Welcome to London Zoo!
My name is Winnie.
As you can see, I'm a black bear.
I didn't always live at the zoo.
I used to live in the woods, in Canada.
When I was a cub, a hunter killed my mother.
Then he trapped me!
It was 1914. An animal doctor named Harry was riding a train.
When the train stopped, Harry saw me with the hunter.
Harry wanted to rescue me.
So he bought me for twenty dollars.
Then he took me on the train!
Can you believe it?
A bear cub on a train!
Harry was on his way to an army camp in Canada.
I went with Harry.
He named me after his hometown of Winnipeg.
The other soldiers liked me too.
I was gentle and friendly.
This was during World War I.
Soon the soldiers at the camp had to go to England.
Harry took me with him again.
This time we traveled by ship!
But then Harry was sent to war in France.
He knew he couldn't take me there.
So he left me here at London Zoo.
Many people came to visit me, and I made new friends.
After the war Harry wanted to take me back to Canada.
But he saw I was very happy here.
So he decided to let me stay at London Zoo.
See that boy? His name is Christopher Robin.
He comes here often with his father.
Sometimes he comes into my pen and plays with me.
He even feeds me honey.
Oh, and guess what!
Christopher's father wrote some books about a boy and a bear.
Have you ever heard of the bear?
His name is Winnie-the-Pooh!
Thanks to Harry, I'm safe and well.
And children have wonderful books to read!