Are we going to end up with a bunch of polar bearless-polar bear exhibits?

I think there is another question separate to that of polar bear supply, and that is of enclosure design. Instead of designing hugely expensive enclosures which are often not that different to old school grottos - the difference, bar a bit of natural substrate and a bit more space, isn't that great, zoos should be more innovative with large meadows, lakes and wooded area. This would be a rich and stimulating environment for polar bears and could easily also house other species of bear or even ungulates or tigers if necesarry without looking out of place.
 
Toronto has a large meadow exhibit for the polar bears as well as their pool exhibit and maternity yard. It seems to be a combo that works well for our bears. We have had pregnancies every year since the exhibit opened. Its just unfortunate that only one cub has survived.

A truely impressive looking new polar bear exhibit is Assinibione Park and Zoo's new Journey to Churchill exhibit. Its not completed yet but will have 3 yards, pools and tons of space. I think this is the kind of exhibit Shirokuma is envisioning.

Exhibits at Assiniboine Park Zoo
 
There is a difficult legal issue involved here as well, that has not been mentioned. The U.S. prohibits the hunting of polar bears as a threatened species. Norway and Russia have also prohibited the hunting of polar bears. However, Canada continues to allow the extensive hunting of polar bears by the Inuit as part of their way of life. This motive is not considered valid by the U.S. enviromental agencies. So polar bear derived products and the bears themselves from Canada are not allowed into the U.S. A friend who works at chapultepec zoo mentioned this to me, since Nanooka, the 32 year old polar bear died recently. Nanooka was born in canada. He told me that now it would be difficult to even fly over the U.S. with a canadian polar bear.
 
Brookfield Zoo has had a lot of success with breeding polar bears and it's new habitat currently has three, two younger males as an older female from another zoo. They would like to breed but the loaned female won't breed with their existing bears.

Before their eldest female passed on though, she had 2-4 babies in the last ten years though, and those were when they lived in the old rockwork Bear Grottos.
 
Up in Canada we just added 2 wild born bears and a 3 is likely to join them as well as an Argentinian bear. Assiniobione Park and Zoo has become home to a 3 year old wild born male who tried to eat someone in Churchill as well as an 11 month old female who was found orphaned. They are looking to take in Arturo an older bear that lives in a poor exhibit in Argentina. Another cub was orphaned yesterday in Churchill after an attack when its mother was mistaken for the offending bear. Its in holding in Churchill and depending on its age will likely be taken in by Assinibione as well. Theres no further info on it yet.
 
Schumer presses feds to keep Kali at Buffalo Zoo for now - City & Region - The Buffalo News

I agree that Kali should stay in Buffalo until he is two years ago. Obviously with his paw sucking habit, he's dealt with stress already and Luna helps him out. No zoo is in desperately need of a polar bear now. The North Carolina Zoo would be the first to need one, but they already mentioned they could possibly house another animal there until they can find a polar bear.

Reading the political comments below the article gave me a headache, but that is to be expected.
 
JVM said:
Brookfield Zoo has had a lot of success with breeding polar bears and it's new habitat currently has three, two younger males as an older female from another zoo. They would like to breed but the loaned female won't breed with their existing bears.

Before their eldest female passed on though, she had 2-4 babies in the last ten years though, and those were when they lived in the old rockwork Bear Grottos.
Click to expand...

Where did you obtain your information? From my understanding, the female, Anana, did breed briefly with Hudson, the young male. The other male, Aussie, who is actually the oldest out of all the bears, was not exhibited with Anana until after breeding season. If nothing comes this year, I am sure they will attempt it again.

Also, I heard the Brookfield Zoo is hopeful that the new denning area might encourage Anana to be a better mother. She rejected her cub in Buffalo.
 
ANCHORAGE, Alaska: Alaska Zoo plans expansion of polar bear exhibit | State News | ADN.com

Being reluctant of some of the new polar bear exhibits being constructed at zoos, I am excited for this one. Considering they have helped orphaned cubs in the past, I believe this expansion will be beneficial to them and other zoos. The one thing I worry about is the maternity den being constructed. With Ahpun, the female polar bear, being on birth control for a bit, I am afraid she will be like other zoo animals that had difficult breeding in the future.
 
It would probably be a worth while idea for polar bear holders in the lower 48 to assist with fundraising this project given that they will all benefit from its existence.
 
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