malik – Jun 8, 2009 12:00 AM

Malik seems to be relaxing more, and this has reduced tension between he and Grizzer. Staff have noted that Malik is more interactive, one staff commented that Malik was like a shark in the water, he moves around the enclosure, then comes in to rub a staff person on the back of the knee. This rub-on behavior is a very social, relaxed behavior, and we are glad to be observing more of this behavior. We are still discussing retirement which will be inevitable for the 2000 litter of Malik and Shadow. But, with Shadow so clearly in charge, and Malik who seems to have finally accepted that he lost a challenge to Grizzer's 2nd ranking status, we might be able to keep delay the retirement. Of course, summer is easy, hormones are naturally nurturing, it's the fall and winter hormonal cycle that will be the key. The yearlings were definitely shown their status by Shadow and Maya this winter, so that may reduce their inclination to climb rank when they reach maturity.