Thanks my friend for taking so many exhibit shots this time around! However, this polar bear pit is pure junk and should be bulldozed as soon as possible. What an embarrassment to the zoo...
I agree. And you'll probably hate the fact, Norton, the male polar bear came from Detroit Zoo and was around for the Arctic Ring of Life. That's the one thing that makes me sad he's at Erie. I didn't see him today though. One thing I have pieced together is Norton is twin brothers with Nanuq, the male polar bear at the Buffalo Zoo. Both in similar exhibits, both with petite mates.
Another one of those zoos that think enrichment means an occasional block of ice or a traffic cone. I would expect an enclosure like this somewhere deep in eastern Europe but not in North America. This is were animal rights acivists get their ammunition ! Something could be done of course but (as often heard in other zoos) they probably say: "if we make it too nice, we will never get a new enclosure ..."
In defense of the Erie Zoo, I talked to a docent who told me the financial woes of the zoo. They haven't got a funding amount that typical zoos get in awhile, and it was cut even more in the past couple of years. So I'm sure they'd love to modify the exhibit, but they don't have the money to do so. They're closed December-March because of this.
The waterslide is what I find interesting. In a fantasy world, if the slide were wider I could picture the Polar Bears sliding down it all day. They also have a corner exhibit next door, which is smaller.
this exhibit is dreadful.!. i personall think polar bears should only be bred in collections tht are as far north as possible or south soo at least it is cool or the bears
this exhibit is dreadful.!. i personall think polar bears should only be bred in collections tht are as far north as possible or south soo at least it is cool or the bears
I agree that temperature is important, but temperature can be "created" (it's not a Green thing to do, but it is possible).
Space and enrichment, on the other hand, are the real bottom line things in my thinking
The money is exactly my point. It doesnt cost any money to put sand and mulch in this pit. Give cardboard boxes and tubes, a pile of leaves and hide some dog food - there is just no excuse not to do this. Granted, it would not make this a great enclosure but it could be a lot better for the bear !
