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

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In the 2004 report, Acresrecommended that softsubstrates and an areawhere the bears canconstruct day beds shouldbe provided andsuggested that naturalground vegetation wouldbe the best for thebears. 18Acresrecommended coveringareas with materials ofdifferent physicalproperties in shady andsunny places to creatediversity so that the bearscan elect day bedsappropriate to thedifferent weatherconditions. Acres alsosuggested constructing anarea bordered by woodenlogs which could be filledwith soil in which agrass/herb mixture couldbe sown.In 1999, a study wascarried out at SingaporeZoo to examine the effectsof environmentalenrichment on the polarbears. Although as part ofthe study the authorsinitially intended toAbove: Polar bears roll in snow to dry theirfur and groom themselves.Below: With no soft substrate, the polarbears at Singapore Zoo can only rubthemselves on hard concrete surfaces.investigate the effect of adding areas of soft substrate to the enclosure,they state that the zoo rejected the use of natural substrates as enrichmentbecause the pool had to stay clear of debris. 66However, the possibility of some substrates entering the pool does notnecessarily have to present a problem. Most importantly, polar bears do notappear to be affected by cloudy water 36 so the welfare of the bears is not anissue. In addition, it is likely that once the bears get used to the softsubstrates, they will not tend to spread it around the enclosure.What’s a polar bear doing in the tropics?54www.acres.org.sg
A previous study showed that when polar bears were given pits of sand andbark in enclosures they did initially spent a lot of time digging and the sandand bark were scattered around enclosure. However, after the animals gotused to new areas (after approximately seven days) they left the sand andthe bark in the pits. 36 To prevent the bears from tracking the naturalsubstrate into the pool, Acres recommended a concrete lip beingconstructed around the pool to prevent substrate materials being trackedinto it. 18 An effective filter system for the pool could also help negate theproblem of substrate entering the pool water. If the zoo still does not wantto use certain natural substrates because they will affect the pool water,there are other substrate options such as sand and smooth pebbles whichcan offer a natural area yet will not cloud water or clog filters.Any concerns about the hygiene of natural substrates in captive enclosuresare also unwarranted. 36 Substrates such as woodchips actually inhibitbacterial survival. It has been found that natural areas can providebehavioural and hygienic benefits for captive animals. 73The lack of soft substrate is likely to be contributing significantly to the skinproblems and fur loss exhibited by the bears. During the course of this studythe bears were seen to frequently rub their bodies firmly against theboulders and roll on the floor, particularly after coming out of pool. Whilstthis behaviour is normal and is a way of drying their fur, when performedrepeatedly on a concrete surface the bears are likely to develop skin sores.During the course of this study, Sheba was frequently seen to have red skinand sores.In the indoor cages, the bears do not receive any bedding and so are forcedto rest on the hard cement floor. 10 Both WSPA and UFAW guidelinesrecommend that nesting materials shall be available in both indoor andoutdoor quarters (Appendix IV).What’s a polar bear doing in the tropics?55www.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 54 and 55: equirements stated in the Province
Page 56 and 57: problem with these old designs is t
Page 58 and 59: SubstrateThe polar bear enclosure d
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
Page 104 and 105: • Environmental enrichment should

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