Captive Polar Bear History Australia

S

SHARYNT

Member
Hello, I am currently researching the history of Polar Bear Captivity in Australia which appears to date back to the late 1800's.
I have read other forums that provide some historical Taronga Zoo information, however am very keen to learn more about the following:
How PB's first came to Australia, from where, imported by who.
What year was the first PB brought to Australia.
Facilities/collections in Australia, that held, bred PB's
Any names, births, deaths, or other information about any PB's in Australia.
Note, Not interested in Sea Worlds bears. Looking pre 2000's.
Thank you, any info would be most appreciated. :)
 
Are you interested in New Zealand holders also? Auckland and Wellington Zoo both held them.

Here is some info on Auckland Zoo's Polar bears:

1922-1949:
AskAlice said:
The first Polar Bears were imported via London through animal dealer G.B. Chapman. Auckland Zoo ended up with four males and two females. A male bear was sent down to Wellington Zoo. One female escaped and had to be shot. The other female named Daisy was exported to Australia in 1934. The three remaining males subsequently died. One of the same skin disease that killed Brunus (and the others) later on in the 1950s. One died from a bone piercing the gut and I'll have to check my records on the cause of death of the last male. By 1936 no bears were left at the zoo. In the same year Auckland Zoo imported a two year old male named "Snowball". Six years on he died from a bone perforation of the gut. He was replaced in 1942 by a 12 year old male from Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney. That bear later died aged 20 years around 1949/50. Hope that helps fill in some gaps.:)
Click to expand...

1949-1995:

Three Polar bears, two males and a female, were imported from Norway via an animal dealer in 1949. The males were named Natuk and Brunus; the female was named Natasha.

From this import, two litters were born:

Natasha gave birth to twins in June 1957. One died the next day; Piwi (female) died September 1957. The sire was Natuk.

Natasha gave birth to twins in May 1960. One died at two days; Chimo (male) died February 1979. The sire was Brunus.

Natuk died 1961; Brunus and Natasha died in 1962.

In 1964, two wild caught bears (estimated DOB 1962) arrived. The male was named Joachim; the female was named Lisbeth. They produced seven cubs between 1970 and 1982. All died the day they were born.

Chimo died in 1979; and an older female arrived in 1984 named Ingrid. She was born at the Detroit Zoo in 1963 and lived at the Taronga Zoo for several years.

Lisbeth died in 1989; and Joachim and Ingrid died in 1995. They were last bears held at Auckland Zoo.

There's a video of their exhibit here:

 
Adelaide Zoo:

The last Polar bear born at Adelaide Zoo was a male born 20/06/1985. He was originally named 'Biaz' (Born In Adelaide Zoo), but was renamed 'Aussie' by the Brookland Zoo, when he was sent their in 1986. He bred with a female named 'Arki' and had many living descendants when he died in 2017: My Polar Bear Friends and Friends of Polar Bears: A fond farewell to our favorite Australian

Adelaide Zoo's last two bears were Bjurn and Tasha (the parents of Biaz). The bears were wild caught in Russia. They were sent to Ruhr Zoo; and then Adelaide. They were then sent to Taman Safari in 1992 where Bjurn died 31/03/2004; and Tasha died 30/03/2005.

Melbourne Zoo:

One of Melbourne Zoo's last bears was a male that died 03/12/1980. He was born 29/11/1971 at Silesian Zoological Garden and arrived at Melbourne Zoo 30/03/1977.
 
Welcome to the forum @SHARYNT

Not sure if you already know some of this information but here it is just in case. Here is an excerpt from C. E. Rix's publication, Royal Zoological Society of South Australia 1878-1978 which gives a very comprehensive read about all of the species at Adelaide Zoo in their early years. It provides a very detailed snapshot regarding the zoo's history with polar bears from the early 1900s to the 1970s (it must have been quite the sight seeing four polar bears in the one enclosure!):

"From the early days of the Zoo the Council was very keen to exhibit Polar Bears, Thalarctos maritimus, but although they had one or two offers, the overall cost involved prevented them being taken up. In 1908, however, a decision was made to acquire a pair and tenders were called for the construction of a suitable house with an adjacent exercise yard. The total cost, however, was such that it was decided that the exercise yard could not be built at that time but that the house be so built that the yard could be added when funds were available. This was duly done and the bears arrived on the day that the contractor handed over the completed house. The bears cost £130, delivered at the Gardens, and the house £669.

These animals were a great success. On each of the first three Saturdays after their arrival, over 9000 people attended, and over the Easter holidays attendances broke records. Both of these animals turned out to be males and both lived to a good age. One died in 1933 aged 24 ages and 319 days and the other in 1935 at 27 years and 179 days.

In 1934 a female which had been offered by the Auckland Zoo, New Zealand, at a very low price was purchased. In 1940 an autopsy report included a post-mortem examination on a female Polar Bear over 15 years old. This would have been the animal from Auckland. It was considered that the death may have been due to acute gastric dilation but no definite opinion was given.

In 1952 a pair of these bears was purchased from Denmark. They were named Sammy and Suzy and high hopes were held that they would breed. The hopes were only partly realised. The animals did breed but all attempts to rear the off-spring, either naturally or by hand, were of no avail. Two cubs were born in April 1957, an unknown number in 1958, two in May 1965 and one in May 1967. The longest that any of the cubs lived was about 1 day.

Suzy died in 1974 after 22 years in the Zoo and was probably about 26 years old. Sammy at the time of writing (June 1977) is still alive but is beginning to look very old.

In 1976 a group of four bears, two males and two females, was purchased from the Ruhr Zoo, Gelsenkirkin, West Germany. All were young animals not fully grown and although one of each sex were zoo-bred animals, the other two were wild-caught as cubs. Up to the present they have settled in well and are developing into fine animals. They are being exhibited as a group and are proving to be very popular, particularly when they all wrestle and spar in the pool."
 
SHARYNT said:
Hello, I am currently researching the history of Polar Bear Captivity in Australia which appears to date back to the late 1800's.
I have read other forums that provide some historical Taronga Zoo information, however am very keen to learn more about the following:
How PB's first came to Australia, from where, imported by who.
What year was the first PB brought to Australia.
Facilities/collections in Australia, that held, bred PB's
Any names, births, deaths, or other information about any PB's in Australia.
Note, Not interested in Sea Worlds bears. Looking pre 2000's.
Thank you, any info would be most appreciated. :)
Click to expand...
Newspaper archives are a good source of information for the late 1800s to early/mid 1900s, albeit obviously not for complete records.

For Australia the archive site is Trove. Using the search words "polar bear zoo" results in 7388 articles, although of course not every article is actually relevant because it is just picking the three words out. It's a bit easier if you use specific zoos in the search terms, e.g. "polar bear Melbourne zoo".

Trove
 
Chlidonias said:
Newspaper archives are a good source of information for the late 1800s to early/mid 1900s, albeit obviously not for complete records.

For Australia the archive site is Trove. Using the search words "polar bear zoo" results in 7388 articles, although of course not every article is actually relevant because it is just picking the three words out. It's a bit easier if you use specific zoos in the search terms, e.g. "polar bear Melbourne zoo".

Trove
Click to expand...
Thank You so much!
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Welcome to the forum @SHARYNT

Not sure if you already know some of this information but here it is just in case. Here is an excerpt from C. E. Rix's publication, Royal Zoological Society of South Australia 1878-1978 which gives a very comprehensive read about all of the species at Adelaide Zoo in their early years. It provides a very detailed snapshot regarding the zoo's history with polar bears from the early 1900s to the 1970s (it must have been quite the sight seeing four polar bears in the one enclosure!):

"From the early days of the Zoo the Council was very keen to exhibit Polar Bears, Thalarctos maritimus, but although they had one or two offers, the overall cost involved prevented them being taken up. In 1908, however, a decision was made to acquire a pair and tenders were called for the construction of a suitable house with an adjacent exercise yard. The total cost, however, was such that it was decided that the exercise yard could not be built at that time but that the house be so built that the yard could be added when funds were available. This was duly done and the bears arrived on the day that the contractor handed over the completed house. The bears cost £130, delivered at the Gardens, and the house £669.

These animals were a great success. On each of the first three Saturdays after their arrival, over 9000 people attended, and over the Easter holidays attendances broke records. Both of these animals turned out to be males and both lived to a good age. One died in 1933 aged 24 ages and 319 days and the other in 1935 at 27 years and 179 days.

In 1934 a female which had been offered by the Auckland Zoo, New Zealand, at a very low price was purchased. In 1940 an autopsy report included a post-mortem examination on a female Polar Bear over 15 years old. This would have been the animal from Auckland. It was considered that the death may have been due to acute gastric dilation but no definite opinion was given.

In 1952 a pair of these bears was purchased from Denmark. They were named Sammy and Suzy and high hopes were held that they would breed. The hopes were only partly realised. The animals did breed but all attempts to rear the off-spring, either naturally or by hand, were of no avail. Two cubs were born in April 1957, an unknown number in 1958, two in May 1965 and one in May 1967. The longest that any of the cubs lived was about 1 day.

Suzy died in 1974 after 22 years in the Zoo and was probably about 26 years old. Sammy at the time of writing (June 1977) is still alive but is beginning to look very old.

In 1976 a group of four bears, two males and two females, was purchased from the Ruhr Zoo, Gelsenkirkin, West Germany. All were young animals not fully grown and although one of each sex were zoo-bred animals, the other two were wild-caught as cubs. Up to the present they have settled in well and are developing into fine animals. They are being exhibited as a group and are proving to be very popular, particularly when they all wrestle and spar in the pool."
Click to expand...

This is fabulous thankyou
 
SHARYNT said:
Hello, I am currently researching the history of Polar Bear Captivity in Australia which appears to date back to the late 1800's.
I have read other forums that provide some historical Taronga Zoo information, however am very keen to learn more about the following:
How PB's first came to Australia, from where, imported by who.
What year was the first PB brought to Australia.
Facilities/collections in Australia, that held, bred PB's
Any names, births, deaths, or other information about any PB's in Australia.
Note, Not interested in Sea Worlds bears. Looking pre 2000's.
Thank you, any info would be most appreciated. :)
Click to expand...
Beuamaris Zoo in Hobart Tasmania had Polar bears until they close in 1937
 
Some info on Melbourne's Polar Bears:

A pair arrived in 1910 (not sure where from).

In 1923, a pit was built for the zoo's pair of Polar Bears (unknown and Victoria).

In 1925, a male escaped and was shot, leaving a female.

In 1926 a male (Benjamin) arrived from London. He was born 1924.

It was noted a polar bear cub was sent to Auckland in 1934. It could've been a cub of Victoria and Benjamin's or even a cub that was transferred via Melbourne.

In 1940 Melbourne had two polar bears (John and Joan).

By 1945, a single polar bear remained.

In 1949, a male polar bear (b 1947) arrived from San Diego. He died in 1950 after mauling two zoo attendants and thus, being shot.

In 1952, two polar bears (1.1) were imported from Sri Lanka.

And from @Zoofan15 we know:

One of Melbourne Zoo's last bears was a male that died 03/12/1980. He was born 29/11/1971 at Silesian Zoological Garden arrived at Melbourne Zoo 30/03/1977.

As of 1981, Melbourne still had at least one Polar Bear remaining, I believe one or two females.
 
Jambo said:
Some info on Melbourne's Polar Bears:

A pair arrived in 1910 (not sure where from).
Click to expand...
That pair came from Hagenbeck, but they weren't the zoo's first Polar Bears. There was a "pair" imported from Prussia in 1898 (actually two siblings whose mother was shot to capture them). They were the first Polar Bears to be kept in Australia. They lived for over ten years - one was still alive at the start of 1910 before that second pair were imported.
 
Taronga's Polar Bears:

Their first pair was imported in 1917 from the US.

They produced the following cubs:

cub born 1919 - eaten by mother
twins born 1921 - eaten by mother

By 1922, they had a single female

In December 1923, a pair (born 1923) arrived from Norway (Artic and Snow)

They had the following cubs together:

cub born 1927 - eaten by father
twins born - june 1928 (male survived- sent to Cairo)
Snowball born 1935 (sent to Auckland 1936)
twins born 1936 - died, poor mother
cub born 1938 - died soon after birth
cub born 1940 - died soon after birth
cub born - 1941 died soon after birth

Snow was sent to Auckland in 1942.

Artic died in 1944.

In 1948 they imported a pair from Brookfield (Honey and Snow)

One died in 1950. The other within a year later.

In 1951, a new pair were imported from Milan.
 
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