Thursday, 1 October 2009His arrival in 1972 made headlines across the world, but Peter the polar bear's return to the Ulster Museum sparked no scare stories of rampaging ursines.
The stuffed bear is one of the last remaining objects to be installed in the museum, which is to re-open after a three-year multi-million pound refit later this month.
The bear was an exhibit at Belfast Zoo until his demise brought the museum's taxidermist the chance to practice his art on a grand scale.
Aged about 30 at the time of his death, Peter weighed 800lbs and moving him to the museum during the Troubles became one of Belfast's quirkier moments.
Detained at a checkpoint the decomposition process began with gaseous sounds and stiffening limbs giving the security forces a scare.
Later that night a nightwatchman at the museum got a similar fright and called the police.
It was one of the rare nights of the Troubles when the city was quiet and the international press corps resident in the Europa picked up on the call, with the story of a dead bear rampage making headlines across the world.
Since then Peter has had a quieter existence.
Now back in situ Dr Jim McGreevy, Director of Collections and Interpretation at the museum, said he was a valuable conservation tool.
He said the existence of the polar bear was increasingly under threat and that Peter was kept as as a record of the species itself.
"Where are you going to get as close to a polar bear to get a sense of the majesty of the animal, the strength of the animal and the beauty of the animal?" he said.
He said that when the museum re-opens visitors would have a very different visiting experience.
"The redevelopment has entirely transformed the museum and allowed us to create much more engaging galleries and exhibitions as well as introduce new, state-of-the-art interactive and learning facilities", he said.
The opening date of the museum coincides with the 80th anniversary of the official opening of the original Ulster Museum in 1929.
Admission to the Ulster Museum will remain free.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8285181.stm
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