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\nGanuk and his birthday car filled with treats. Supplied photo <\/p>\n
COCHRANE – A polar bear turning 16 may not come with a driver\u2019s licence in the wild, but at the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat, staff leaned into the milestone.<\/p>\n
Ganuk, one of the habitat\u2019s resident polar bears, marked his \u201csweet 16\u201d in December with a car stuffed with food-filled gift boxes, tropical fruit, a pumpkin-based birthday cake and even a novelty Ontario driver\u2019s licence.<\/p>\n
Habitat manager Amy Baxendell-Young said the idea came together naturally.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sweet 16 just worked,\u201d she said. \u201cThe car was actually something I picked up at a local thrift store quite a while ago, with this birthday in mind. And because when you turn 16, you get a car \u2014 at least when you\u2019re wealthy \u2014 we decided to spoil him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ganuk received papayas, watermelon and a bear-friendly cake made with pumpkin, peanut butter, oats and eggs. After posing for his \u201clicence photo,\u201d the birthday boy promptly shredded the licence and fell asleep on it, Baxendell-Young said.<\/p>\n
For staff, the celebration marked more than a fun social media moment. Sixteen is a meaningful age for a polar bear in human care.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the wild, especially for males, that would be getting toward the end of life,\u201d Baxendell-Young said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut in human care, with consistent food and veterinary support, it\u2019s common for them to live into their early to mid-20s. He\u2019s fully grown, a mature male, and we still expect to celebrate many more birthdays with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nGanuk and his birthday car filled with treats. Supplied photo
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Ganuk is often described by staff as a \u201cgentle giant.\u201d Despite his size, Baxendell-Young said he is remarkably patient and calm, particularly when it comes to daily medical care.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very tolerant and very relaxed,\u201d she said. \u201cHe knows how to get our attention when he wants something, but he\u2019s incredibly special to work with.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, fellow resident Henry also drew attention for an unusual display of natural behaviour. Baxendell-Young said Henry spent months digging an expansive den into a former beaver cache \u2014 a behaviour rarely seen in male polar bears.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was huge. Four staff could stand inside it at the same time,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was really cool to see him feel the urge to express that unusual, natural behaviour, and to know our environment allowed him to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
SEE: ‘Oh, Henry!’: Cochrane polar bear gets paws-itively perfect party<\/a><\/p>\n August also marked one year since the death of <\/a>Inukshu<\/a>k, the habitat\u2019s longtime resident polar bear.<\/p>\n \u201cWe still talk about him every day,\u201d Baxendell-Young said. \u201cBut the memorial really helped. It felt like a proper goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n
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