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Binky (1975 – 20 de julio de 1995) fue un oso polar que vivió en el Zoológico de Alaska en Anchorage, Alaska, Estados Unidos. Encontrado como huérfano en la costa norte (North Slope) de Alaska, Binky fue llevado al zoológico y rapidamente se hizo uno de los atractivos mas populares del zoológico. Se hizo un heroe local y recibió atención prensal globalmente cuando atacó a dos visitantes en dos incidentes independientes en 1994. Murió en 1995 de sarcocystosis, una enfermedad parasitica.

Early life

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Binky fue encontrado como huérfano en Cape Beaufort en la costa norte (North Slope) de Alaska en mayo de 1975 y fue rescatado por el Departamento de Pesca y Caza de Alaska (Alaska Department of Fish and Game).[1]​[2]​[3]​ Después fue dado al Zoológico de Niños de Alaska (Alaska Children's Zoo) (mas tarde llamado Zoológico de Alaska) in Anchorage, donde se hizo rapidamente uno de los atractivos mas populares del zoológico.[1]​[3]​ Su guarda dijo en 1976 que Binky fue artista y que lloró en los tardes cuando su aplaudiendo, riendo visitantes se fueron.[1]​

Al prinicipio, Binky fue puesto en un jaula ovalado de 13 pies a 20 pies, que rapidamente le quedó pequeño.[1]​ Los jefes del zoológico no supieron si The prospect of raising the estimated $150,000 needed for a new, larger enclosure was uncertain, and zoo officials feared Binky would have to be sent to the Milwaukee Zoo.[1]​[4]​ A fundraiser and open house were held to raise money for the effort,[5]​ and "school children, civic organizations, and businesses rallied around" the bear.[4]​ Ultimately, the greatest contribution to the zoo's effort was the city's purchase of the zoo land for $100,000, which the zoo agreed to buy back in 55 annual installments of $2,500.[4]​ Binky's new enclosure opened in May 1977.[6]​ That year, Binky made an appearance as "my dog Spot" in one of Cal Worthington's car dealership commercials.[7]​

As Binky approached sexual maturity, zoo officials negotiated for the purchase of a female polar bear named Mimi from the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma.[8]​[9]​ As the transfer was being finalized, however, Mimi died from a viral disease in Tulsa.[9]​ In February 1979, young polar bear twins (Nuka, a female, and Siku, a male) joined Binky in his enclosure.[10]​[11]​ Binky got along poorly with Siku, however, so Siku was given to a zoo in Morelia, Mexico in 1981.[12]​[13]​

As a full-grown bear, Binky weighed 1,200 pounds.[11]​ His keeper commented in 1983, "Binky is stubborn [and] independent, and he likes to play games. When he's really feeling obstinate, he walks halfway into his den and sits down. He knows I can't close it. He's a very smart bear."[11]​

Maulings, celebrity, and death

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In July 1994, 29-year-old Australian tourist Kathryn Warburton climbed over two safety rails to get a close-up photograph of the bears. When Binky stuck his head through the bars and grabbed her,[14]​[15]​ she suffered a broken leg and bite wounds. Another tourist caught the event on tape.[16]​ Binky kept the woman's shoe for three days before it could be retrieved by zoo officials,[14]​ and the day after the attack Alaska Star photographer Rob Layman took the iconic image of Binky, holding the shoe in his mouth, that was printed in almost every press account of the incident.[15]​[17]​

Six weeks later, Binky was involved in another mauling. Drunken local teenagers approached the bear's enclosure, apparently hoping to swim in its pool, and one 19-year-old was hospitalized with leg lacerations after he was mauled.[18]​ The zoo could not confirm that Binky was the attacker, but only Binky—not Nuka—had blood on his face following the incident.[19]​

After these attacks, Binky received international news coverage and became a hero in Anchorage.[14]​[15]​[20]​[21]​ Binky merchandise was popular, including t-shirts, mugs, and bumper stickers, often adorned with the iconic shoe photo or with the slogan "Send another tourist, this one got away".[14]​[15]​[21]​ Local letters to the editor supported Binky during both incidents, most often arguing that polar bears' dangerousness should be respected.[15]​ The Zoo's director, Sammye Seawell, criticized Warburton's actions in the Anchorage Daily News, saying "[s]he violated the rules and jeopardized the bear's life."[16]​ Though Seawell initially insisted that the attack would not change how the zoo was run,[16]​ security around Binky's cage was upgraded to keep zoo visitors out.[22]​

In 1995, Binky's cagemate Nuka suddenly became sick with sarcocystosis (a parasitic disease), dying from associated liver failure on July 14, a week after her symptoms began.[23]​[24]​[25]​ Shortly thereafter, Binky showed signs of the disease.[26]​ On the morning of July 20, he went into convulsions and died.[26]​ Zoo visitors left bouquets of flowers outside the bears' empty enclosure,[27]​ and turnout at the zoo's memorial service was "astonishing" despite pouring rain.[28]​ The bears were buried on zoo grounds.[29]​

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ a b c d e Jones, Sally W. (7 de mayo de 1976). «Binky the polar bear faces uncertain future». Anchorage Daily News. p. 2. 
  2. ↑ «Zoo to open for Binky's party». Anchorage Daily News. 13 de mayo de 1976. p. 2. 
  3. ↑ a b «Meet Binky the polar bear at Alaska Children's Zoo». Anchorage Daily News (Visitor's Guide Summer 1976 insert). 26 de mayo de 1976. 
  4. ↑ a b c Nightingale, Suzan (August 5, 1976). «Work to start on home for Binky». Anchorage Daily News. p. 2. 
  5. ↑ «Binky's bash nets $2,500». Anchorage Daily News. 27 de mayo de 1976. p. 2. 
  6. ↑ «Polar delight». Anchorage Daily News. 26 de mayo de 1977. p. 1. 
  7. ↑ «Bear joins ad team». The Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina). February 25, 1977. 
  8. ↑ «Southern belle for Binky bear». Anchorage Daily News. September 19, 1977. p. 1. 
  9. ↑ a b «Prolonged bachelorhood for Binky». Anchorage Daily News. December 16, 1977. p. 2. 
  10. ↑ Elizabeth Tower (1999). Anchorage: From Its Humble Origins as a Railroad Construction Camp. Epicenter Press. p. 142. ISBN 9780945397809. 
  11. ↑ a b c McCoy, Kathleen (December 29, 1983). «He's got a bear of a job». Anchorage Daily News. p. E1. 
  12. ↑ Stephens, Jodi (April 4, 1981). «Go on safari to the zoo». Anchorage Daily News. p. G7. 
  13. ↑ Barcus, Gwen (July 12, 1981). «Spanish comes in mighty handy for moving bears, making tacos». Anchorage Daily News. p. F2. 
  14. ↑ a b c d «Binky and Nuka memorial». Alaska Zoo. Archivado desde el original el September 27, 2006. 
  15. ↑ a b c d e Partnow, Patricia H. (Winter 1999). «Ursine urges and urban ungulates: Anchorage asserts its Alaskanness». Western Folklore. 
  16. ↑ a b c Komarnitsky, S.J (July 30, 1994). «Zoo's polar bear mauls tourist who climbed over two fences». Anchorage Daily News. 
  17. ↑ Breese, Darrell L. (January 14, 2010). «Former publisher recalls the Star's early years». Alaska Star. Consultado el October 14, 2010. 
  18. ↑ «Metro news: mauled teen recovering». Anchorage Daily News. September 16, 1994. 
  19. ↑ «Zoo bear suspected in mauling». Eugene Register-Guard. September 13, 1994. pp. 3A. 
  20. ↑ Enge, Marilee (August 2, 1994). «Binky's victim blames herself: 'It was the dumbest thing I've ever done'». Anchorage Daily News. 
  21. ↑ a b Badger, T.A. (September 29, 1994). «When it's bear vs. tourist, Alaskans prefer the bear». Miami Herald. Associated Press. 
  22. ↑ «Cheers and jeers». Anchorage Daily News. October 27, 1994. 
  23. ↑ Jones, Stan (July 18, 1995). «Zoo bear's death mystifies officials». Anchorage Daily News. p. A1. 
  24. ↑ Jones, Stan (July 22, 1995). «Which bug killed zoo bears?». Anchorage Daily News. p. A1. 
  25. ↑ Stan, Jones (July 28, 1995). «Bears' death traced to sarcocystis, a rare parasite». Anchorage Daily News. p. A1. 
  26. ↑ a b Jones, Stan (July 21, 1995). «Binky fans mourn». Anchorage Daily News. p. A1. 
  27. ↑ «Some Alaska Zoo animals getting old». Peninsula Clarion. December 3, 2000. 
  28. ↑ Sullivan, Patty (December 20, 1997). «Zoo to hold open service for Annabelle». Anchorage Daily News. p. D1. 
  29. ↑ Phillips, Natalie (October 8, 1996). «Jackie the brown bear, ailing with cancer, is euthanized». Anchorage Daily News. p. B3. 
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