Australasian Bear Population

[Zoofan15]

any andean bears in australia?

no american blacks either?

As detailed in the opening post, we just have three Polar bears, two Giant pandas and seven Malayan sun bears in Australasia.

The sun bears are designated as phase out. The youngest sun bear is 13 years old next month, so it’s unlikely we’ll have any left a decade from now; and the loaned Giant pandas could return at any time.

Long term, I’m hopeful we’ll see Sloth bear housed in the region. They’re housed at several European and North American zoos and would be a great fit for Australasian zoos.

 

[pichu]

thats true, sorry, im just recording carnivoran populations on each continent and didnt know if its been updated

 

[Zoofan15]

thats true, sorry, im just recording carnivoran populations on each continent and didnt know if its been updated

No problem.

We (the population thread authors) are very good at updating our threads annually, but don’t do so when there hasn’t been sufficient updates to warrant reposting the population list. This would have been the case for the region’s bear population, which hasn’t changed since it was posted in February 2021.

This is the link to our population thread index: Australasian Population List Index

 

[JM01]

Australia could really use more bears, especially with the aging Sun Bear population and the Giant Pandas only being on loan.

 

[Zoofan15]

Australia could really use more bears, especially with the aging Sun Bear population and the Giant Pandas only being on loan.

It’s extremely difficult to source sun bears at the moment. Europe have a lack of males (which is also the gender we need) and sanctuaries in Asia are apparently rife with TB. It’s a shame as we currently have three reproductive age females who will likely never get an opportunity to breed - one of which carries the twin gene.

I’m not expecting any other zoo in the region to loan Giant pandas. Most of the major zoos bar Zoos Victoria have posted masterplans which don’t include them and Zoos Victoria’s focus post elephant phase out will be expanding their orangutan facilities etc.

Long term, it’s difficult to say if Adelaide will continue with Giant panda, but there’s every indication they will.

 

[Jambo]

Long term, it’s difficult to say if Adelaide will continue with Giant panda, but there’s every indication they will.

I hope so, but politics do control these loans and relations between Australia and China have been a little bit iffy lately!

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Adelaide have announced the identity of the new pair of Giant Pandas they will soon receive once 1.0 Wang Wang and 0.1 Funi return to China. Three-year-old pair 1.0 Xing Qiu and 0.1 Yi Lan will take their place later this year: Giant news: Introducing South Australia’s new panda pair - Adelaide Zoo

 

[WhistlingKite24]

1.0 Wang Wang and 0.1 Funi the Giant Pandas were flown back to China this morning. Their replacements will be at Adelaide Zoo by the end of the year: Adelaide bids emotional farewell to beloved pandas

 

[WhistlingKite24]

1.0 Xing Qiu and 0.1 Yi Lan the new Giant Pandas arrived this morning at Adelaide Zoo after a 15-hour journey from Dujiangyan - reported on their FB page.

 

[scallywag2024]

Has there been American black bears in Australia before?

 

[Zoofan15]

Has there been American black bears in Australia before?

Yes, several. I’ve found references of them being held at Taronga, Adelaide and Melbourne Zoo; and it wouldn’t surprise me if Perth held them. Auckland Zoo also held them.

A 1982 article describes a pair of American black bears (Jethro and Judd) as having arrived from Zoo Knoxville at Taronga Zoo as one year olds, with a female scheduled to arrive shortly after.

 

[scallywag2024]

Thanks.
Someone told me of a black coloured bear at Monbulk Animal Kingdom, Victoria. Does anyone know what species ? My

 

[Astrobird]

Thanks.
Someone told me of a black coloured bear at Monbulk Animal Kingdom, Victoria. Does anyone know what species ? My

I never saw a bear there in any of my many visits, we lived nearby and went regularly

 

[scallywag2024]

I never saw a bear there in any of my many visits, we lived nearby and went regularly

thanks… so probably false… and maybe they were confused with another facility, my bad.

 

[Michael Stace]

If the ZAA was to support a new bear species in Australasia, which bear species would everyone be keen on seeing the most? I like the idea of Adelaide Zoo having the only giant pandas and same with Seaworld and their polar bears, so that just leaves the brown bear, American black bear, Andean bear, Asian black bear and the sloth bear. I think the sun bear is a fascinating species but since imports and breeding isn't happening, it's only a matter of time before another species that is popular with visitors is phased out for good.

 

[Zoofan15]

If the ZAA was to support a new bear species in Australasia, which bear species would everyone be keen on seeing the most? I like the idea of Adelaide Zoo having the only giant pandas and same with Seaworld and their polar bears, so that just leaves the brown bear, American black bear, Andean bear, Asian black bear and the sloth bear. I think the sun bear is a fascinating species but since imports and breeding isn't happening, it's only a matter of time before another species that is popular with visitors is phased out for good.

Sloth bear or Spectacled bear would be the best choice in my opinion due to the number of holders in Europe and North America:

Spectacled bear: This species is held by 18 North American facilities; and 22 European facilities.

Sloth bear: The Indian subspecies would be preferable given the Sri Lankan subspecies is only held in one North American facility (and no European facilities). Indian sloth bear are held by eight European facilities; eight North American facilities; and the Singapore Zoo Night Safari.

Both these species breed reasonably well in captivity to the point it’s possible to maintain a semi-sustainable population.

 

[Trua]

If any of the species it would probably be Andean Bear. Their situation isn't getting that much better in the wild and there's been more intentional focus on breeding them in captivity globally in the last decade.

 

[Patrick Keegan]

If any of the species it would probably be Andean Bear. Their situation isn't getting that much better in the wild and there's been more intentional focus on breeding them in captivity globally in the last decade.

I too would definitely be In favor of Andean bears in addition to being slightly more common they are surely the more appealing and not to mention would diversify our regions South American collection. It would also be a good trade to have Asian big cats (Sumatran Tigers, Snow Leopards, Sri Lankan Leopards and Clouded Leopards.) Whilst housing a bear species from the America's and the only South American Bear species at that.

 

[steveroberts]

@Patrick Keegan @Trua @Zoofan15 100% agree about Andean bears, very much in favor of too.

 

[Jambo]

I too would definitely be In favor of Andean bears in addition to being slightly more common they are surely the more appealing and not to mention would diversify our regions South American collection. It would also be a good trade to have Asian big cats (Sumatran tigers, Snow leopards, Sri Lankan Leopards and Clouded leopards.) Whilst housing a bear species from the America's and the only south American bear species at that.

They would be the key species most of our zoos would be interested in to be the face of their South American precincts! Being the only bear species (besides the pandas and polar bears), a precinct themed around them would be amazing and completely unique on a regional level.