They are big and once again Super Bowl television superstars.
And they are Innisfail's favourite giant bruins.
Whopper and Ursula, the lovable big Kodiak bears at Discovery Wildlife Park, were smash hits during this month's televised Super Bowl game. The local bruins were the star four-legged actors in the Chobani Greek yogurt commercial that aired during the game.
It was the fourth time the two bears, both with long, impressive resumes for film work, were contracted for Super Bowl work. It was also their first time back for American football's big show since 2006 when they were hired to appear in a Bud Light commercial. The year before they were featured in a FedEx Super Bowl commercial, and in 2004 the bruins were the stars in the game's Pepsi spot.
This year's Chobani commercial had a grizzly, played by both Innisfail bruins, terrorizing a country store until the bear found peace with the Greek yogurt. The commercial was reportedly a favourite with famed talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who was featured in another spot during the game.
ìThe Super Bowl commercials are the crËme de la crËme of commercials. You can't do something better, really,î said Serena Bos, head zookeeper at Discovery Wildlife Park.
She said Ruth LaBarge, the zoo's longtime bear trainer, took the two local bruins early last December to the filming set in Vancouver for eight days.
And the two stars enjoyed every minute of it.
ìThey love going on the road. When Ruth pulled up with the trailers every bear wants in,î said Bos. ìIt is like the kids wanting to go to malls for the day as they are treated like royalty when they do film work. It is 100 per cent positive and they really look forward to it.
ìIt was actually a really nice set to work on,î added Bos. ìThe whole crew was very respectful. They just had fun with it.î
Meanwhile, the two big, furry film stars will once again shine in Innisfail this year when Discovery Wildlife Park reopens for the season. Whopper and Ursula are renowned for being part of the park's twice-a-day bear presentations.
ìThose bear presentations are focused on conservation and education, which is so important for Alberta because we live in bear country,î said Bos. ìOur (bear) numbers are depleting so rapidly. For them to be ambassadors for those wild bears is huge for the park but also for Albertans and Canadians as a whole.î
For more information about Discovery Wildlife Park visit the website at www.discoverywildlifepark.com
