Oregon Zoo Polar Bear Exhibit - Next Big Thing

[Zooplantman]

The zoo has advertised for teams to design the new Polar Bear Exhibit
Polar bear habitat | Oregon Zoo

So it might as well have its own thread

 

[zooboy28]

This new exhibit is definitely needed, the current Polar Bear exhibit is a major weakness in Oregon Zoo's generally great collection. I presume it will be located in the same place as the existing enclosure, although the concept picture appears to show is stretching further along, so replacing also the other bear enclosure/s?

Will the bears be housed offshow during the construction period, or moved to other zoos?

 

[snowleopard]

This new exhibit is definitely needed, the current Polar Bear exhibit is a major weakness in Oregon Zoo's generally great collection. I presume it will be located in the same place as the existing enclosure, although the concept picture appears to show is stretching further along, so replacing also the other bear enclosure/s?

Will the bears be housed offshow during the construction period, or moved to other zoos?

I'm fairly certain that the sun bear exhibit (hands-down the absolute worst enclosure in the zoo) will make way when the new polar bear complex is built. The big question is where the zoo will actually get polar bears from, as the current brother/sister pair are in their 30's and they might not even live to see the opening of the new habitat.