It is difficult to disagree with the statement that “polar bears are among the worst candidates for captivity” as stated by Rob Laidlaw of Zoocheck Canada.  Upon reading and reviewing documents on various issues with polar bear captivity, and extreme cases of maltreatment of polar bears, especially in tropical environments, the idea of phasing out the captivity of polar bears is one that seems extremely reasonable and well intended. A personal experience of witnessing what appeared to be a warm, depressed, low-energy polar bear in a seemingly too-small enclosure at Sea World in California as a child, is what has drawn me to this topic and led me to support this idea.

Although phasing out polar bears seems like an ethical solution, we also must consider what might happen to the wild polar bear populations. Polar bears tend to live longer in captivity than they do in the wild. With the polar bear’s natural environment being destroyed by global warming, one must wonder what will happen to this species if we discontinue the export of orphaned and “nuisance” bears to zoos. Orphaned bears will surely die without the care and protection of their mother, but might this death be more humane than the captive life they are bound to lead?

The subject of keeping polar bears in captivity and the welfare issues that are associated with it is a very complex issue.  People’s views on the topic vary depending on their ethical philosophies. One thing, however, is for sure. Weather we want to keep them, or free them, the polar bear is an animal that has enticed humans for centuries, the idea of the extinction of this animal is one that humans cannot seem to bear. Weather the attraction to this animal is self motivated or rights motivated, it is one that humans cannot seem to ignore.

Polar Bears are some of the most fascinating creatures on the planet. As the world’s largest land predator, their strength, intelligence, and beauty has made them an iconic symbol if the arctic ecosystems and an effective tool for educating children and adults alike in biology, geography and environmental science. As a result, these magnificent creatures are some of the most visited animals in zoos, and have becomes a star attraction in zoos around the world.

It is clear that human beings have a strong attraction to and admiration for the polar bear.  It is because of this fascination that we keep these cherished animals in captivity, and display them for the world to see. Handlers and zookeepers often talk of the strong bond they have developed with their animals, and it goes without doubt that the public of Manitoba was devastated by the death of 42 year old Debby, the icon of Manitoba’s Assinibione Park Zoo, as they laid flowers outside of her empty enclosure. However, it is often felt that these mammals should not be kept in captivity at all, as no matter how well we are willing and able to care for them, it is impossible to replicate the massive arctic environment they are so well adapted to. Something that might simply be beyond human capabilities.

Hi there! Before you take the time to further explore this web page, I thought I would leave a personal note introducing myself, and explaining why I chose this topic!

My name is Jessica Thomsen, I am a 3rd year student in the Applied Animal Biology program in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. As with most of the people in this program, I am hoping to one day become a veterinarian.

Like most pre-vet and vet students, my fascination with animals began at a very early age. In fact, ( and I am not even making this up) one of my first words as a child was “kitty” and for the first year after I learned that word, my parents tell me every animal I saw, from dogs to birds to squirrels to animals at the zoo, was a “KITTY!” They claim to have had a hard time keeping me away from any poor animal I came in contact with.

My interest in polar bears is something that stems from an experience that I feel has shaped my career path. Before the age of 15, I knew I wanted to “be a vet”- but this was mainly based on the notion that I LOVED puppies, and thought the lions on TV wildlife channels would be fun to cuddle with. When I was 15 years old, my family and I went on a tip to California, where we visited Sea World. As an “animal lover,” I was extremely excited for this trip, but mostly I was excited to see the polar bear that resides at Sea World. We saved the bear for last, and I remember actaully running towards the exhibit (being a 15 year old girl, this was only slightly embarassing). I will never forget the extreme sadness and dissapointment that came over me when I saw him. First of all, it was extremely warm that day in California, and I couldnt help but feel that this poor guy was not exactly comfortable in the heat. He was just laying here with his back towards us, not moving. I was so unimpressed with what I saw. I couldnt believe that was the best Sea World could come up with for such an amazing animal. Even with my limited knowledge about animal welfare, I knew there was something not quite right about that picture.

I think that was the day that my interest in the welfare and behavior of animals was sparked. Although school has lead me to study the welfare of dairy cows, and sparked a strong interest in farm animal welfare, I wanted to use this project  as an opportunity to explore the issue that started it all. It was also a great excuse to watch countless youtube videos of these adorable and fascinating animals 🙂

The polar bear who started it all.