World

Polar Bear Uses Rock to Shatter Aquarium Wall — While Zoo Visitors Watch

Polar Bear Uses Rock to Shatter Aquarium Wall

Image source: YouTube

Visitors to a zoo in the Netherlands got a jolt recently when the polar bear they were viewing used a rock to shatter one of the glass panes to its enclosure.

Video of the incident, said to have taken place Wednesday, shows two visitors talking in front of the aquarium and watching “Vicks” as he swims past. The arctic animal disappears from the frame until suddenly, what looks like a large rock coming from his direction smashes against the glass, causing it to fracture.

Sky News reported Vicks is well known for playing with rocks and zoo staff believe it was an accident rather than him trying to make an escape.

The polar bear was relocated to a new pen so the glass could be fixed.

Comments (158)

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  • Bobolinsky
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:44am

    I’m no PETA freak. I can eat chicken while watching videos of hatcheries grind up the male chicks or slaughterhouse workers wringing chicken necks.

    But… the last time I went to a zoo, I left feeling pretty rotten for being human.

    It was temporary and I got over it, the rotten feeling I mean, but I still don’t like zoos/Sea World etc.

    Report Post » Bobolinsky  
    • MRMANN
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:08pm

      Well said, especially your sentiments re: zoos.

      Report Post »  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:17pm

      Agreed, wild animals should be in the wild. I am a lifelong hunter and hate seeing animals like that caged up and pacing back and forth.

      Report Post » dmerwin  
    • wmgill
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:21pm

      Guess the bear wanted out.

      Report Post »  
    • THE MAD TACO
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:39pm

      I dislike the zoos also but eat a Manatee steak with some Spotted owl lol. This goes to show that the Bears are well aware of their surroundings and have a mature thought process. When he did not receive the attention he was garnering Mr Polar used a way as to persued and gaurentee he would be noticed!

      The Glass has three layers to it so what we witnessed was the first layer, first time I have ever seen this! Makes one wonder what he was really thinking hahahahaha, feed me more Penguins dammit!

      Report Post »  
    • rickc34
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:56pm

      Just in President Obama was going to visit the zoo in the Netherlands rumer has it he was going to the zoo for a quick bite to eat. The bears became nervous because they heard Michelle wanted a white fur coat and the only one that would fit was a polar bear and she also wanted the matching fur booties. And that Obama was into eatting wild animals . So the bears dcided to make. Break for it starting with vick the rock throwing polar bear.

      Report Post »  
    • Ishmot2
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:14pm

      The bear thought it was a sheet of glass and wanted to get rid of it before it started to make him cold!

      Report Post »  
    • GlintoftheScythe
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:18pm

      Well said.

      Report Post » GlintoftheScythe  
    • Ishmot2
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:20pm

      I was thinking ice and still wrote glass.

      Report Post »  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:37pm

      i wouldn’t worry about the animals living in the zoo. they get 3 squares and a bed plus all the humans they can throw rocks at. think of it as condo living for the animals. the gorillas crack me up, i watched a kid throw a wraped up jaw breaker and the gorilla unwraped it and poped it in his mouth and threw the wraper away. he loved it.

      Report Post »  
    • Joyce61
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:38pm

      well said! i urge everyone to watch “ the cove” on netflix. speechless, horrorifieing.

      Report Post »  
    • thop1960
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 4:13pm

      Exactly, zoos were created by the left so the inner city can see what the rest of us see everyday in our backyards. Conservatives don’t like zoos, we actually have compassion for animals and would rather meet them on their own turf rather than stare at them behind plexiglass. Just another example the way the left has spun things to make conservatives look at fault rather than admit their own shortcomings.

      Report Post » thop1960  
    • DoomsdayProphet
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 4:32pm

      Yeah, we call that evolution. He evolved that rock into the glass until it webbed up. Go bear get that dinner buddy.

      Report Post »  
    • LANE131
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 4:55pm

      If i had to come back as animal in the next lifetime, i would WANT to be a zoo animal, in a zoo in America, Canada, U.K., or Japan.
      Well feed, safe, with health care, and not end up hunted by other animals in the wild, or ending up on a farm as a animal, to end up on someones dinner plate, yes as a animal zoo life would be my pick.
      As a human however, goverment let me be free of all you over reaching BS, i know how much Soda i can drink and burgers i should eat thank you very much, and i will get my own health care, as a human i do not want to be care for like a animal.

      Report Post »  
    • k8ti
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 5:05pm

      I can see that….but most (if not all) the animals they have were either born into captivity or were severely injured out in the wild and wouldn’t have survived otherwise.

      Report Post »  
    • Wolf
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 6:14pm

      Right on, Bob- animals don’t belong in cages and people who want them tghere should be caged with them.
      Every time I hear of something like this, I cheer for the animal, wish it had got free and done what it really wants to do- thin the herd with natural selection.

      Report Post »  
    • Wolf
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 6:26pm

      @ K8tie… and what part of the natural side of life don’t you agree with? That nothing should ever die? Or that nothing should ever suffer injury? Or that we humans should do all we can to alleviate the suffering of animals in the wild by making more zoos to cage free spirits?

      Report Post »  
    • Duey2000
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 7:45pm

      I guess that I’m pretty privileged to live in Omaha, where we have one of the top zoos in the country. 90% of the animals are kept in large habitats that are mostly natural to their original climates. Indoor desert dome, swamp, indoor rain forest, a giant primate complex, and an awesome aquarium. The 10% that aren’t are being moved in the next couple of years into new areas that are currently being planned, like an elephant area about the size of a city block where they will keep 19 elephants! Don’t knock all zoos!

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:38pm

      How close do you live to the Omaha Steak company? Are they going to sell elephant steaks?

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:29pm

      @CHIPS…
      The nature of Animals is to Live Free… and die Hunting or Hunted. Cows/Beef are Prey… for our Predator Species, which we domesticated for Easy Food. Just, a little Reality!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • milez5
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:42am

      If they could animals would put us in zoos and they would also do medical experiments for their benifit as well as ours.

      Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:39am

      I can’t help but think “…The circle of life!”

      Polar Bears will eat human beings in the wild. Even playful bears will eventually kill you and eat you. Ever see the video of the old fool who “befriended” a number of bears, until one day the mama bear (”Mine’s too cold!”) killed and ate him? Normally, I don’t root for the bear, but I just couldn’t help it.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:46am

      @chips1

      Let’s assume elephants were common, domesticated animals in America. Do you think we’d all be eating 1/3 lb. elephant burgers and medium-rare, bacon-wrapped elephant filet mignon? You bet we would!

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:48am

      There are 7 billion people on the planet. I too feel sorry for the farm animals but people have to eat to live. Maybe these animal factories should be replaced with a more free roaming type enviroment and they probably could be if industries were taxed so dramaticly forcing them to grow maxium numbers in minium area. I for one would pay more for free ranged meats.
      I also thinks these factories are a mediphor for the end results of over reaching government everyday the system shrinks our cages a little smaller.

      Report Post »  
    • teddie888
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:38am

      I agree. I think back 20-30 yrs ago, when I used to take my kids and feel terrible about it

      Report Post »  
    • lylejk
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:38pm

      I agree with you about Sea World. Many years ago, my then wife and I went to Orlando for our honeymoon and one of the stops was Sea World. It was quite hot that day considering it was late fall at that time. Anyway, when we saw Shamu, it‘s dorsal fin was flat and the folks there did mention that captured whales get permanently depressed dropping their dorsal fin and it’s more then likely a permanent condition. I too am no peta guy, but if this is a fact then they need to stop this incapture since it’s sad to me even now to think of this. I pretty much made a vow never to visit Sea World again by the way. I know Zoos can be sad too but I don’t feel this same feeling as I did at Sea World and the animals there are, for the most part, not being forced to entertain us in spectacular fashion. Zoos also try to serve as a preservation vehical and educational platform; don’t see Sea World in that fashion. :)

      Report Post » lylejk  
    • robtech34
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:11pm

      Lets’ see. I like meat,, I don’t love zoos or Sea World very much eiother, however, I will NEVER be sorry or feel rotten for being human. BOBOLYNSKY grow a pair.

      Report Post »  
    • tharpdevenport
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 7:28pm

      I disagree, Bobolinsky.

      You’re just feeling self concious because you are watching something in a caged show. When you think about it, the animals have it pretty damn good at the zoo’s (At least ones where they are treated properly).

      They have enough to eat every day and don’t have to hunt it down, decreasing chance is death from starvation or death from injury during a fight with prey.

      They don’t have to worry about predators or being ousted from a group by an Alpha male, ’cause the zookeepers will take care of that situation.

      They don’t have to look for a mate and get in a fight with a dominant male in competition and risk injury or death just trying to get it on with the female.

      They have medical, dental, and if they are friendly, they get attention and extra food.

      If a zoo bothering you, then I suggest getting rid of any pets you ahve. You have them caged in a house/yard, they’re your own personal spectical, you give them medical, food, a partner if you choose, and since you pay for all that, you’re both the zoo goer and the zookeeper. Domestication doesn’t make it any better, it just means your cat won’t eat you. It’ll still attack you though.

      Report Post » tharpdevenport  
  • forthepeople
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:21am

    …………………… Its Bush’s fault ! ……………………..

    Report Post » forthepeople  
  • The Gooch
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:15am

    Ban zoos! Ban polar bears! Ban rocks! Ban somthing, damn it!

    Report Post »  
    • Thevoice
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:48am

      Perfect..Something tells me in a day or two, we will be seeing the story of a gorilla throwing a baby stroller through the glass or something… That’s the way it goes today ..

      Report Post » Thevoice  
    • The Gooch
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:55am

      Ban strollers! Ban gorillas! Ban babies!

      Report Post »  
    • The Gooch
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:16pm

      The Monk,
      Yes, if ever there was a sane & realistic plot to kill a public figure, it was M.E.’s Muslim-trained, stone-throwing polar bear scheme. I don’t like seeing this “suddenly I have the vapors” routine played from either side. I suspect if Beck saw that post he’d think, “Wow. Another leftist goofball. Funny.”
      I’m curious as to if you responded to the NY principal arbitrarily removing the “God Bless the U.S.A.” song from kindergarten graduation. I’m not the morality or consistency police. Hell, I readily admit to revealing some stances that others might assert are conflicting… & I’m ready for the challenge.
      Be offended. Be proactive in your goal to shut people up. I like knowing who the loons are & I like rattling their cages. Everytime I have a comment banned on this forum (one on which you can’t type the word v@gin@ when discussing govt. mandated probes of females’ nether regions), it makes me realize The Blaze isn’t exactly the brave & open forum it claims to be. Or at least some of its posters won’t accept it as such.
      I’d be very careful of becoming the thing many on this forum claim to abhor: An intolerant busybody too afraid to meet people on the battlefield of ideas. I have zero tolerance for one thing on opinion forums: SPAM. Beyond that, I say let’s take the gloves off & have a good time or try to learn something. Smacking people out of the way is (IMO) lazy. But check out some comments on Joe Biden, et al., & ban away.

      Report Post »  
    • Bobolinsky
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 4:28pm

      LOL, funniest comment I’ve read today.

      Report Post » Bobolinsky  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 5:24pm

      Lol Gooch.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • David, the Constitutional Libertarian
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 5:48pm

      Did you use the Serenity format on purpose or got lucky?

      Report Post » David, the Constitutional Libertarian  
    • Wolf
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 6:43pm

      You betchya: ban zoos- the polar bears are in decline because of zoos.

      Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:48am

      Yes, where’s the army of busy-bodies to tell us how to protect ourselves, and the polar bears, from ourselves and the polar bears?

      Dear God, what if I’m left to think on my own?!?! The horror!

      Report Post » Jaycen  
  • Joyzee
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:09am

    Like seals under ice and people behind glass! are FOOD…..yum

    Report Post »  
    • DWilliams08
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:25pm

      Unlike other bears, a polar bear sees a person as food. In nature, if a polar bear thinks he has an advantage, he will hunt and eat a human being. It’s just the nature of being in the Arctic where food can be scarce. That being said, why are we so obsessed with these things? If the EPA were around 65 million years ago, I’d be worried about getting eaten by a T Rex on my way to work every day.

      Report Post » DWilliams08  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 10:48am

    Oh No ! This Polar Bear is in the Netherlands?

    Can you say Quad Copter?

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 10:46am

    Where did that Polar Bear learn Morse Code?

    Rosetta Stone?

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • WhiteFang
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 10:33am

    No one wants to be locked up. Polar Bears want to be free just like everyone else.

    Report Post » WhiteFang  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 12:39pm

      Clean up on aisle 2… and bring the BIG bucket!

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • glenn j
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 10:31am

    this bear must be a conservative …just trying to be free.

    Report Post »  
    • koyettsu
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:12am

      lol I love it, that is how I feel fighting against tyranny that is developing in this country.

      Report Post »  
    • tiki886
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:14pm

      Or the bear could a liberal demanding ObamaCare and food stamps. Maybe conjugal visits.

      Report Post » tiki886  
    • UrsaMajor
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:04am

      Or the bear could just be a dumb animal playing with a rock.

      Report Post »  
  • FemaleBizOwnerMom
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 10:17am

    He’s either pissed, or is playing around. He must of tried this before and knows there is a barrier there. Most likely he just wants to be free and trying to do so.

    Report Post » FemaleBizOwnerMom  
    • wdittgasn
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:30am

      He could have been trying to scare the people, he has probably done it many time before and of course people scared react in a way that the bear might find amusing….. the people are lucky the glass did not blow out, that is a lot of water.

      Report Post » wdittgasn  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 12:48pm

      Maybe it was mating season and he was showing off.

      “Look how far I can throw this big rock”.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:55pm

      If he was trying to show off, wouldn’t he be wearing a raincoat?

      Report Post »  
  • Brittany-Imbriaarts
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:45am

    And yet environmentalism tell us these bears are too stupid to move to cold spots when areas get warm (which does happen) yet this one plans a great escape that could have worked

    Report Post » Brittany-Imbriaarts  
    • Countrygirl1362
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 10:16am

      I would say this one is very smart. Once with the rock is an accident, twice with the rock is not an accident.

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 10:50am

      all of the great inventors were concervative in nature(punn-intended!). Thease animals don’t like slavery and cages. Everyday they are looking for a “way out”….for just a few secconds…a mental-leap! “My body is in pain from ramming this cage all these years. I just discovered “throwing” something else.” He probably tried sticks, food, old-bones…and finally a large rock(from the display), which wasn’t fastened-down cause they don’t float and are too heavy-to-lift.

      Report Post »  
    • wdittgasn
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:33am

      you are right Countygirl this bear is smart… if this bear were an American bear it would just sit on it’s rump and wait for the free fish and sing mmmmm mmm mmmm BHO mmm mmm mmm.

      Report Post » wdittgasn  
    • Your Name Here
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:31pm

      This would make a great Farside cartoon if only Gary Larson was still drawing it.

      Report Post » Your Name Here  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:15pm

      I’ll bet that in November, they vote Jim Fowler out of office.

      Report Post »  
  • lonestarbill
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:40am

    I know a ManBearPig when I see one. First one I’ve seen in captivity…but not for long.

    Report Post »  
  • 80mesh
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:37am

    he will be tagged with the name …“ white black bear”

    Report Post » 80mesh  
  • bdandsl
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:31am

    Guess, they should remove the rocks.

    Report Post » bdandsl  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:12am

      The “Ban Rocks” group is now forming in Washington as we speak.

      Report Post »  
  • Obamujahadeen
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:28am

    Must be a PalestOnian (sic) Polar Bear, in other words, a rock chucker!! ;)

    Report Post » Obamujahadeen  
  • black9897
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:26am

    Uh oh…the bears are getting smarter..they’re learning. They’ll probably take over soon.

    Report Post » black9897  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:18am

      Here it comes!!! Polar Bears are evolving, yet not one story about what the Black Bears are doing. It could be something BIG coming down the road!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Look4DBigPicture
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:31am

      Smart bear … we’ll soon become the Planet of the Bears.

      Report Post »  
  • barack_to_the_future
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:21am

    Al Gore is too busy fighting with Dana Loesch to notice that the polar bears are getting angry! All his mansions are melting the ice caps! http://www.mediaite.com/online/al-gore-mocks-dana-loesch-on-twitter-then-quickly-deletes-it/

    Report Post »  
  • NLN
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:14am

    The bear was just protesting the evil oil companies drilling on his home turf.

    Report Post »  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:11am

    That’s what happens when you give a Polar bear Pepsi.. instead of a Coke..!

    Report Post » sawbuck  
  • tajloc
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:09am

    Ah yes… Ron Paul trying to get into the race. Har Har Har BUT he does have effect.

    Report Post »  
  • HumbleMan
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:01am

    He seems smarter than your average bear.

    Report Post » HumbleMan  
    • Giauzar
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:15am

      We are not the smartest species on this planet, if we were we wouldn’t be destroying it.

      Report Post »  
    • KickinBack
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:22am

      The planet is doing just fine. We’re just good at destroying each other.

      Report Post » KickinBack  
    • VotersOfNY
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:41am

      No, we’re not the ones destroying the planet, Obozo and the Dumbacrats are.

      Report Post » VotersOfNY  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:58am

    Damn OWS rock throwing Polar Bears. They must have an Al Gore Agenda…

    Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • hempstead1944
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:53am

    Why don’t they “relocate” him back to where he came from…..there are no walls to knock down there.

    Report Post »  
  • Mess23
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:51am

    Trying to escape someone elses version of engineered utopia?

    Report Post »  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:01am

      Are those the only words you know?

      Report Post »  
    • Bro Geo Too
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:17am

      `I agree with M-23. It is the bear’s version of “I’m getting the hell out of this joint.”

      Report Post »  
    • Mess23
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 10:33am

      @right unite – trade places with him….

      Report Post »  
  • Grasshopper42
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:48am

    I could hardly bear to watch this . . .

    Report Post » Grasshopper42  
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