Bear species in uk zoos
- Thread starter nedpepper
- Start date
According to ISIS:
American Black Bear: Woburn Safari Park
Brown Bear: Welsh Mountain Zoo, Dartmoor Zoo Park, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Polar Bear: Highland Wildlife Park
Asiatic Black Bear: Dudley Zoo
Sloth Bear: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Spectacled (Andean) Bear: Belfast Zoo, Chester Zoo, Durrell Zoo, South Lakes Wild Animal Park
Sun Bear: Rare Species Conservation Centre, Belfast Zoo
Why are bears so thin on the ground in the UK?
American Black Bear: Woburn Safari Park
Brown Bear: Welsh Mountain Zoo, Dartmoor Zoo Park, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Polar Bear: Highland Wildlife Park
Asiatic Black Bear: Dudley Zoo
Sloth Bear: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Spectacled (Andean) Bear: Belfast Zoo, Chester Zoo, Durrell Zoo, South Lakes Wild Animal Park
Sun Bear: Rare Species Conservation Centre, Belfast Zoo
Why are bears so thin on the ground in the UK?
They were badly out of fashion for a long time - partly because the 'antis' took them up as a figurehead once they'd rid the country of cetaceans...
Given that, it's perhaps surprising that we still have all the species (except the Giant Panda, of course).
For once, ISIS looks pretty much bang on the money there, barring one or two animals in not-usually-open-to-the-public collections such as Heythrop (which has a Polar and an Asiatic Black). It's worth pointing out (possibly) that the ZSL Sloth Bears are the Sri Lankan subspecies inornatus, which is interesting partly in itself, and partly because as a general rule, European zoos keep Indian Sloth Bears and North American Zoos Sri Lankans, which is why London (where the bears were at first) struggled a bit as it has nowhere nearby to exchange animals with.
Last edited:
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
It is ridiculous that a conservation-driven organisation such as ZSL should be sitting on a critically endangered bear subspecies with no potential to breed them at the moment. I don't understand why they were not sent into the North American SSP or why an unrelated animal was exchanged with them for one of the siblings. I am slightly hopeful that this is because they are waiting until Lanka passes away before they introduce any more bears but I don't really think this is the case.
Belfast, Heythrop, and Whipsnade, to answer the original question on this thread, are the UK zoos with the 'most' bear species, each having 2.
Belfast, Heythrop, and Whipsnade, to answer the original question on this thread, are the UK zoos with the 'most' bear species, each having 2.
I really am surprised at how few bears there are in the UK. I would have assumed with all the zoos you guys have over there that - as bears are an animal that everyone knows (I guess you could genuinely say, an ABC animal) - they'd be all over the show.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
In the UK, most bears were housed in concrete grottoes and pits until the 80s, at that time most zoos opted not to replace them when they died of old age rather than consider housing them in more naturalistic enclosures. Certainly the wonders of hotwire hadn't come of age back then.
Although two collections (Blair Drummond and London) have ceased keeping bears in the last couple of years, four more collections (Highland Wildlife Park, chester, South Lakes, and the RSCC) have started keeping bears (in the case of HWP and Chester - after a break of some years). In London's case, the result of their move is that Whispsnade now hold two, not one, bear species, after many many years of just holding brown bears.
Although Edinburgh stopped keeping bears after moving their last polar bear to Highland Wildlife Park, as everyone is aware on this forum Edinburgh almost immediately began redeveloping her old enclosure at the zoo to house Sun bears.
If Windsor Safari Park had not closed in the early 90s, this collection may have also continued to keep bears.
Although two collections (Blair Drummond and London) have ceased keeping bears in the last couple of years, four more collections (Highland Wildlife Park, chester, South Lakes, and the RSCC) have started keeping bears (in the case of HWP and Chester - after a break of some years). In London's case, the result of their move is that Whispsnade now hold two, not one, bear species, after many many years of just holding brown bears.
Although Edinburgh stopped keeping bears after moving their last polar bear to Highland Wildlife Park, as everyone is aware on this forum Edinburgh almost immediately began redeveloping her old enclosure at the zoo to house Sun bears.
If Windsor Safari Park had not closed in the early 90s, this collection may have also continued to keep bears.
In the rest of Europe, they are - and you'd find plenty of places with 3 or 4 species. British Isles were almost completely purged in the 1990s and only the Spectacled and Malayans (soon to arrive at Edinburgh) show any sign of increasing.
The remaining Polar, Brown and Himalayan bears in UK zoos are all middle aged to elderly or geriatric animals.
Virtually all the UK collections which have acquired Bears in recent years have chosen either Spectacled or Malayan SunBear (and London got the Sloth Bears).
Virtually all the UK collections which have acquired Bears in recent years have chosen either Spectacled or Malayan SunBear (and London got the Sloth Bears).
I was also a little surprised to see so few bear species listed in UK zoos, as in the ZooChat gallery there are 179 establishments (zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks) but only about 15 actually have any bears. Pertinax has pointed out that the remaining polar, brown and himalayan bears in UK zoos are all at least middle-aged, so what will be left in a decade? At least there are increasing numbers for spectacled and sun bears, but even famous Chester Zoo has only a single bear species. Alas, the situation for bears is even worse in Australia!
The good news is that the UK has been extremely progressive in demolishing the many bear pits and concrete grottoes that still plague many zoos around the world.
Different parts of the world often have quite a variety in captive animals, as here in North America bears are naturally very common and many zoos have a number of species at any given time.
The good news is that the UK has been extremely progressive in demolishing the many bear pits and concrete grottoes that still plague many zoos around the world.Different parts of the world often have quite a variety in captive animals, as here in North America bears are naturally very common and many zoos have a number of species at any given time.
Just had a quick count-up by way of a quick comparison, of that same list, around 40-45 of those zoos have at least one species of big cat (in the strictest sense - lion, tiger, leopard or jaguar) - a group with broadly similar space and maintenance requirements. Shows how bears have been deliberately avoided for some time in the UK.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
Aren't one or two of the Welsh Mountain Zoo bears still of breeding age? When NWCP opens they may still have sloth and brown bears there, plus the plans at Alladale, and wasn't there talk of the New Forest Wildlife Park planning to eventually hold brown bears also?
I think also there is an acknowledgement that in parts of the world there are sanctuaries full of various bear species, which makes the breeding of, say, himalayan black bears seem slightly obsolete.
I return though to an earlier point about the Sri Lankan sloth bear, with 500-1000 wild bears left, this surely is one of the more suitable candidates for ex situ conservation?
Does anyone know why Colombo, the london-bred male sloth bear at Whipsnade was castrated according to others on this forum? Are the whipsnade animals definitely pure Sri Lankan subspecies? If not, this would explain things.
Large cat enclosures are not usually suitable for bears without significant modification due to their ability to dig.
I think also there is an acknowledgement that in parts of the world there are sanctuaries full of various bear species, which makes the breeding of, say, himalayan black bears seem slightly obsolete.
I return though to an earlier point about the Sri Lankan sloth bear, with 500-1000 wild bears left, this surely is one of the more suitable candidates for ex situ conservation?
Does anyone know why Colombo, the london-bred male sloth bear at Whipsnade was castrated according to others on this forum? Are the whipsnade animals definitely pure Sri Lankan subspecies? If not, this would explain things.
Large cat enclosures are not usually suitable for bears without significant modification due to their ability to dig.
That wasn't my point - I just chose big cats as an example to give an idea of the number of those 170-odd zoos that would be of the scale and experience to keep bears if they wished.
So that would be another species of bear on the return in the UK if/when that happens.
adrian1963
Well-Known Member
When the lovely Black Bear at Dudley Zoo ias passed on. It is there intention to bring in a breeding pair unsure of what species but they are determind to have a breeding pair of Bears at the Zoo
That's one of the manager's eventual aims yes, but it won't happen overnight in the sense. In fact, I think that both the Highland Wildlife Park and Wildwood could easily go in to keeping brown bears also, as they fit their collection plans and would have natural enclosures which the public would find hard to scrutinize.
Space would be a problem at Wildwood.
More surprising is that large popular zoos like Colchester and Paignton don't have bears.
ZooLeopard
Well-Known Member
I think Wildwood would be an excellent place to get them.
thanks for all the feedback! i knew Whipsnade had two but was unsure if any others had more, i have never seen Sun, Spectacled or Panda bears but intend to this year. I would also love to see more Polar Bears in the U.K as i found in Florida that they are very exciting to watch.
chubbycheeks
New Member
American Black Bear: Woburn Safari Park
Brown Bear: Welsh Mountain Zoo, Dartmoor Zoo Park, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Blair Drummond Safari Park.
Polar Bear: Highland Wildlife Park, Heythrop Zoo
Asiatic Black Bear: Dudley Zoo, Heythrop Zoo
Sloth Bear: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Spectacled Bear: Belfast Zoo, Chester Zoo, Durrell Zoo, South Lakes Wild Animal Park
Sun Bear: Colchester Zoo, Belfast Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo
Giant Panda: Edinburgh Zoo (Coming Soon)
Brown Bear: Welsh Mountain Zoo, Dartmoor Zoo Park, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Blair Drummond Safari Park.
Polar Bear: Highland Wildlife Park, Heythrop Zoo
Asiatic Black Bear: Dudley Zoo, Heythrop Zoo
Sloth Bear: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Spectacled Bear: Belfast Zoo, Chester Zoo, Durrell Zoo, South Lakes Wild Animal Park
Sun Bear: Colchester Zoo, Belfast Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo
Giant Panda: Edinburgh Zoo (Coming Soon)
Last edited:
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Missed Asiatic Black Bear for Heythrop as well!!
You have also missed of Blair Drummond Safari Park for Brown Bears
Also one of Dartmoor`s Brown Bears is a Syrian Brown Bear.
You have also missed of Blair Drummond Safari Park for Brown Bears
Also one of Dartmoor`s Brown Bears is a Syrian Brown Bear.