Manitoba·Video

Winnipeg zoo buddies: Sean Ellis and Hudson the polar bear

He started at Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo as a security guard, and now he works with Hudson the polar bear, one of the zoo's stars. Sean Ellis is living a childhood dream.

Zoo buddies: Sean Ellis and Hudson the polar bear

10 years ago
Duration 1:22
Sean Ellis is fulfilling a childhood dream of working with animals. As a zookeeper at Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo, he spends his days with Hudson the polar bear and even taught Prince Charles how to feed the zoo's big star. CBC videographer Sara Calnek catches up with Ellis and Hudson.

He started at Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo as a security guard, and now he works with Hudson the polar bear, one of the zoo's stars. Sean Ellis is living a childhood dream.

Sean Ellis, right, feeds Hudson the polar bear at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. (CBC)
Ellis, 37, says he's always wanted to work with animals. He started his journey to becoming a zookeeper when he was just 17 years old.

These days, he spends his days with Hudson, one of the polar bears at the zoo's Journey to Churchill exhibit.

Ellis even taught Prince Charles how to feed to big bear during a royal visit to Winnipeg in May.

CBC videographer Sara Calnek recently caught up with Ellis and Hudson at the zoo. Click on the video player to watch the full story.