Highland Wildlife Park Mercedes

CiaranDUK said:
I dont think that's it for Polar Beats at Edinburgh though. For the near future I would imagine it is 'it' but within the next twenty years I reckon the species will be back at Edinburgh.
Click to expand...

Renderings the zoo's masterplan do show polar bears in the "Oceans and Wetlands Biome". However, whether this is still the plan I don't know.
 
taun said:
I have to disagree, I can only think of a few places that do have the space. And am sure both could afford them.
Click to expand...

Chester and Whipsnade by any chance:rolleyes:

Outside of these two, are there any other collections you could see even consider polar bears?
 
Just back from the bus trip from Edinburgh Zoo to HWP and were hearing a bit more about Mercedes and her enclosure from Douglas Richardson, Animal Collection Manager at HWP.

First off, it is 4 acres as we know. This makes it the thrid largest in the world but largest per polar bear in the world. yes it is deer fence with electric fencing inside. The electric fencing was installed at one end of her enclosure at the zoo thus teaching her what it is. The reason for such flimsy looking fencing is using the thought that the more space you provide the animal the less robust the fencing required. This theory has already been tried with the takin at the park which are only kept in by deer fencing! Most other collections keep their takin behind steel bars! On top of which the enclosure came in less than a third of what it would have cost if done by a commercial company.

Now to Mercedes. As everyone has seen, within hours of her arrival she seemed to settle very rapidly indeed. On the first day she was allowed into the main part, Tuesday, she had a roll around in the grass and became a brown bear. That was followed by a swim in her pool and returned to a magnificent looking polar bear, until she discovered the peat bog near the pool when she gave everyone her best impression of a polar bear!

She has had an impact on the other animals at the park as initially many of them moved away from her enclosure, returning after they were satisfied it was actually safe. All, that is, except for the European bison which, according to Douglas Richardson, are the biggest cowards in the park!

Keep in mind that animals in the wild will generally only move any distance in the quest for food. As a result this new enclosure provides more scope for Mercedes to be fed along with additional enrichment. Also, the enclosure has been built with polar bears in mind and demonstrates HWP's commitment to the species.

Incidentally, she seemed to spend most of today napping square in the middle of her enclosure. No change there then, eh?
 
Thanks for the report Simon. I must say that I feel sorry for the remaining male wolf, who has to look back on his former, larger territory with jealousy!

As for other zoos that could keep Polars, Port Lympne has good conditions with the cold and windy hills akin to Whipsnade, but bears aren't really they're thing and it would probably take them a large sum of money.
 
Thanks for the report Simon, i hoped you enjoyed your day, was there many on the trip?
Did Doug give away any new arrivals or enclosures imminent?
 
Thanks for the report Simon, quick question, what is preventing her from digging out? is there a fence under the ground? thanks
 
The original wolf enclosure is featured on the zoolex site, i found this picture that shows angled pieces coming away from the main perimeter fence, which are meant to prevent digging, but if they are still there i don't know.

ZooLex Picture 13
 
That video's certainly heart warming :) Looks like a great place, and she certainly looks happy.
 
kiang said:
Thanks for the report Simon, i hoped you enjoyed your day, was there many on the trip?
Did Doug give away any new arrivals or enclosures imminent?
Click to expand...

There was about 50 or so on the trip, almost a full coach as usual!

Unfortunately Doug didn't give away any imminent new arrivals or enclosures (I think Ian, at the zoo, is more prone to that when he gets over enthusiastic!)

Vulpes said:
Thanks for the report Simon, quick question, what is preventing her from digging out? is there a fence under the ground? thanks
Click to expand...

From what Doug was saying, no there isn't! It really is the flimsiest fencing for any carnivore in any zoo in the world! It truly is a total experiment. Given that polar bears don't dig very deep anyway the electric fence should assist in keeping her away from the edge. Again it's back to the ratio of area to perimeter fence strength.
 
Vulpes said:
Born free crap! they make it out as if it was their campaigning that got her moved. From what I hear of the directors up there they take little notice of what anyone else says and do their own thing and fair bloody play to them.
Click to expand...

Well polar bears are part of the growing list of animals the BFF say should not be in captive care. They are just scared that Edinburgh's new exhibit will prove their dogma wrong - which it will because 'joe public' will look at it and consider it suitable and progressive. It was so much easier for them when zoos kept bears where kept in pits. ;)
 
Lol, yeah! I was thinking about that as I posted it too, but just needed to get that story shared as EZ/HWP have not done any mentioning of it thus far :confused:
 
I've had a look into this and nothing suggests there are any polars wild in Finland. Even talked to someone I know who lives in the North of Finland that confirmed it for me.

Looks like they have got that bit of info wrong on the article.
 
I caught the end of a childrens tv programme the other day and they were feeding polar bears in a sanctuary. Any idea were this could be it looked like switsland?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top