Our award-winning Russia’s Grizzly Coast is home to several incredible species from the Russian Far East, including three very charismatic brown bears.”Haines,” “Kenai” and “Sadie” are a few of the Zoo’s most popular animals to visit and learn about, but they didn’t have the easiest start to their lives. All three bears were found separately orphaned in Alaska in the summer/fall of 2006. “Sadie” was the first to be rescued near a landfill not too far from the Sadie Creek; “Haines” was found roaming porches in the small town of Haines; and “Kenai” was found along the coast of  the Kenai Peninsula…and you can see how they got their names. All three were taken to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) for initial care and then eventually made the trip to the their new home at the Minnesota Zoo in 2008.

Now these three bears have found a home that’s just right, with daily care from their zookeepers – including enrichment and training sessions. They are even given the opportunity to express their creative side with paint from time to time. When guests come to visit them, they will notice the bears’ habitat is always changing with new logs, dig pits and sometimes even live fish. This is all to help keep the bears mentally and physically strong. They are often spotted doing some “yoga” in their habitat, as well…

Speaking of yoga, have you ever done a cat pose with a tiger watching you before? How about a downward-facing dog in the presence of wolves? Get a jump start on your day and start your morning off right with a yoga class at the Zoo! Practice your best animal poses, stretch, and relax, with a certified yoga instructor in front of one of the Zoo’s beautiful exhibits. Come back each month to practice in a different area of the Zoo! These classes are perfect for total beginners and advanced practitioners alike. We offer both family and adult classes, so register for an upcoming session today!