The iconic zoo hot air balloon soars above a polar bear exhibit that has a wide, deep pool and a grassy meadow for the bears. Gradually AZA-accredited zoos are realizing that they do not have to keep their Arctic bears solely on rocks and concrete.
Does anyone happen to know what the future holds for polar bears in Philadelphia? The Zoo has two old females that are over 30 years old according to the website. It would be a shame to see them phased out, especially with the nice looking habitat.
Does anyone happen to know what the future holds for polar bears in Philadelphia? The Zoo has two old females that are over 30 years old according to the website. It would be a shame to see them phased out, especially with the nice looking habitat.
Bear Country holds up fairly well after more than 30 years, but the long-term viability of housing polar bears is potentially questionable in Philadelphia. There are not many young bears available and yet more zoos continue to open brand-new exhibits for the species. Saint Louis, Henry Vilas and Buffalo all have new habitats opening in the next couple of years, and North Carolina has just expanded its own polar bear exhibit for the single bear on display there. Up in Canada the Assiniboine Park Zoo is opening its huge Arctic complex that could possibly be quite superb, and there will be at least 4 bears at that zoo.
I see zoos like Philadelphia and San Francisco phasing out polar bears after their elderly polar bears have died. Perhaps Philadelphia Zoo could get brown bears for the exhibit.
