Anniversary at Wilhelma: baby gorillas, polar bear Wilbär and animal stories!

Anniversary at Wilhelma: baby gorillas, polar bear Wilbär and animal stories!

On March 27, 2025, the program “Zoo Stories from Wilhelma” will celebrate an impressive 100th anniversary. With this anniversary edition, Südwestrundfunk gives viewers exciting insights into the life of the Stuttgart Zoo. The focus is particularly on the popular gorilla babies Mary and Monza as well as the little polar bear Wilbär. The show not only tells the stories of the animals, but also shows the everyday lives of the employees - from trainees to zoo inspectors. Plans include, among other things, performances by gibbons marking their acoustic territory, as well as the first meeting of three young chinchillas with an older chinchilla buck. Another highlight will be the participation of a Limpurger cow from Wilhelma in cattle competitions in Schwäbisch Hall. Interestingly, the show “Polar Bear, Monkey & Co.” has been broadcast since March 27, 2009 and has become an integral part of the program over the years. RBB reports.

A special story that is currently attracting attention is that of polar bear Wilbär. The popular polar bear, which was born at Wilhelma in 2008 and was the zoo's first polar bear cub, is facing a new challenge. In 2009, Wilbär and his mother were given to the Orsa Grönklitt Bear Park in Sweden. Now he has to prepare for a move again because the bear park is closing. Wilhelma director Thomas Kölpin has already made it clear that Wilbär cannot come back to Stuttgart. The reason for this is that the enclosure is now used for cheetahs and is no longer suitable for keeping polar bears.

Moving into the unknown

Wilbär's fate raises questions because he already has a daughter named “Miki” and could raise more offspring at a new location. Wilhelma also plans to convert the former polar bear enclosure into a cheetah enclosure in order to begin breeding cheetahs, which makes the loss of Wilbär even more remarkable. The fans of the Stuttgart Zoo can only hope that Wilbär survives the move well and can lead a species-appropriate life in his new home.

Despite the challenges the zoo and its animals are currently facing, visitors are encouraged to visit Wilhelma. However, some hygiene regulations must be adhered to. This includes wearing masks, as some animals can become infected with Corona. This underlines the importance of health protection for both the animals and visitors. BW24 reports.