1 year ago
Polar Bear's Unhappy Stay: Moscow's Gift to Madras Zoo
Back in the 1950s, the Madras Zoo got a special gift: a baby polar bear from Russia!
The bear's name was Snejhok, which means 'little snow.'
The bear came all the way to India, but it got very hot in Madras.
The zoo tried to keep it cool, but it was too tough.
Sadly, the bear didn't survive because of the heat.
Even though it was a cool idea to have a polar bear in India, the weather was not suitable for a polar bear.
Later, the zoo got another polar bear.
The zoo then moved and have not repeated the experiment.
A polar bear cub, Snejhok, was gifted to the Madras Zoo in October 1955.
The bear was a diplomatic gift from the Moscow Zoo to mark the centenary of the Madras Zoo.
Despite efforts to keep it cool, Snejhok died in the summer of 1959 due to the heat.
The zoo requested another polar bear, and another bear was housed there in the early 1960s.
The Madras Zoo later moved to Vandalur, and there have been no further such incidents.
- Who
- A polar bear cub from Russia, named Snejhok, was gifted to the Madras Zoo. The bear was provided by the Moscow Zoo to the Madras Corporation.
- What
- A polar bear cub named Snejhok was gifted to the Madras Zoo but died due to the heat.
- Where
- Madras Zoo, India
- When
- October 1955, a polar bear cub arrived in Madras; it died in the summer of 1959.
- Why
- The polar bear died due to the unrelenting Madras heat and developed an abscess.
Key facts
- Original Name
- Snejhok (Little Snow)
- Age at Arrival
- 7 months old
- Origin
- Russia
- Arrival Method
- Grand Trunk Express
- Cause of Death
- Heat and an abscess
- Zoo Location
- Madras Zoo
