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What's a Polar Bear Doing in the Tropics? - Animal Concerns ...

What's a Polar Bear Doing in the Tropics? - Animal Concerns ...

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APPENDIX IV: GUIDELINES FOR SUBSTRATEWSPA• All <strong>in</strong>dividuals shall have free access to substrates at all times and <strong>in</strong>different microclimates. Substrates shall not be harmful to <strong>the</strong>animal’s sk<strong>in</strong> or fur, and it shall be provided <strong>in</strong> such amounts as toaccommodate for a full behavioural repertoire.• For all bear species substrate shall consist of natural groundvegetation. It shall be available <strong>in</strong> both shady and sunny places <strong>in</strong>order to provide a choice of microclimate accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>rconditions.• Ground surfaces shall vary across enclosures, <strong>in</strong>corporat<strong>in</strong>g naturalvegetation, earth, grass, bushes and trees.• A sufficient quantity of areas/pits shall be available to accommodateall <strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> enclosure.• Nest<strong>in</strong>g materials shall be available <strong>in</strong> both <strong>in</strong>door and outdoorquarters. Areas shall conta<strong>in</strong> materials such as dry leaves, hay, straw,wooden shav<strong>in</strong>gs or wood chips.TAG• Areas should conta<strong>in</strong> materials such as dry leaves, hay, straw, woodenshav<strong>in</strong>gs or wood chips.• Natural ground vegetation that is <strong>the</strong> best substrate for all bearspecies should be placed <strong>in</strong> both shady and sunny places <strong>in</strong> order toprovide a choice of microclimate accord<strong>in</strong>g to wea<strong>the</strong>r condition.• When plann<strong>in</strong>g new enclosures, ground vegetation should, if possible,consist of natural flora, o<strong>the</strong>rwise a grass/herb mixture along withtrees and bushes should be used.ABWAK• When construct<strong>in</strong>g new exhibits for polar bears, areas of naturalvegetation should be available where animals can express <strong>the</strong>ir fullbehavioural repertoire.UFAW• For polar bears, exist<strong>in</strong>g enclosures should be modified and should<strong>in</strong>corporate natural substrates and natural areas. Pits of sand, barklitter, soil or pebbles stimulate digg<strong>in</strong>g, build<strong>in</strong>g daybeds, rubb<strong>in</strong>g andforag<strong>in</strong>g. And it provides <strong>the</strong> animal with a comfortable rest<strong>in</strong>g area.There should be sufficient mummers of pits and natural areas so thatone <strong>in</strong>dividual does not monopolise <strong>the</strong>se substrates.• <strong>Bear</strong>s should have nest<strong>in</strong>g materials (straw, wood wool, branches orleaves) <strong>in</strong> both <strong>in</strong>door and outdoor quarters.What’s a polar bear do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> tropics?94www.acres.org.sg

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