Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we now have a challenger for America's worst bear grotto! To top it off, check out the SeaWorld-coloured water in the pool!
Is Laurel and Libby up the stairs in this photo? I have not seen a photo of the girls yet. They are the black bears for Akron's Grizzly Ridge. I cannot wait to meet them.
@ Snowleopard: Although I don't think Buffalo Zoo has good bear exhibits, I have always said they are not the worst compared to Erie's small ones. Poor Patches had access to this side exhibit, but now only has one exhibit. Try to go further back in the album, I posted it at a Halloween event night and the nights made it looks more terrifying!
I'm not sure how the zoo can justify the existence of bears in their grottoes, and from an animal welfare perspective there is perhaps nothing that can convince me that it is okay to keep large mammals in cramped surroundings with almost zero natural substrate. The bears should be sent to other zoos (there are plenty out there!) and for the time being I would not even house coatis or raccoons in these abysmal relics.
I'm not sure how the zoo can justify the existence of bears in their grottoes, and from an animal welfare perspective there is perhaps nothing that can convince me that it is okay to keep large mammals in cramped surroundings with almost zero natural substrate. The bears should be sent to other zoos (there are plenty out there!) and for the time being I would not even house coatis or raccoons in these abysmal relics.
I'm still hoping the Buffalo polar bears don't get stuck here because it's near by and they are supposed to be gone only temporarily. I would love Patches to have a companion again, but like Snowleopard suggested, moving her to another zoo wouldn't be bad. But like Buffalo, being a small zoo the polar bear is one of the main attractions. But maybe unlike Buffalo, people will be willing to donate money to get a new polar bear exhibit.
Akron won't be housing black bears, so what does this mean for Laurel and Libby? Hopefully another zoo can be found for them, and they won't be kept in this hellhole any longer.
