Milwaukee County Zoo Polar Bear Moat Incident

snowleopard

snowleopard

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15+ year member
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I remember reading about this situation two weeks ago, and now that the polar bear has remained in the narrow moat for a fortnight it is beginning to make the zoo look ridiculous. It isn't the first time that it's happened in Milwaukee, and it's startling how often animals either fall or climb down into moats and then getting the creatures back into their exhibit space becomes an ordeal for the zoo.
 
Moats are usually trying to be replaced from what I can see with new exhibits, usually with height elevation around the edges, there was an incident about a baby elephant Bo Gyi got pushed into the moat by his father, it actually broke most likely its back and had to be put down, there also was another incident of a gorilla and a human child,
So in general I think moats aren't a great idea, poor polar bear!!
 
There are several moated exhibits (at least in US zoos) that have ramps leading in/out from the moat giving the animal access to the moat and a way to get out.
 
According to the article, the exhibit does have steps so the bear could get back into the exhibit. I thought he fell and there was no way for him/her to get out.
 
Well that's good news hopefully he will return back to normal in no time, I presume that he was really confused during the whole time,
 
To help you visualize it all, here is a picture of the exhibit I took six weeks ago.
Moat to left of where bear is. On opposite side of moat is seal exhibit.
Pool has underwater viewing area.
 

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Thanks for the photos! The habitat appears to be atrocious, as it is a wall of concrete that looks nothing like an Arctic tundra as yet again bears at a zoo have been shafted in terms of exhibit design. At least the Detroit Zoo has raised the bar in terms of polar bear enclosures, and yet no zoo has since followed their example.
 
Not a pretty sight, that exhibit. I guess the poor bear simply thought "I may as well stay in this moat"?

:eek:
 
Dan said:
Not a pretty sight, that exhibit. I guess the poor bear simply thought "I may as well stay in this moat"?

:eek:
Click to expand...

Dan l think u r 100% correct. Given the intelligence and curiosity of a polar bear. After watching the posted video. I think he was very pleased to have fresh stimulation. Why would he want to go back to the enclosure he has spent god knows how many years.

I belive he was making a concious decsion not to return!
 
Poor bear! :( How old is that exhibit? Looks like something from the 40's. I hope this prompts them to renovate it. I can't blame him for exploring.
 
I agree I think the bear derserves much better, poor guy, exhibits looks very outdated,
 
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