Yoga with polar bears? These best friends & Arctic animal care specialists might have the best job ever
But these tricks aren't for human amusement. Instead, they keep bears sharp and engaged
Jackie Enberg and Heather Penner have what may be the best work life in the world. The two best friends are animal care specialists at the Assiniboine Conservancy in Winnipeg, and together, among other things, they do polar bear care.
"We do all the basic husbandry required for the care of polar bears and harbour seals, which includes positive reinforcement training as well as enrichment," says Penner.
"Enrichment can be used for a bunch of different reasons but sometimes it can just be for fun," adds Enberg.
Enberg and Penner also get to do things like play fetch with the bears, or blow bubbles for them, or get them to do "yoga." And while these may seem like tricks, they're actually all therapeutic. Getting the bears stretching allows animal care specialists to see their range of motion. Doing things like playing fetch or blowing bubbles also keeps the bears stimulated and allows them to use their hunting skills.
"Polar bears are known for their sense of smell," says Enberg. "They'll kind of follow the bubbles and they'll even use their nose and find where the bubbles are landing. So it also gets them using their nose."
The pair like to start their work day by having some coffee and catching up with each other, and the bears. They sit in the glass tunnel under the bears' aquatic enclosure and say watch them as they swim overhead.
"You're underneath a polar bear swimming so you'll be able to see their range of motion as they swim," says Enberg. "We're watching for possible injuries. We're watching for interactions between other bears. Sometimes it exposes a cut or a scrape from sparring."
One of their favourite bears is Star. Star and her brother were found orphaned as cubs in Northern Manitoba, being hunted by wolves. Star was so traumatized by the loss of her mother, that she's taken to living alone, apart from other bears.
"Star has thrived living on her own," says Enberg. "She's a little cheeky, and she's very independent. She's a lot of fun to train."
Also on episode 2 of Arctic Vets, former movie wolf Gambit isn't eating, and the vet team makes an alarming discovery. Out on the tundra, Dr. Stephen gets between an aggressive male polar bear who threatens a mama bear and her cubs.
Watch Arctic Vets, Fridays at 8:30 (9 NT) on CBC, or stream it on CBC Gem.