Ahpun and Oreo - The Odd Couple Splits!
By Travel Trade Staff
Ahpun, the polar bear, and Oreo, the brown bear, were placed in the Alaska Zoo during the spring of 1998. Both cubs had lost their mothers and could not have survived in the wild, but who would have ever imagined putting the two distinctly different species together? However, bear cubs usually have a twin in the wild, so it seemed natural to introduce Ahpun and Oreo as playmates while they were young and didn’t recognize their inherent differences. The baby cubs entertained locals and visitors alike as they played and grew into adulthood together.
A new, state-of-the-art exhibit was built for the two bears, which included a pool, rocks, and natural-looking surroundings. By watching the young bears play in their new habitat, viewers quickly gained an appreciation of their unique differences. Ahpun loved to swim and dive to the bottom of the pool, while Oreo preferred to stay at the surface of the water and check things out on top. As they grew older, they spent less time playing together and eventually outgrew each other’s company.
Now, five years later, the two bears reside in separate habitats and both are full grown healthy bruins. However, the years of watching them grow and play will not be forgotten.
The Alaska Zoo is a great place to enjoy learning about many different cold climate animals that call the forested setting home. It’s located on the Anchorage hillside just 20 minutes from downtown Anchorage. For more information call 907-346-2133 or visit their website at www.alaskazoo.org.
