One-Minute Facts: The Polar Bear in the River Thames

The Tower of London was once home to a self-sufficient polar bear

During medieval times Kings sent each other gifts. They were too big-nobby to say it with flowers. They gave each other BIG presents like exotic animals.

By the time we got to the reign of King John in the verylongagos, he had enough animals to set up a menagerie in the Tower of London. Fast forward to the 1250s and King Haakon of Norway gifted a polar bear to Henry III.

Like many kings, Henry didn’t like spending his own money. He told the sheriffs of London to pay for his animal upkeep. He also decided that the polar bear could feed itself.

This wasn’t such a bad idea. The bear’s handler would walk it down to the river Thames from the Tower every day. Attached to a long rope, the bear could swim around and catch its own fish. I’m sure it attracted quite a crowd.