No, sorry you are correct. Jumped the gun and assumed that it was just a clerical mistake of a 9 instead of an 8. So obviously one Japanese bear lasted for a few years after the other.
Perth Zoo Bear Pit 1935
- Thread starter Newzooboy
- Start date
I think they might be the Syrians?
Hokkaido Bears are typically very dark brown with pale head and chest.
Below is the photo in question, for anyone else:
Having worked with Missy and Barney (the Syrians), I cannot say for certainty whether this is a photo of the Syrians or Hokkaidos. Missy was fairly pale. Looking at photos of Japanese brown bears they are consistently dark chocolately brown with a pale head. If I was to take a guess then it would be that they are the Syrians, which would explain the dates.
Ussuri brown bear - Wikipedia
Ussuri brown bear - Wikipedia
Source: Trove (Work Begins At Zoo On New Bear Enclosure - The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) - 9 Jun 1954 & Seven-Cage Bear Pit For Zoo - The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955) - 24 Jul 1954 & BEHIND BARS - Changing Times At The Zoo - The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955) - 28 May 1955 & BEHIND BARS - The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955) - 4 Jun 1955)
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN: 9th June, 1954
''
Work Begins At Zoo On New Bear Enclosure
Work has begun on clearing a site for new bear enclosures
near the hippopotamus yard at the South Perth Zoo. The area, about 200ft. by
60ft., is to be levelled by a bulldozer and work on the structure will then begin.
Tentative plans for the enclosures are being submitted to the chairman of the Taronga
Zoological Gardens Trust (Sir Edward Hallstrom). Sir Edward has offered to finance some of the enclosures and is donating three grizzly bears, to arrive from America
soon. Situated on sloping ground, the enclosures will make it possible to see the animals from ground level in the front. At the rear there will be a low wall over which visitors will be able to look down on the bears. ''
THE DAILY NEWS WA: 24th July, 1954
''
Seven-Cage Bear Pit For Zoo
A bulldozer this week shifted tons of earth at South Perth Zoo in preparation for the building or a seven-cage Bear pit. Facing the hippopotamus pool, the bear pit has been designed at an angle to catch the winter sunshine. Zoo curator W, K. Lyall said that each of the 30ft. by 30ft. cages would have 15 ft. by 7ft. dens built behind them. Eleven-foot walls would divide each of the cages. The overall length of the building would be 210 feet. The cages would be serviced from an eight-foot passage at the rear and the public would be able to see the bears from an elevated position at the back or along the front of the cages. Special flaps would be built into the back of each den so that keepers could see the bears without entering the cage. The zoo would wait until the pit had been completed before importing three. ''
'' THE DAILY NEWS WA: 28th May, 1955
BEHIND BARS - CHANGING TIMES AT THE ZOO
This week was a week of shifts for animals at South Perth Zoo. With the exception of the polar bears, all bears were shifted from their old dens on the north side of the zoo to their new, brightly coloured and spacious dens in the centre of the zoo. Chimpanzees Kameo and Shamo were shifted from their old cage into another newly-built cage, and the crocodile was shifted into another pen so that its usual yard could be rebuilt. Zoo superintendent W. K. Lyall said that the polar bears would be shifted into their new pits as soon as the pool in the old den could be emptied. When work on the new bear pits was completed the public would be able to view the bears from the roof of the pits as well as from the front. Reconstruction of the crocodile enclosure would give the public a better view of the crocodile. When the enclosure was completed, tortoises would be placed in the area between the outer brick wall and the inner safety fence. ''
''THE DAILY NEWS WA: 4th June, 1955
BEHIND BARS
One of South Perth Zoo's latest projects the installation of the bear population in their new quarters was completed early this week. And already, while workmen are adding the finishing touches to the four large, colourful dens, one of the smallest inmates is causing trouble. He is the Malayan bear, diminutive by grizzly bear standards, but equipped with long, powerful claws. He has been systematically tearing the cement
rendering from the concrete walls of his den. So it has been decided to regard his present home as a temporary one. When three more dens are added to the bear block this will depend on finance the Malay bear will be given one with plain concrete walls, proof against his probing claws. The zoo's elusive Malayan tigers they have missed two boats and have been held up for more than a month may be on their way to Perth. ''
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN: 9th June, 1954
''
Work Begins At Zoo On New Bear Enclosure
Work has begun on clearing a site for new bear enclosures
near the hippopotamus yard at the South Perth Zoo. The area, about 200ft. by
60ft., is to be levelled by a bulldozer and work on the structure will then begin.
Tentative plans for the enclosures are being submitted to the chairman of the Taronga
Zoological Gardens Trust (Sir Edward Hallstrom). Sir Edward has offered to finance some of the enclosures and is donating three grizzly bears, to arrive from America
soon. Situated on sloping ground, the enclosures will make it possible to see the animals from ground level in the front. At the rear there will be a low wall over which visitors will be able to look down on the bears. ''
THE DAILY NEWS WA: 24th July, 1954
''
Seven-Cage Bear Pit For Zoo
A bulldozer this week shifted tons of earth at South Perth Zoo in preparation for the building or a seven-cage Bear pit. Facing the hippopotamus pool, the bear pit has been designed at an angle to catch the winter sunshine. Zoo curator W, K. Lyall said that each of the 30ft. by 30ft. cages would have 15 ft. by 7ft. dens built behind them. Eleven-foot walls would divide each of the cages. The overall length of the building would be 210 feet. The cages would be serviced from an eight-foot passage at the rear and the public would be able to see the bears from an elevated position at the back or along the front of the cages. Special flaps would be built into the back of each den so that keepers could see the bears without entering the cage. The zoo would wait until the pit had been completed before importing three. ''
'' THE DAILY NEWS WA: 28th May, 1955
BEHIND BARS - CHANGING TIMES AT THE ZOO
This week was a week of shifts for animals at South Perth Zoo. With the exception of the polar bears, all bears were shifted from their old dens on the north side of the zoo to their new, brightly coloured and spacious dens in the centre of the zoo. Chimpanzees Kameo and Shamo were shifted from their old cage into another newly-built cage, and the crocodile was shifted into another pen so that its usual yard could be rebuilt. Zoo superintendent W. K. Lyall said that the polar bears would be shifted into their new pits as soon as the pool in the old den could be emptied. When work on the new bear pits was completed the public would be able to view the bears from the roof of the pits as well as from the front. Reconstruction of the crocodile enclosure would give the public a better view of the crocodile. When the enclosure was completed, tortoises would be placed in the area between the outer brick wall and the inner safety fence. ''
''THE DAILY NEWS WA: 4th June, 1955
BEHIND BARS
One of South Perth Zoo's latest projects the installation of the bear population in their new quarters was completed early this week. And already, while workmen are adding the finishing touches to the four large, colourful dens, one of the smallest inmates is causing trouble. He is the Malayan bear, diminutive by grizzly bear standards, but equipped with long, powerful claws. He has been systematically tearing the cement
rendering from the concrete walls of his den. So it has been decided to regard his present home as a temporary one. When three more dens are added to the bear block this will depend on finance the Malay bear will be given one with plain concrete walls, proof against his probing claws. The zoo's elusive Malayan tigers they have missed two boats and have been held up for more than a month may be on their way to Perth. ''
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Thanks for these reports, Steve. It's fascinating to see how, in the 1950s, animals being 'behind bars' was considered an achievement of the zoo, rather than a criticism!
It’s impressive to read of Perth Zoo’s dedication to renewing their bear’s accomodation over the course of their history. It would appear their early accomodation was cramped compared to the more spacious pits built at Auckland and Wellington in the early 20th century (that subsequently held bears into the 90’s without alternation).
While regarded as dated well before it’s demolition in the 90’s, Auckland Zoo’s Polar bear pit was regarded as highly ornate and along with the lion pit, was one of the zoo’s most costly investments in the early years. Two of Wellington’s pits were merged to form the sun bear exhibit that opened 1992; with a third pit remodelled as a maternity annex.
It’s also interesting to know that Sir Edward Hallstrom was instrumental in financing the upgrades of bear exhibits at Perth. It’s clear from his contributions to Taronga that he was truly a man that gone things done.
Behind bars was arguably preferable to open air pits as the exhibits (concrete) were easier to clean and eliminated people dropping/throwing items from above. A bear at Taronga was killed when a rock was dropped on its head for example.
Of course now it’s also recognised that apex predators (especially felids) despise being looked down on; and many modern exhibits acknowledge this by elevating the predator above the visitors.