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

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equirements stated in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador- WildLife Act and those recommended by WSPA (Appendix 1). It does not fulfillthe recommended minimum size of outdoor land surface arearecommended by the Scientific CITES Authorities of Liechtenstein andSwitzerland.Off-exhibit areaElse Poulsen was given a tour of the bear’s indoor dens during her visit tothe zoo in 2005. According to her report, the dens are too small. 10 Shesuggests that if Inuka lies down sprawled on his belly on the floor of hisindoor cage he will fill the whole space. Else also expressed doubts as towhether Sheba would be able to lie down on the floor with her legs sprawledto cool off in any of her three cages. The platform between the two innerdens and the door to the outdoor exhibit is described as being too small toseat both bears at the same time and is too small to accommodate a lyingbear. As stated by Poulsen (2005), “The back areas have no redeemingqualities for polar bears. Nothing living should be housed in thosecages.” 10Enclosures containing captive wild animals should provide sufficient space toallow the expression of a full range of species-typical behaviour andmovements. Lack of space is a major factor contributing to poor welfare forcaptive animals. Enclosure size has been identified as a factor influencingthe development and form of stereotypic behaviour. 67 Smaller, lesscomplex enclosures are known to result in stereotypic, self-destructiveand other abnormal behaviour in a variety of mammals and birds. 60,68 Inaddition, it has been found that for carnivores, frequency and prevalenceof pacing is positively correlated with home range size in the wild. 69 Bothpolar bears at Singapore Zoo were observed displaying a high level ofabnormal stereotypic behaviours (Chapter 4).The amount of space provided for captive animals is so critical to their wellbeing,especially for wide-ranging animals such as polar bears, thatminimum enclosure size requirements for certain species are actually statedby law in some countries or provinces within countries.What’s a polar bear doing in the tropics?48www.acres.org.sg
Overall enclosure designThe polar bear enclosure has a concrete substrate and lacks anyfunctional furniture for the bears to utilise.The overall enclosure design is outdated, lacking in complexity and doesnot meet the bears’ needs on some very basic levels.In the past, bear enclosures have typically been made of concrete, rock andwater, with few, if any, moveable objects. Singapore Zoo’s polar bearenclosure embodies this outdated concept. It is now recognised that there islittle in such an area that relates to the natural habitat of the animals.Consequently, when polar bears are kept in enclosures of such design, thereis little to stimulate their natural behaviour and well-being. 36Opinions on appropriateness of current bear enclosures are generally inagreement that bare, concrete enclosures are not suitable environments forbears (Appendix II).The style of the polar bear enclosure at Singapore Zoo is that of a typicalNorth American 1960’s-1970’s cement fortress exhibit style. Such enclosuresare known to damage an animal’s mental and physical well-being 10 TheWhat’s a polar bear doing in the tropics?49www.acres.org.sg
Page 16 and 17: animal is diving. They also eat car
Page 18 and 19: individual’s own choices. This ab
Page 20 and 21: Following his investigations into t
Page 22 and 23: What’s a polar bear doing in the
Page 24 and 25: Accommodation20 All animal accommod
Page 26 and 27: Table 3.1 Categories of behaviours
Page 28 and 29: TABLE 3.5 Lying flat behaviour prof
Page 30 and 31: 3.2.1 Adaptation to Arctic coldPola
Page 32 and 33: 3.2.2 Reasons for panting and lying
Page 34 and 35: 3.2.3 Heat stress experienced in Si
Page 36 and 37: the pool area. However, theeffectiv
Page 38 and 39: 3.2.4 Algal growth in furInuka cove
Page 42 and 43: Table 4.1 Categories of behaviours
Page 44 and 45: TABLE 4.4 Activity pattern of Sheba
Page 46 and 47: TABLE 4.6 Abnormal behaviour profil
Page 48 and 49: 4.2.1 Prevalence of abnormal stereo
Page 50 and 51: to more space, a more complex, quie
Page 52 and 53: Guidelines and LegislationsGuidelin
Page 56 and 57: problem with these old designs is t
Page 58 and 59: SubstrateThe polar bear enclosure d
Page 60 and 61: In the 2004 report, Acresrecommende
Page 62 and 63: FurnitureThe enclosure does not pro
Page 64 and 65: Private areasThe lack of private ar
Page 66 and 67: 5.1.2 Problems in husbandryUse/acce
Page 68 and 69: At a workshop on the Behavioural Ne
Page 70 and 71: disintegrating objects in an enclos
Page 72 and 73: interesting. At no time were the be
Page 74 and 75: 5.2.3 Condition of teeth 10Sheba ha
Page 76 and 77: demonstrating species-appropriate b
Page 80 and 81: Today there is just one polar bear
Page 84 and 85: Providing natural substrates in enc
Page 86 and 87: Stimulating olfactory and rubbing b
Page 90 and 91: Singapore Zoo states that they are
Page 92 and 93: 22. Wood, D. 1995. Bears. Whitecap
Page 94 and 95: 66. Baars, D. and Weegenaar, A. 199
Page 96 and 97: APPENDIX I: GUIDELINES FOR ENCLOSUR
Page 98 and 99: • For polar bears the ratio of wa
Page 100 and 101: APPENDIX IV: GUIDELINES FOR SUBSTRA
Page 102 and 103: APPENDIX VI: GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE
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• Environmental enrichment should
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