Bärengraben

The Bear Pit is part of the Bear Park in Berne. The plant, to be held in the brown bear, is at the opposite of the old town banks of the Aare. The Bear Park and the old bear pit are one of the most famous sights of Berne. The bear is the heraldic animal of the city and the canton of Bern.

The real bear pit stands empty today. One side is often used for theater performances, the other is access to the tourist shop.

• 2.1 From the Bear Pit to the Bear Park

The Bears

Finn and Björk

After the bear, " Pedro " had to be put on 30 April 2009, the trench was initially empty. Since early October 2009, the plant is inhabited by the two bears " Finn " and " Björk ".

Cubs Ursina and Berna

In December 2009, " Björk " brought in a cave of the bear enclosure two young. You with the name " Bernadette " and " Urs " were given. According to an agreement with the city of Solothurn always wears a juvenile the name " Urs ". This is also one of the two patron saints of Solothurn. " Finn " was temporarily relocated due to the cubs in a separate enclosure, there was a danger that he might eat the boy.

End of February 2010 left " Björk " with her two boys for the first time for a short time the cave. In the following months, the little bears were a magnet for visitors (up to 20,000 people per day).

The names have been assigned before the gender of the little was known. Since the end of October 2010 it is clear that both bears are female. Hence the name of " Urs " was changed to " Ursina ".

" Berna " had to bear park but leave in July 2013 because she fell repeatedly in conflict with her mother, " Björk ". " Berna " was brought into a bear enclosure in Bulgaria Dobrich.

History

The first recorded message from a bear pit in Bern at the Cage tower dates from the year 1441. The current system is the fourth bear pit. It was opened in 1857 and 1925, supplemented by a small trench for the rearing of young animals. The stables were renovated in the 1970s. The Bear Pit is a part of the Bernese zoos Dählhölzli, which is about two kilometers southwest also located on the Aare.

The Bear Pit was repeatedly the focus of animal rights activists, whose criticism was referring to are not animal welfare. Until the opening of the Bear Park, the housing conditions were improved. The number of bears has been reduced and enlarged the bear pit itself, also climbing opportunities were created.

From the Bear Pit to the Bear Park

In 2004, the city council of Bern agreed to a project loan for the renovation and expansion of the historic bear pits. From the Bear Pit a bear park should arise. The animals would create a direct access to the Aare and a large outdoor enclosure. Sleep caves and appropriate feeding places should allow a proper housing. Until October 2009, the Bear Pit underwent fundamental changes. The Aarehang lying next to the bear pit was transformed into a spacious natural disposition, the bears were released from their walled ditch and may the year and full-time move in a more than 6000 -square-meter outdoor facility that is separate from the banks of the Aare only by the visitor route. Contrary to initial plans remained the current bear pit, which stood in 1856 at its present location at the Nydeggbrücke and is featured in the Federal Inventory of cultural goods of national importance and in its highest cantonal protection category, get the bear. The big ditch is connected by a tunnel to the park. The small trench is no longer part of the bear enclosure, but the public is for occasions. The new facility was officially opened on 22 October 2009 and since 25 October accessible to visitors.

Shortly before the opening came the bear park in the headlines because of the actual construction costs of about 24 million Swiss francs significantly in excess of the original 9.7 and later corrected to 14.5 million Swiss francs budget. The Bernese council launched in October 2009, an administrative investigation to establish the causes. Already in May 2009 indicated structural problems associated with the unstable Aarehang attention to additional costs.

Others

In the 1969 incurred sixth James Bond film On Her Majesty, who plays partly in Bern, the Bear Pit for the localization of the action is seen briefly. This scene was missing in the early German versions.