January 21, 2006.

Natural behaviors can and should be harnessed to make a birthday fun.

Living in captivity can be difficult when natural behaviors are oppressed. Ahpun had a successful and truly happy birthday encounter because the zoologists were able to provide a setting for the bear's enjoyment. The birthday cake was topped with a food item in the shape of a seal. In the wild Polar Bears hunt seals. It is not at all unusual for a Polar Bear to 'bounce' on top of ice formations to break through the ice/snow to find access of food including fish. So the behavior here is natural and at the same time entertaining to the crowd. It was enjoyable for all. I still would not get in the way of those paws though.