Bears, Berne zoo

An amusing tale is told about the origins of this city's name. Reportedly, a young man spent the night in the dense forests of the Aare valley several centuries ago. He was allegedly told to name a new settlement after the first creature he saw. It turned out to be a bear [Berne in German, the language of the area] -- not a squirrel or badger. Berne sports bears on its crest of arms, and features them prominently in its zoo, as well as on a tall column near the center of town.

Welch, Claude Emerson

State University of New York at Buffalo

Spring 1994

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Box 4

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Swiss

Berne zoo, Switzerland

7/10/2007

Welch-Ludwig Collection

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