North American Polar Bear Population 2021

[imaginarius]

An article was posted yesterday about the Louisville Zoo's Polar Bears. It mentioned that the Zoo is hoping to get approval from the SSP and the USFWS to breed Qannik and Lee. Because Qannik is wild-born, there are restrictions against breeding her. So hopefully those will be lifted and we can see some cubs in Louisville within the next few years.

Will the Louisville Zoo polar bears be a love

I wish them luck but, the MMPA will prevent anything from happening. Kali has been all alone at the Saint Louis Zoo for 6 years now, and not because that’s what the zoo intended. Wild-born bears just can’t be bred, period, due to the current laws. If they could, they would have introduced him to a mate years ago, especially given his valuable genes.

 

[Sheather]

Protecting marine mammals by letting them die out!

 

[Great Argus]

Protecting marine mammals by letting them die out!

Pretty stupid, I don't get it. I understand the sea otter situation where they don't want breeding to keep spaces available for orphaned unreleasable pups, but the declining bear that can be successfully bred isn't allowed to breed if it came from the wild? Plenty of zoos that would love to have them back too. Makes no sense at all.

 

[imaginarius]

Write your U.S. Representatives and Senators, pressuring them to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow accredited zoos an exception. It is the only way that it can change.

 

[IndianRhino]

Little One at Cincinnati has been euthanized.

Cincinnati Zoo Mourns Loss of Beloved Polar Bear “Little One” - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®

 

[15399]

Little One at Cincinnati has been euthanized.

Cincinnati Zoo Mourns Loss of Beloved Polar Bear “Little One” - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®

Is Cincinatti going to get another bear or phase out this species?

 

[IndianRhino]

Is Cincinatti going to get another bear or phase out this species?

They may get another bear but due to the shortage of these animals in the U.S. they will probably phase out the species.

 

[15399]

They may get another bear but due to the shortage of these animals in the U.S. they will probably phase out the species.

With Louisville, Columbus, and Toledo all having polar bears in better exhibits anyways, it's probably not that a big loss for Cincinnatti to lose this species, especially seeing the shortage has led to numerous parts of the country having no polar bear holders.

 

[blospz]

Is Cincinatti going to get another bear or phase out this species?

I would guess not at least until the renovate the bear grottoes. It's rumored the last bear in the area, Chester the Andean bear, may go in the white lion exhibit after their last white lioness passes away. So if either animal were to pass away, that would free up the grottoes and they would probably start construction on the area.

 

[Zoofan15]

Little One at Cincinnati has been euthanized.

Cincinnati Zoo Mourns Loss of Beloved Polar Bear “Little One” - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®

It’s sad to see the number of US holders reduced to 24; potentially permanently, as many are of the belief Cincinnati will now phase this species out.

The death of this male bear reduces the population to 42 bears - and of the 23 females, 12 are well past prime reproductive age/elderly.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

It is a conundrum I cannot seem to grasp where it is at. European zoos seem to have no issues with breeding polar bears.

 

[Jambo]

It is a conundrum I cannot seem to grasp where it is at. European zoos seem to have no issues with breeding polar bears.

Absolutely! Maybe some Polar Bears from Europe would be beneficial for the region.

 

[Great Argus]

It is a conundrum I cannot seem to grasp where it is at. European zoos seem to have no issues with breeding polar bears.

Our zoos our trying... unfortunately any bears originating from the wild cannot be bred. It's wrecking our genetic diversity and our breeding program.

Absolutely! Maybe some Polar Bears from Europe would be beneficial for the region.

That would really help our population, maybe that'll be an option at some point.

 

[Jambo]

unfortunately any bears originating from the wild cannot be bred

Interesting, why not?

 

[15399]

That would really help our population, maybe that'll be an option at some point.

Would this legally be an option? I know they can't import bears from Canada, so would they be able to import bears from Europe?

 

[Jambo]

Would this legally be an option? I know they can't import bears from Canada, so would they be able to import bears from Europe?

I would assume so unless there has been any recent restrictions ect. Coronavirus may prevent this from happening sooner.

 

[15399]

I would assume so unless there has been any recent restrictions ect. Coronavirus may prevent this from happening sooner.

Ok. I just didn't know if it was Canadian or American law preventing them from trading bears.

 

[Coelacanth18]

would they be able to import bears from Europe?

I would assume so unless there has been any recent restrictions ect. Coronavirus may prevent this from happening sooner.

No. They cannot be imported from anywhere into the United States. Additionally, the demographic problems with polar bears here has been occurring since well before the pandemic.

I just didn't know if it was Canadian or American law preventing them from trading bears.

American law - they are listed as a depleted species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Since 2008, no polar bears or polar bear parts can cross our international borders with specific exceptions... and public display in zoos is not considered to be one of those exceptions.

There are several articles online that explain the situation in more detail.

 

[Great Argus]

For anyone interested in reading it, the full version of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (including all amendments) is available to read online.

Marine Mammal Protection Act

 

[Duerener1]

Es sieht wirklich nicht gut aus mit der Eisbärenpopulation in den USA. Nach meinen Informationen leben:

23 Weibchen, davon 7 nicht zeugungsfähig und 3
Wildfänge
18 Männchen, davon 4 Kastraten, 2 Wildfänge und 4
nicht zeugungsfähig.
[ATTACH = voll] 479978 [/ ATTACH]
Da mit Wildfänger nicht gezüchtet werden darf, bleiben 13 Weibchen und 8 Männchen zur Zucht.