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

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Accommodation20 All animal accommodation must provide the basic physical andpsychological needs of the species.21 There must be sufficient space available for the animal to exercise andrest as well as afford protection from rain, sun and strong winds.22 Accommodation must be built to an acceptable design and the buildingmaterials durable.24 The holding area is for short-term holding of animals. It must allow theanimal to stand, sit and lie comfortably.25 The licensee must provide evidence that the animal accommodation isdesigned to meet or exceed the biological requirements of the species.Under the Animals and Birds Act, there are also certain guidelines relating toperforming animals.Animal PerformancesConditions2 The animals must not be forced to perform acts considered unnatural forthe animal.2.2 Canadian legislationThe Wild Life Act of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador includesspecific requirements for the keeping of polar bears, including minimumpermissible enclosure size, den requirements, exercising equipmentrequirements and pool requirements. 44The Province of Manitoba has a robust legislative and policy framework inplace for the protection of polar bears. Recognising polar bears as a specieswith special requirements, a set of specific requirements in relation to thekeeping of polar bears in captivity was included in The Polar Bear ProtectionAct, which was made law by the Government of Manitoba, Canada in 2003. 11These guidelines outline the minimum standards of care and husbandry thatmust be followed by those institutions housing polar bears. These strictguidelines must also be met by any zoos wishing to acquire a polar bear fromManitoba, which is the province that is the primary source of orphan polarbears.What’s a polar bear doing in the tropics?18www.acres.org.sg
CHAPTER 3WELFARE CONCERNS FOR POLAR BEARS IN ATROPICAL CLIMATE3.1 Detailed behavioural study: Effects of heat stress3.1.1 MethodsThe polar bears at Singapore Zoo have no substrates in which to dig daybeds, have no snow to lie in, have no ice-cold water to plunge in and haveno control over their offered diet. Therefore, the only ways they canattempt to cool down when outdoors is by panting, by adopting a posture inwhich some heat will be dissipated from their body (i.e. lying spread-eagledon the ground with thighs spread wide) and seeking out whatever shade isavailable.This study documents the panting and lying flat behaviours. A preliminarystudy was conducted in August 2005. The preliminary study provided anopportunity for the observers to familiarise themselves with the behaviouralrepertoire of the animals, as well as refining the observation protocol.Since data on behavioural states rather than events were collected and thesubjects were sampled using a few behavioural categories, the polar bearswere observed in their enclosures using instantaneous and scan animalsampling. 45 Scans were made every two minutes to determine which of thebehaviour categories (defined in Table 3.1 and 3.2) each individual wasengaged in. The sampling interval of two minutes was chosen after thepreliminary study, since it gave the closest account of their behaviour.Ad libitum sampling was also used to record novel or intriguing behavioursand actions.Following the preliminary study, observations were made from Septemberuntil December 2005 between the hours of approximately 1000 and 1730 fora total of seven days. Observations were made for 3,150 minutes with atotal of 1,575 sample points.What’s a polar bear doing in the tropics?19www.acres.org.sg
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Page 42 and 43: Table 4.1 Categories of behaviours
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5.2.3 Condition of teeth 10Sheba ha
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demonstrating species-appropriate b
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What’s a polar bear doing in the
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Today there is just one polar bear
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Providing natural substrates in enc
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Stimulating olfactory and rubbing b
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Singapore Zoo states that they are
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22. Wood, D. 1995. Bears. Whitecap
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66. Baars, D. and Weegenaar, A. 199
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APPENDIX I: GUIDELINES FOR ENCLOSUR
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• For polar bears the ratio of wa
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APPENDIX IV: GUIDELINES FOR SUBSTRA
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APPENDIX VI: GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE
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• Environmental enrichment should
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