless, possibly due to mild January weather, with their longest continuous sleep lasting five weeks. Zookeepers monitored the bears with cameras and observed their movements during hibernation, but hunger wasn’t a factor as their interest in food remained low.
The bears are now more active, enjoying playful sprints and digging for food, and their diet is gradually transitioning back to normal. Visitors can see the bears outdoors daily, especially in the mornings when they are most energetic.
Sofia
Sofia, 24, was born at Ähtäri Zoo in 2001 and has a distinct fondness for wading, a trait not shared by her daughter. (Disclaimer: We believe this is Sofia. According to sources at Korkeasaari Zoo, the bears resemble each other so closely that even photographers sometimes struggle to tell them apart.)
Yulia
Yulia, 19, enjoys swimming.
From November to early March, bears typically retreat to their dens to hibernate, remaining sheltered through the coldest months of winter. However, this year their hibernation was restless, disrupted by an unusually mild season.
Source: Korkeasaari Zoo press release
