Lafone
Well-Known Member
Does the area look large enough for polar bears with a deep enough swimming area? I thought maybe something less reliant on digging a big lake but I guess they'd have the water table for it.
Northumberland Country Zoo Northumberland Country Zoo News
- Thread starter Quincey
- Start date
Does the area look large enough for polar bears with a deep enough swimming area? I thought maybe something less reliant on digging a big lake but I guess they'd have the water table for it.
I volunteer at a zoo in central england. I was told when we were discussing northumberland zoo that they were offered polar bears but declined. Instead the new expansion will include brown bears. I know some people won’t believe me, but when the zoo eventually announce the brown bears, you will be proven wrong.
They have discussed issues with the water table etc on videos in the past, and how it was difficult to even sustain a pond for tapir. I would imagine this rules out polar bears.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Hopefully that information was stuff your collection and the zoo were content to share on social media.
That's interesting. I wonder which polar bears they were offered and why they would decline. Perhaps as mentioned its the water issue. It would be an good location for polar bears from a climate point of view.
I don’t think that Northumberland should consider brown bear, unless they bring in a sub-species that is classed as vulnerable or endangered. Polar Bear are a ‘good fit’ for this zoo, based on the climate in the North East, but I take on board the comments about the geography of the site. Polar Bear do not go into torpor/hibernation in the same way and so remain ‘on show’ for longer periods of the year. A previous YouTube video release mentioned that they would take on new species with a conservation focus that suited the climate up there in Northumbria; whether it’s brown or polar bear, this fantastic young zoo is on the rise and I’ll continue to visit them and enjoy their growth - the north east deserves a good zoo, it’s been a barren part of the U.K. for zoos for years!
JonWild
Well-Known Member
In my personal opinion, I think Andean Bears would be a decent fit for the zoo due to them living at high altitudes with a cool climate naturally, the zoo aiming to keep a threatened species and the fact that Andean Bears do not go into torpor, I think it would make a great species for the collection to house.