Twin polar bears to leave Brno zoo for Prague, Gelsenkirchen

Brno, Oct 3 (CTK) – Bill and Tom, the twin polar bears who have been the Brno zoo’s biggest attraction since their birth last November, will leave Brno for the zoos in Prague and in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, respectively, next spring, zoo spokesman Martin Hovorka has told CTK. 

After the twin brothers’ departure, their father Umca will reunite with Cora, their mother, who could give birth to new offspring in late 2009.

The Brno keepers have consulted foreign experts on when the young bears should be separated from their mother. They agreed that the age of 15 months would be optimal.

“We’ve received many letters urging us not to separate the young bears from their mother or at least not to separate the twins from each other. This, however, is impossible from the biological point of view,” said Hovorka.

If the brothers were left together beyond their age of 15, conflicts might arise between them, he said.

The number of visitors to the Brno zoo has been soaring since this spring when Bill and Tom, born in November 2007, were presented to the public.