Concerns
Areas of Concern Regarding Captive Polar Bears
Modern day zoo’s have three main goals: education of the public, scientific studies, and breeding and conservation of endangered species. However there have been many arguments on the abolishment of zoos, with many people stating that zoos simply do not have the ability to provide adequate space and a natural enough environment for most species. Species vary in their ability to thrive in captivity. Some species seem to thrive, while others are prone to poor health, stereotypic behaviour, and reproductive issues. the polar bear has been regarded as one of the most difficult animals to keep and one of the worst candidates for captivity. There are many different areas of concern regarding the captivity of polar bears, all of which lend support to the idea that polar bears should not be kept in zoos. They Include, but are not limited to:
- Some polar bears living in tropical environments with inadequate temperature control
- A severe lack of place
- Lack of natural substrates
- Inadequate behavioral and environmental enrichment.
Polar Bears in a Tropical Environment
Polar Bears are extremely well adapted to the extremes of the cold weather they face in their natural environments. They have black skin which allows them to retain heat from sunlight, and two layers of hair. The first, thick, under-layer of hair insulates the bear, while the thick, clear and hollow guard hair reflects sunlight down to the surface of the skin. They are also equipped with a thick layer of blubber under the skin. It is because of their excellent thermoregulatory abilities that these bears are able to live so well in the harsh weather of the arctic, however these adaptations also mean that bears can become overheated easily if in environments that are not so cold.
The arctic has some of the harshest and coldest winter weather on the planet, and the fantastic thermoregulatory skills of the polar bear is what allows it to thrive in such weather. However these adaptations can actually have negative effects on animals kept in zoos in warmer environments that can experience extreme summer weather. Polar bears are kept in zoos all over the world in places like California, Florida, Singapore, and even Mexico, where the weather is constantly warm, and often even unbearably hot. The association of zoos and aquariums standard animals care guidelines states the following:
“Although there is no specific humidity recommendation, great care must be taken to monitor the interaction between high temperatures and high humidity, and to ensure that bears are provided with a gradient of temperatures and humidity within their environment so that they have the ability to regulate their own temperatures at all times … Techniques to raise or lower humidity within indoor and outdoor exhibits include air-conditioning, misters, sprinklers, and fans, as well as the presence of pools for the bears to swim in.” (AZA, 2007)
Further, polar bears in warm climates also bring up the issue of “green polar bears”. Due to warm conditions, bears begin to grow a green algae like substance in the hollow sheath of their guard hairs, which gives the fur a green-tinged appearance. It does not seem to directly impact the health of the bear, however is it an indication of inappropriate conditions.
In 2006, the “Animal Concerns Research and Education Society” (Acres) published a document entitled “Whats a Polar Bear Doing in the Tropics?” with the support of the world society for the protection of animals (WSPA). This document focuses on a specific zoo in Singapore, and their two polar bears Inuka and Sheba. Singapore has a tropical climate, and these bears are kept in an open air enclosure with no air conditioning. They are often observed to be panting or laying spread eagle on the hard ground in attempt to cool down.
Severe Lack of Space
Providing adequate amounts of space is a crucial aspect to keeping any animal in captivity. It is essential that all animals are provided with enough space appropriate for their biological and behavioural needs. Polar bears are some of the hardest captive animals to provide adequate space for, as they are extremely wide ranging in their natural habitat, and inhabit the largest living space of animal land mammal ( up to 20 000 square miles according to one source). Although many zoos do recognize this and have made efforts to increase enclosure size, even the largest enclosures cannot provide the same amount of space a bear would inhabit in the wild. Further, polar bears are great swimmers. They can swim for hours on end and are classified as marine mammals. Although most zoos provide a pool for their bears, it is impossible for them to be big enough to allow the bears to swim the distances they are able to in the wild. Further, research by Clubb and Mason (2007), stated that naturally high ranging lifestyles, predict high infant mortality rates, which is a common issue with captive polar bears.
Space regulations in the AZA guidelines are very detailed for polar bears, but it specifically states the following:
“Clearly, no captive situation will be able to address the natural mobility of the species. …The AZA Bear TAG, in conjunction with the Manitoba Standards, state that 1-2 bears should be given access to 5400ft2 of dry land, with an additional 1650ft2 of land for each additional polar bear (PBPA 2002).” (AZA, 2007)
Inadequate Substrate
Traditionally, Polar bears were kept on hard concrete floors, with the idea that these floors were a good replicate of the hard ice that polar bears are used to living on. This practice is still common in many places, although it seems to have negative impacts on the health of the bear. Further, contrary to initial beliefs, it is in no way similar to ice substrates. Bears need to have a substrate in which they can dig, and which provides adequate enrichment and the ability to engage in natural behaviours. The AZA guidelines for polar bears states the following:
“Ensuring there is access to suitable substrates (see section 1.4.5.) in outdoor and indoor exhibit and off-exhibit areas will provide an opportunity for both male and female polar bears to make appropriate day and night nests. This is a behavior seen in wild bears. The Manitoba Polar Bear Protection Act regulations state that exhibit areas must include an area of ground at least 1350ft2 (125m2) that is covered by “soil, straw, woodchips or another suitably soft substrate” (PBPA 2002). … it is especially important that soft substrate surfaces be offered in off exhibit areas, such as outdoor holding, if the bears are off exhibit for extended periods of time. This provides them with the option to get off hard surfaces (e.g., concrete) if they choose.”
(AZA, 2007)
To further emphasize the preference for soft substrates, a study by Ames (1994) on object manipulation in captive polar bears, stated that polar bears that did not have soft substrates in their enclosures, spent more time manipulating objects in the water, likely because they did not have any other soft substrate in which to play. Natural areas with soft substrates such as sand, soil, or bark litter allow bears to build daybeds, dig, and forage as they would in the wild.
Inadequate Behavioral Enrichment
Alison Ames’ study on object manipulation in captive polar bears is one of many that has shown that polar bears are highly intelligent creatures. The ability to express natural behaviours, and have choices and control within their environment is one that is especially important to the welfare of captive polar bears. Often, bears that lack adequate enrichment in their environments display high levels of stereotypic and abnormal behaviour such as pacing and paw licking. Improving environmental enrichment is one of the recommendations to alleviate excessive stereotypic behaviour. This behaviour is a major issue in zoos with polar bears, indicating that they are often lacking in sufficient environmental enrichment. This does not come as a surprise, as the high level of intelligence exhibited by polar bears and their innate ability to manipulate objects, and express unique natural behaviours makes adequate enrichment a difficult, and potentially impossible feat for zookeepers. It is suggested that giving bears choices, and thus allowing them some degree of control within their environment is helpful in reducing stereotypic behaviour. Other forms of environmental and behaviour enrichment include providing “toys” and moveable objects, adequate substrate in which they can dig and make nests, making them work for their food in a similar manner that they might in the wild, and allowing them the choice to leave and enter certain areas of the exhibit. One study stated that:
“the opportunity to access the off-exhibit den area had a significant effect on their behaviour… bears showed significant decreases in patterns of behaviour associated with compromised well-being. Additionally, a number of species-typical behaviours increased infrequency”.
(Ross, 2006)
Further, the AZA guidelines state the following:
“Planning enrichment should take into account the natural history of the species, the individual needs of the animal, and facility constraints. Enrichment should be planned based on desirable behavioral goals for the animal and evaluated on a regular basis. …. Enrichment items should offer the bears with choices of what to do or how to interact.”
(AZA, 2007)
The AZA guidelines focus mainly on the idea of food enrichment, which, although important, its effects only seem to last as long as the bear is consuming food. A study on the effects of inedible, manipulable objects on polar bear enrichment showed that over a period of 7 weeks, polar bears nearly doubled their activity in the presence of toy floats (Altman, 1999).