I love these photos from Queensland! It must have been wonderful to see polar bears in Australia, as that nation is almost completely devoid of bruins (other than the fairly common sun bears and a few odds n' ends).
It must have been wonderful to see polar bears in Australia, as that nation is almost completely devoid of bruins (other than the fairly common sun bears and a few odds n' ends).
Not especially, as I see Bethyl and the Sun Bears at Taronga whenever I visit, the browns and suns at the National Zoo in Canberra, and on my recent trip to Adelaide saw their Sun Bears, and Wang Wang & Funi.
However, as Seaworld is mainly a fun park and has very few animal displays, the bears were particularly attractive in that sense.
I'd rate it fairly high. It's a decent size (although bigger is always better, IMO, especially with something like a large carnvore), there is a range of substrates and activities, very large pool which they spent a lot of time in. Viewing opportunities were good and plenty of signage and interps. I've certainly seen worse over the years.
Didn't see the off-exhibit areas and didn't speak to any keepers so I don't know about any non-visible problems they might have.
Not especially, as I see Bethyl and the Sun Bears at Taronga whenever I visit, the browns and suns at the National Zoo in Canberra, and on my recent trip to Adelaide saw their Sun Bears, and Wang Wang & Funi.
However, as Seaworld is mainly a fun park and has very few animal displays, the bears were particularly attractive in that sense.
I suppose that I'm used to seeing zoos like San Diego or Cleveland, where they have 6 species of bears at one time...or the many American zoos that regularly have 4 species of bear within one area of the zoo. Once the brown bears (Syrian) die out in Australia there will be some polar bears in Queensland, a pair of giant pandas in South Australia...and then nothing but sun bears at zoos.
Sorry to revive an old(er) discussion but are bears (such as brown or black) under any import regulations or restrictions thus they are unable to be imported or it is very costly to do so? Also, if there is a restriction, does it effect every species of bear, and bears that we already have in our region (for example, does it effect sun bears or sloth bears)?
