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

CHAPTER 8RECOMMENDATIONSSince the Singapore Zoo polar bears cannot be released into the wild, theyshould be moved to more appropriate accommodation elsewhere.Until the Singapore Zoo polar bears are moved, the zoo should make everyeffort possible to improve their living conditions, so the bears can, at thevery least, express some of their natural behavioural repertoire. The zooshould also implement measures to try to mitigate the physical effects ofthe inappropriate climatic conditions in Singapore as far as possible.Singapore Zoo should immediately end the display of unnatural tricks duringthe token feeding.Below are recommendations for short-term improvements to the polar bearenclosure and husbandry techniques. These recommendations will onlyreduce the amount of abnormal behaviours and inactivity but probablynot completely eliminate them. These recommendations are based largelyon the EEP Ursid Husbandry Guidelines by the European Association of Zoosand Aquaria. Perhaps the most important short-term improvement isproviding a variety of enrichment and this is touched on in greater detail.8.1 Short-term recommendations1. Providing an area where the bears can construct day bedsWhen resting, bears use day beds on the ground. These beds may benatural depressions or may be constructed by the bears, who scratchaway vegetation and soil to create a shallow depression or pit.2. Providing soft substratesNatural ground vegetation is the best substrate for all bear species as itallows them to scratch, dig and construct pits and holes for resting. Foodcan also be scattered over the substrate or buried in it for the bears tofind.In addition, areas covered with materials of different physical propertiesin shady and sunny places will create diversity so that the bears canselect day beds appropriate to different weather conditions.An area bordered by wooden logs can also be filled with soil (10-20cm) inwhich a grass herb/mixture can be sown. This is possible even inextremely small enclosures of 200 square metres; the area may need tobe regularly re-seeded.What’s a polar bear doing in the tropics?77www.acres.org.sg