Best Polar Bear Exhibits.

Quartz92

Quartz92

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
I know that there is a lot of threads about the "best" exhibits for which ever animals. Well I decided to do the best polar bear exhibits. Its not ristricted to just North America, but from all over the world!

My nominations:

San Diego Zoo - Polar Bear Plunge

Detriot Zoo - Arctic Ring of Life

Toronto Zoo - Tundra Trek

I was wondering what else people think. Pictures welcome!
 
I think Detroit wins easily based on what I've seen. Would like to see some more pics from Toronto's new exhibit though. Is there any underwater viewing?

I will say that Maryland has a very good polar bear exhibit as well, but certainly can't touch Detroit, and probably not on par with Toronto based on the size of it. Pretty close to SD though.
 
Yes there is underwater viewing for the Toronto exhibit, there are quite a few pictures of the underwater viewing in the gallery I think.

I also like the Maryland Zoo's theme for their exhibit.
 
Ok, after I posted that I noticed on the zoos website that they're still using the old exhibit which is interesting. I'll check out the pics.
 
They are using the old exhibit (it is masively refurbished) and they added a - 5 times the size - new grass feild!
 
oo sorry, I will be sure to take some tomorrow and post them. As the ones I currently have aren't very good.
 
I tried to find a thread like that but no luck, thanks sl!
 
Hopefully, the new polar exhibit opening at the Highland Wildlife Park this/next month will join the ranks of the best polar enclosures.

And I'm suprised no one's mentioned the amazing 6-acre enclosure at the Scandinavian Wildlife Park.
 
It probably will, most new polar bear enclosures opening up soon will be state-of-the-art so they should make it to the list! If not then I don't think they would be state-of-the-art.
 
Arctic Ring of Life at the Detroit Zoo is my far my favorite. It is a distinct enclosure like Congo Gorilla Forest at the Bronx Zoo in that it is carefully and meticulously designed to enrich the full spectrum psychological and behavioral needs of its residents. Detroit put immense research into crafting this enclosure for the welfare of the bears. The tunnel also provides a spectacular viewing opportunity and it gives the guests a greater appreciation for the animals, which is the fundamental message zoos should strive to answer. I also love the Polar Frontier Exhibit at the Columbus Zoo. It's full of detail and, while not as overwhelming as Detroit, provides a great home for the bears. My third favorite would have to be San Diego, which is immersive in that it provides a great exhibit for these polar creatures in a tropical climate. However, I've seen a fair share of substandard polar bear exhibits and am appalled institutions as prestigious as Bronx keep them in grottos.
 
I think Yorkshire Wildlife Park's exhibit is great it is the only one I've seen, but its very large, and has a very natural feel about it. It hasn't been completely finished yet, but the first enclosure is great,so I'm sure the others will be!
 
I will probably only see North American ones for a long while and I've yet to see Arctic Ring of Life. However, my top 3:

1.) North Carolina Zoo
2.) Columbus Zoo
3.) Louisville Zoo

North Carolina: This one is almost neck to neck with Columbus Zoo. However I chose it as top pick because there are two different areas the polar bear can roam and visitors to see it in. The main pool is big and there's two areas to view underwater. The new area is gorgeous, has different vantage points, and allow up close views of the polar bear since one area is a cave section. The graphics are always excellent and tell a story (Piper's Den).

Columbus: Beautifully landscaped, large pool, underwater viewing with a slight curve to the window so the polar bears can be above you. Half the front area is the pool so you can only see them really up close if they swim to you vs. all land area at the North Carolina Zoo. Cave areas, dirt to roll around in, a sniffing port.

Louisville: This is definitely not the most natural looking, but they have a deep pool (two stories tall) to swim in. Great viewing areas for guests and the rotational system allows different enrichment for the bears. The two younger bears, also a perk for visitors to see, seem so active.

Unfortunately most other ones that I have seen have been average. Some that may be noteworthy would be Maryland Zoo (for the tundra buggy in between both exhibits) and the Philadelphia Zoo (for being ahead of its time when built).
 
Detroit's Arctic Ring of Life takes some beating, but from photos I've been hugely impressed with what North Carolina and Columbus have done. Polar Frontier in Columbus has a 1.3 acre yard and at a cost of $20 million it wasn't cheap to construct. In the last decade there has been at least a dozen new polar bear exhibits that have opened in American zoos. For all the talk of a lack of bears, zoos average more than one new exhibit per year and it will be interesting to see if that continues.

New polar bear exhibits since 2006:

2006 – Pittsburgh Zoo: Water’s Edge - $12.5 million
2006 – Memphis Zoo: Northwest Passage - $23 million
2010 – Brookfield Zoo: Great Bear Wilderness - $27 million
2010 – Como Park Zoo: Polar Bear Odyssey - $15 million
2010 – Kansas City Zoo: Polar Bear Plunge - $11 million
2010 – Columbus Zoo: Polar Frontier - $20 million
2011 – Louisville Zoo: Glacier Run - $26 million
2012 – Utah’s Hogle Zoo: Rocky Shores - $18 million
2014 - North Carolina Zoo: Polar Bear Exhibit - $8.5 million
2015 – Saint Louis Zoo: Polar Bear Point - $16 million
2015 – Henry Vilas Zoo: Arctic Passage - $10 million
2015 – Buffalo Zoo: Arctic Edge - $14 million

Future:

2018 - Oregon Zoo: Polar Bear Exhibit (renovation)
2019 - Point Defiance Zoo: Polar Bear Exhibit (renovation)
 
Considering the earlier posts, perhaps this thread would be better named "Best North American Polar Bear Exhibits". I've not yet seen the huge new exhibit at Yorkshire Wildlife Park or the absolute newest (opened 2014-15) polar bear exhibits in North America, and therefore can't comment on them. Otherwise I still think the 6.4 acre exhibit at Skandinavisk Dyrepark and 10 acre exhibit Orsa Björnpark take the lead. There are a handful of other nice polar bear exhibits that have opened in European zoos in the last few years.
 
I'mnot ooverly keen on the idea of keeping Arctic animals in ccaptivity without a state of the art indoor cool room.
Is that something that is being used for polar bears?
 
snowleopard said:
Future:

2018 - Oregon Zoo: Polar Bear Exhibit (renovation)
2019 - Point Defiance Zoo: Polar Bear Exhibit (renovation)
Click to expand...

2017 - Alaska Zoo (renovation; addition or birthing den)
Future Year Not Given - Denver Zoo (renovation)
 
Odo said:
I'mnot ooverly keen on the idea of keeping Arctic animals in ccaptivity without a state of the art indoor cool room.
Is that something that is being used for polar bears?
Click to expand...

Large pools, wading streams, ice treats, air conditioning indoor quarters (some zoos allowing constant access), and some warm climated zoos do a snow day during the summertime.
 
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