Campaigns - Polar bears

CAMPAIGNS

POLAR BEARS

Polar Bears at Singapore Zoo: ‘What’s a Polar Bear Doing in the Tropics?’

Since 2004, Acres has been in discussions with the Singapore Zoo to improve the welfare of the two polar bears held there.

Acres has called for the Singapore Zoo not only to make drastic improvements to the living conditions for the bears, but also to phase out the keeping of polar bears and other Arctic animals on welfare grounds.

Campaign introduction
In 1978, Singapore Zoo acquired polar bears, becoming one of the few zoos in Asia that held this species in captivity at that time. Today, two polar bears are housed at the Singapore Zoo: Sheba, a female who arrived at the zoo as a two year old cub in 1978, and Inuka, her male offspring born in 1990.

Polar bears are poor candidates for captivity, even in the best of circumstances. The situation is particularly bleak for the polar bears at Singapore Zoo. The fact that Singapore’s tropical climate is totally unsuitable for polar bears and that they live in very small, barren, open-air enclosure means that the polar bears at Singapore Zoo are subjected to living in a highly stressful environment. The polar bears have been seen to display both behavioural (abnormal behaviours) and physical (loss of lean muscle mass and fur) signs of distress.

Since April 2004, Acres has been in discussions with the Singapore Zoo regarding the polar bears and has called for the zoo to make every effort possible to improve their living conditions so that the bears can, at the very least, express some of their natural behavioural repertoire. In 2004, Acres presented a report to the zoo containing a number of recommendations to improve the welfare of the bears in the short term. Longer term, Acres recommended that the zoo move the bears to appropriate accommodation elsewhere since they cannot be released to the wild. However, as Sheba is already old and may not survive the relocation journey, we then recommended that Inuka (the younger bear) is relocated once Sheba passes away.

In late 2005, Acres conducted an ongoing behavioural study of the polar bears to scientifically assess the current situation of the bears.

Key findings of the four month scientific study were:

Both bears exhibited signs of severe heat stress. The bears were both seen to be panting for long periods of time (36% of the time for Inuka; 38.7% of the time for Sheba), indicating that they are far too hot. The bears were also seen to be exhibiting other behaviours indicating that they were suffering from heat stress.

Both polar bears displayed high levels of inactivity (43% of the time for Inuka; 65% of the time for Sheba). This is recognized as a clear indication of an abnormal animal-environment interaction, almost certainly caused by a sub-optimal environment that does not satisfy the natural, species-specific behavioural needs of the bears.

Both bears engaged in high levels of abnormal stereotypic behaviour (65% of active periods for Inuka; 57% of active periods for Sheba). The bears were at times observed to be constantly pacing or swimming in a stereotypic fashion. The occurrence of stereotypic behaviour is widely recognized as a clear indication of an abnormal animal-environment interaction and a sign of psychological disorder in captive animals.

Acres is also concerned that (as last documented March 2006) the polar bears were still seen to be made to perform unnatural behaviours in the token feeding shows such as ‘waving’, ‘belly dancing’ and ringing a bell, all of which give the public a very misleading impression of wild polar bear behaviour.

In 2006, Acres once again called for the zoo to make improvements to the living conditions and husbandry practices for the bears as a matter of urgency after considering the results of this study. Acres has provided the zoos with a list of recommendations, including lowering temperature inside the enclosure, chilling the pool water, providing more stimulation and enrichment for the bears and ending the display of unnatural behaviours in the feeding show.

Acres once again called for the zoo to commit to relocating Inuka once Sheba passes away.

In the long term, Acres called for the Singapore Zoo to phase out the keeping of polar bears in captivity, following the example set by progressive zoos throughout Europe. Acres also called for Singapore Zoo to never import Arctic animals again.

Results
Acres met up with the Singapore Zoo in June 2006 and presented the results of our scientific study.

We are pleased that the Singapore Zoo has agreed to:

Eventually relocate Inuka, the male polar bear, to a more suitable facility in a more appropriate climate.
Not import any Arctic animals in the future.

Please write to the Singapore Zoo and thank them for making this progressive step: info@zoo.com.sg

Read more about the Acres polar bear campaign.
Download our campaign report here.

Help us improve the lives of more captive animals.

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				CAMPAIGNS POLAR BEARS Polar Bears at Singapore Zoo: ‘What’s a Polar Bear Doing in the Tropics?’ Since 2004, Acres has been in discussions with the Singapore Zoo to improve the welfare of the two polar bears held there. Acres has called for the Singapore Zoo not only to make drastic improvements to the living conditions for the bears, but also to phase out the keeping of polar bears and other Arctic animals on welfare grounds. Campaign introduction In 1978, Singapore Zoo acquired polar bears, becoming one of the few zoos in Asia that held this species in captivity at that time. Today, two polar bears are housed at the Singapore Zoo: Sheba, a female who arrived at the zoo as a two year old cub in 1978, and Inuka, her male offspring born in 1990. Polar bears are poor candidates for captivity, even in the best of circumstances. The situation is particularly bleak for the polar bears at Singapore Zoo. The fact that Singapore’s tropical climate is totally unsuitable for polar bears and that they live in very small, barren, open-air enclosure means that the polar bears at Singapore Zoo are subjected to living in a highly stressful environment. The polar bears have been seen to display both behavioural (abnormal behaviours) and physical (loss of lean muscle mass and fur) signs of distress. Since April 2004, Acres has been in discussions with the Singapore Zoo regarding the polar bears and has called for the zoo to make every effort possible to improve their living conditions so that the bears can, at the very least, express some of their natural behavioural repertoire. In 2004, Acres presented a report to the zoo containing a number of recommendations to improve the welfare of the bears in the short term. Longer term, Acres recommended that the zoo move the bears to appropriate accommodation elsewhere since they cannot be released to the wild. However, as Sheba is already old and may not survive the relocation journey, we then recommended that Inuka (the younger bear) is relocated once Sheba passes away. In late 2005, Acres conducted an ongoing behavioural study of the polar bears to scientifically assess the current situation of the bears. Key findings of the four month scientific study were: Both bears exhibited signs of severe heat stress. The bears were both seen to be panting for long periods of time (36% of the time for Inuka; 38.7% of the time for Sheba), indicating that they are far too hot. The bears were also seen to be exhibiting other behaviours indicating that they were suffering from heat stress. Both polar bears displayed high levels of inactivity (43% of the time for Inuka; 65% of the time for Sheba). This is recognized as a clear indication of an abnormal animal-environment interaction, almost certainly caused by a sub-optimal environment that does not satisfy the natural, species-specific behavioural needs of the bears. Both bears engaged in high levels of abnormal stereotypic behaviour (65% of active periods for Inuka; 57% of active periods for Sheba). The bears were at times observed to be constantly pacing or swimming in a stereotypic fashion. The occurrence of stereotypic behaviour is widely recognized as a clear indication of an abnormal animal-environment interaction and a sign of psychological disorder in captive animals. Acres is also concerned that (as last documented March 2006) the polar bears were still seen to be made to perform unnatural behaviours in the token feeding shows such as ‘waving’, ‘belly dancing’ and ringing a bell, all of which give the public a very misleading impression of wild polar bear behaviour. In 2006, Acres once again called for the zoo to make improvements to the living conditions and husbandry practices for the bears as a matter of urgency after considering the results of this study. Acres has provided the zoos with a list of recommendations, including lowering temperature inside the enclosure, chilling the pool water, providing more stimulation and enrichment for the bears and ending the display of unnatural behaviours in the feeding show. Acres once again called for the zoo to commit to relocating Inuka once Sheba passes away. In the long term, Acres called for the Singapore Zoo to phase out the keeping of polar bears in captivity, following the example set by progressive zoos throughout Europe. Acres also called for Singapore Zoo to never import Arctic animals again. Results Acres met up with the Singapore Zoo in June 2006 and presented the results of our scientific study. We are pleased that the Singapore Zoo has agreed to: Eventually relocate Inuka, the male polar bear, to a more suitable facility in a more appropriate climate. Not import any Arctic animals in the future. Please write to the Singapore Zoo and thank them for making this progressive step: info@zoo.com.sg Read more about the Acres polar bear campaign. Download our campaign report here. Help us improve the lives of more captive animals. top ......................................................................................................................
							As animals cannot speak up for themselves, it is up to humans to give them a voice, speak up their behalf and end their abuse. more