It is an enrichment item that is basically a giant green brush, with stiff bristles all around it. The polar bears use it as a type of rough scratching post.
The two bears in Oregon are both at least 25 years of age, so it will be interesting to see if they are still around when the zoo redevelops their exhibit in a few years. A revamp of the polar bear concrete bowl is part of the zoo's $125 million bond.
I really didn't like the enclosure although they do have some enrichment items like this and some logs and dirt.
I also don't like it because I've never been pushed and shoved and surrounded by noisy people so much at a zoo than at Oregon Zoo and it was especially bad by the polar bears.
