The Washington times., 1935-02-23
Seek Facts
On Rarest
OF Cubs

Dull JusL "eSA @SO, VIC
Polar -Kadiak bear cubs at the
Zoo Park now enjoy world
wide fame.
DR.. William N. Mann, direc-
tor Of the Zoo, has been
Swamped with letters and tele-
phone calls regarding the ap-
pearance, size, probable habits
and similar questions concern
ing the cubs.
In addition, scientists and stud
OntS OF animal life from all parts
Of the country and foreign lands
by the scores have poured in re-
quests upon the Zoo director for
permission to see the animals.
A Precedent
Answering the latter requests,
Dr.. Mann has decreed:
"Any scientists, curiosity
seekers or others who attempt
to disturb these cubs will be
shot on sight. That goes for
newspaper photographers also"
Responding to the former ques-
uon as the appearance, size,
habits. ETC., Of the cubs, the genial
director replies:
Your guess is rs good rs
mine."
And it is. Offspring Of a polar
bear and Kadiak bear mating
has never happened before, DR..
Mann stated. The mating of a
lion and a lepoardeSS some years
back in a foreign ZOO was con-
Sidered the queerest freak" of
animal life, but according to DR..
Mann, the marriage" of the bears
at the Zoo is "the tops" in the
history of zoology.
On Guard
At birth, the bear cubs are
about the size Of rat. The
male stands guard at the bear
cage-juSt as he would do in
native hauntS-until the mother
bear is ready to proudly dis
play her offspring to the public.
DR.. Mann estimates this will
be between three weeks and a
month. Bear cubs, he said, grow
extremely fast.
But the mating Of two bears
Of opposite breed. opposite habits
and in virtually every respect, as
opposite as day and night, is
what has puzzled DIR. Mann and
Headkeeper William H. Black
burne.
The father bear Of the world
famed cubs is Snowy" He is
seven years old and was pre-
Sented to the local ZOO by the
Coast Guard after being cap
tured in Northern waters.
The polar bear, DR.. Mann ex-
planned, lives on ice floes in the
coolest regions. He thrives on
fish and seal hunting. These
bears grow to an average weight
Of 400 pounds.
Habits Differ
The mother bear at the Zoo
1s Ramona" She was captured
on the Kadiak Islands by Paul
g. Redington and presented to
the Zoo. She is also about seven
years old.
DR.. Mann, IN pointing out why
your guess" is as good as his
concerning the future appearance
and habits Of the cubs, particu-
larly emphasized the habits Of
the Kadiak bears.
Bears Of the type Of the mother
come from the Kadiak Islands.
They live almost entirely on land,
although they can swim, but sell
dom do.
They thrive on small animals
trapped on land, but are not ad-
verse to going to the waters edge
for q bit Of fishing for their
meals. The Kadiak grows to a
size OF 1,10O pounds.
Complications
After comparing the different
habits Of the father and mother
bears. DR.. Mann added that the
two types Of bears have different
heads, different shaped bodies,
and different. fr-of course the
Polar bears fur Is white and the
KAdlak'S brown. Completing his
explanation, DIR. Mann said:
Now b It any wonder that
Hour EuesS IL aS good ~ mime"
Keepers at the Zoo, while
&nxIous 10 get q glimpse Of the
new bear Cubs, are also keeping
. WatchfM eye on another Polar
be&E.
she AB Marion
Ht seems that ''SnowHS" the
papa bear, divorced Marion" and
Ghen married Ramona" the
mama bear. The keepers are
carefully watching 'AGarion's" re-
actionS when she sets eyes upon
the offspring Of her former "huS-
band"