The world's largest bear arrives in Orsa Bear Park
Today Orsa Bear Park opens its new facility for the Kodiak Bear - the world's largest land predators. Taquka has been flown to Orsa from Alaska. In his new home in Kodiak Island- Land of Giants, he has plenty of room to fish for salmon or just run around and play. Orsa Bear Park has been selected as the only park in the world outside of Alaska to receive the mighty Kodiak Bears. Along with extensive exhibits on the fascinating wilderness of Kodiak and the successful management of bears in Alaska the Kodiak Bear is an ambassador for their wild counterparts.
After several years of review, Orsa Bear Park and the Carnivore Centre in Grönklitt have been chosen as the only place in the world where the Alaskan authorities are willing to send Kodiak Bears. In the future, at least two Kodiak Bears who, together with all the exhibitions will inform about the relationship between humans and predators, and be ambassadors for the wild bears.
Grönklitt saved the lives of the cub
Taquoka was found in Alaska in December 2010, after his mother had been shot in the annual bear hunt. Instead of putting the cub down, it was decided that Orsa Bear Park would have the opportunity to receive him. Here the bear was guaranteed a good life and would, together with exhibitions, help make the world a better place for the wild bears.
– Finally our long awaited Kodiak Bear is here. This is a victory and proof that we truly have a Bear Park and a Carnivore Center of world-class up here in northern Dalarna. We hope that we will be able to move a female in to the facility as soon as possible so that Taquka has company, said Torbjorn Wallin, President of Grönklittsgruppen AB.
Large facility for a rich life
Kodiak bears will be living in a facility that is 20 000 square meters containing the habitats of which Kodiak bears are accustomed to, lakes with the ability to catch live fish, lake areas and fields with herbs to graze on and woods to hide in.
In Orsa Bear Park the Nordic carnivores are represented, Scandinavian brown bear, wolf, lynx and wolverines, and even Dalarnas officail bird, the Eagle owl. There is also Kamchatka bear, Siberian tiger, Persian leopards and the world's largest polar bear facility Polar World. In the summer of 2011 even the snow leopard into Leopard Center. Connected to the park is also a Carnivore Center with exhibitions and information both in the park and center.
In addition to the cooperation with the authorities in Alaska, bringing the Kodiak Bear to Orsa Grönklitt was made possible by investment from the provincial government in Dalarna and EU and Dalarna Region to the Carnivore Center for the production of exhibitions. The facility has cost SEK 22 million to build, including SEK 3 million for information and exhibits. Orsa Bear Park is now hoping to reach wide members of the public and school groups from Sweden, as well as an increase in visitors from other parts of Europe.
Orsa Bear Park is unique in its interaction with the Carnivore Center. The facilities together provide a source of knowledge about predators which was one of the reasons the facility was selected as the only facility in the world to receive Kodiak Bears. In addition to experiencing large predators at close range in a modern facility, visitors can take part in a series of exhibitions and information both in the park and in the center.
Press information about Kodiak bears in the attached pdf.
To download high resolution press images and animated films, visit:
http://www.gronklittsgruppen.se/bildarkivphotos/kodiak-111011__94
For more information contact:
Torbjorn Wallin, President Grönklittsgruppen tel, 070 649 12 89 torbjorn.wallin@gronklittsgruppen.se
Pernilla Thalin, Zoo Manager Orsa Bear Park tel, 0708 404 916 pernilla.thalin@orsagronklitt.se
Anders Bjorklund, CEO Carnivore Center Grönklitt, phone 0730-368200 anders.bjorklund@orsa.se
Orsa Bear Park is a theme park within Grönklittsgruppen AB which is one of Sweden's fastest growing companies within the tourism industry. Grönklittsgruppen includes the following facilities in camping, theme parks and ski resorts: Orsa Grönklitt, Orsa Bear Park, Orsa Camping, Orsa Bowling, Enåbadets Camping, Siljansbadets Camping, Grännastrandens Camping, Sagolandet Tomteland and Tänndalen alpine ski area.
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