Qld: Heat wave snow storm for Gold Coast polar bears
By Dale Paget
GOLD COAST, Dec 6 AAP - A snow storm in the middle of a brutal east coast heat wavewas no mirage for twin polar bear youngsters Lia and Lutik today.
The popular pair, who turn two years old next week, awoke this morning to a polar paradiseon the Gold Coast.
Three semi-trailer loads of finely crushed party ice were shovelled into their enclosureat Sea World for a television commercial to promote the addition of man-made snow to thepopular attraction from Boxing Day.
While the tourist strip's nearby beaches were packed with holidaymakers trying to beatthe soaring mercury, Lia and Lutik cooled down by demolishing a snowman in their refrigeratedwonderland.
"The world is very topsy-turvy," said polar bear supervisor Kerrie Haynes-Lovell.
"We wanted to do something different for them and novel and because it's hot, snowis something really nice."
The bears last saw snow a year ago before leaving their home at Russia's LeningradskiZoo in St Petersburg.
The shipment was criticised by Australian Democrat Andrew Bartlett who questioned thesanity of bringing arctic animals to a tropical climate.
"They always have their air-conditioned dens to go to," explained Ms Haynes-Lovell today.
"They actually don't mind the heat at all - they look for places to sit in the sun- even in summer."
At first the polar bears gingerly inspected the new snow and after realising it wassafe, they dived in, slipping and sliding around like playful children.
They also leapt at a film camera that was swung around the enclosure on the end ofa crane. Their claws came within inches of the expensive equipment.
"They are carnivores. Something moving in their range is prey. If they got it theywould shred it," said Ms Haynes-Lovell.
"I think they are enjoying chasing the camera as much as the snow."
The snow will return to Sea World for a limited season from December 26 to January 27
AAP dp/jhm/csd/sb
KEYWORD: POLAR (PIX AVAILABLE)
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