Status of Exotic Bears in U.S. Zoos

Do you know what happened to all the bears At la zoo ? They seamed go have had all bears at one point .
Ranger the American black bear passed in early 2022 and the only other bear I can recall was Sweetheart the polar bear. It was said she was one of the oldest polar bears in captivity, born in the late 60’s and lived into the mid 2000’s IIRC.
 
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo temporarily sent out their exotic bears except for a male Sloth Bear named Balwat while they built a new tropical Bear complex. The complex is set to open this summer and will include:

Sloth Bear
Andean Bear (They had 2 prior to construction but one passed away while at another zoo, and if they're getting another is unknown)

Their remaining Sun Bear left the zoo permanently.
 
I understand the expense issue and I think I agree (China aside, there are a lot of other things that could be done with that money....), but if any zoo in the US should have giant pandas, I think it should be the zoo in DC. I can't articulate why, I just think it makes sense. Though it would probably make more sense if they were more of a diplomatic gift from China or if China was more transparent with what the money went to. After all, it's a lot of money that could, in theory anyways, do a lot of good work not just for panda conservation but conservation in general in their habitat. There's also that DC has been a successful breeder of pandas. I don't know, it gets complicated and political and all that aside it's just a lot of money. The situation sucks, basically.
 
Ranger the American black bear passed in early 2022 and the only other bear I can recall was Sweetheart the polar bear. It was said she was one of the oldest polar bears in captivity, born in the late 60’s and lived into the mid 2000’s IIRC.


la zoo •
Had Andean bears up until early 2000’s
Iris , papa and Miranda
Some cubs in the mid 80’s

sloth bears
Bruce (2001) and Henrietta (99)
Cub born in 89’ Nicholas who went to live in Philadelphia zoo

polar bear brother and sister
Bruno ( 96’ )
Sweet heart ( 2003)
Both brought to the zoo in 67 ‘

ranger
Black bear ( 2022)

I know they had grizzlies and sun bears when they first opened that came from the old Griffith park zoo

I have seen some old footage of sun bears too .
 
Grizzlies are in the LA zoo's new master plan. Given the zoo's current facilities, I'd be very surprised if they add any more bears except maybe a black bear rescue.
 
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