The fate of Sun Bears in the US

[GFgomez]

Any space going towards sun bears is a space that cannot go towards sloth or Andean bears. I get it, nobody wants to see a species they're partial towards get phased out, but managing three or four exotic bear species simply is unrealistic, at least unless the number of "problem" black and brown bears needing homes declines. We no longer live in a world where zoos regularly house four or five bear species. The phase out of sun bears, in addition to the lack of breeding success, is to ensure there is a sustainable population of *at least one* Asian bear species in US zoos, the sloth bear.

I agree with your points . However certain zoos like San Diego to mention can house both species without having to phase out the sun bear population. It may not
Work for every zoo . It can work for zoos that can house them with the possibility of success . They have been in zoos for more than a few decades .

 

[GFgomez]

Ok if we're ever gonna redo sun bear breeding in the AZA, then I'd rather first start by establishing a captive breeding program in both mainland SE Asia and in Borneo.

This is so that we can have an easier start with animals that are not only genetically new, but whose life histories are already well known.

In my opinion, the reason for the failure of the AZA sun bear program, with relations to how many bears were former pet/meat/bile bears was that they come with a laundry list of behavioral problems that puts breeding off the table.

Great points . It seams many of those sun bears that were brought to the us in 96 and 2000’s did have there fair share of health issues . Some of those sun bears are alive and still doing well . Marcella ( SD ) FONG (Racine ) blackie ( Honolulu) just to name a few . Europe has seams to have some succes . SSP recommends if zoos can house them they can still keep the species . In the wild there are not many sun bears estimated 1000 . At what point do we wait to they are fully endangered. We have two female sun bears in Oakland that are have good genetics that’s a complete waist . That could be a start ?

 

[15399]

I agree with your points . However certain zoos like San Diego to mention can house both species without having to phase out the sun bear population. It may not
Work for every zoo . It can work for zoos that can house them with the possibility of success . They have been in zoos for more than a few decades .

It takes more than a handful of zoos to maintain a sustainable population. There are sixteen sloth bear holders, and the population is struggling since it's in desperate need of new holders. How do you propose increasing the number of sloth bear holders, while also maintaining a sustainable sun bear population? Unless there's a decrease in human-wildlife conflict with native bears (unfortunately I don't see that happening), I can't see another realistic way to sustainably manage both Asian bear species.

 

[snowleopard]

I've seen Sun Bears at 20 zoos in the USA and I've provided a list of the first time I saw Sun Bears at each of the zoos.

1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 1994
2- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2005
3- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2006
4- Minnesota Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2008
5- Lincoln Park Zoo- Illinois (USA) – Sun Bear – 2008
6- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA) – Sun Bear – 2008
7- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Sun Bear – 2008
8- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2008
9- Zoo Miami (USA) – Sun Bear – 2008
10- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2010
11- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2010
12- Audubon Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2010
13- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2010
14- El Paso Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2010
15- Oakland Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2011
16- Reid Park Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2011
17- Virginia Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2012
18- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2012
19- Miller Park Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2014
20- Pueblo Zoo (USA) – Sun Bear – 2014

Of those 20 zoos, how many currently have Sun Bears in their collection?

Here are the remaining 4 zoos:

San Diego Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
Audubon Zoo
Oakland Zoo

 

[PSO]

Several of your "remaining" zoos no longer have them

Off the top of my head, these facilities are the last holders:

Lowry-1
Atlanta-2
Catoctin-1?
SDZ-1
St. Louis-1
Audubon-1
Racine-1
Oakland-2?
Honolulu-1

 

[snowleopard]

Several of your "remaining" zoos no longer have them

Can you be more specific? I just went to all 6 of the websites for those zoos and they all list Sun Bears. (I removed Virginia )

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

Of those 20 zoos, how many currently have Sun Bears in their collection?

Here are the remaining 7 zoos:

San Diego Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
Audubon Zoo
El Paso Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Virginia Zoo
Pueblo Zoo

El Paso, Virginia, and Pueblo all no longer have Sun Bears so just four zoos you have been to still have them.

 

[PSO]

@Nile Hippo Expert got it

 

[snowleopard]

Wow, the Sun Bear situation in the U.S. is even more dire than I had thought. Yikes! Thanks @Nile Hippo Expert and @PSO for the numbers.

El Paso Zoo and Pueblo Zoo BOTH still list Sun Bears on their websites and online zoo maps. They need to update them.

 

[PSO]

No worries. I, like you, have seen them in close to 20 U.S. facilities and probably close to 40 inviduals. In a relatively short time, we are down around the dozen mark. And there is no chance of breeding the current individuals at this point. It's one of my favorite species and sad to see they may be completely gone in the not too distance future

 

[MGolka]

As far as I'm aware, Hoho is still alive at Topeka, but super old, so I think they still have one. Hoho is one of the two sun bears that lived in Omaha for a very long time.

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

As far as I'm aware, Toho is still alive at Topeka, but super old, so I think they still have one. Toho is one of the two sun bears that lived in Omaha for a very long time.

Yes, Hoho is indeed still alive at 34 years old.

 

[PSO]

I knew I was forgetting one or two. Thanks!!!

 

[JVM]

It's been mentioned in the zoo's news thread but not here so I'll add the note that the sun bear at Racine Zoo, Fong, is usually kept off display and only comes out on really sunny and wind-free days; it's not a worthwhile stop for this particular species.

 

[GFgomez]

Here’s the names of the sun bears two on the list have recently passed within last year .

 

[MeiLover]

Here’s the names of the sun bears two on the list have recently passed within last year .

There is no context here. Which bears died?

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

Wow, the Sun Bear situation in the U.S. is even more dire than I had thought. Yikes! Thanks @Nile Hippo Expert and @PSO for the numbers.

El Paso Zoo and Pueblo Zoo BOTH still list Sun Bears on their websites and online zoo maps. They need to update them.

I was extremely disappointed when I went to the Pueblo Zoo this past December for my birthday, only found out that their Sun Bear had been dead for months!

I was really excited about seeing him too.

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

There is no context here. Which bears died?

1.0 Barney at Pueblo died at September, 0.1 Helaina died at El Paso in January and 0.1 Scruffy at Honolulu died in April. All three bears were 30+ years old

 

[GFgomez]

There is no context here. Which bears died?

There is a photo file attached to the thread . Heliana , Scruffy and Barney are the recent bears that have passed .

the list is missing Emika the sun bear at catocin who is still alive . They are non aza

 

[turkeyfox]

It's been mentioned in the zoo's news thread but not here so I'll add the note that the sun bear at Racine Zoo, Fong, is usually kept off display and only comes out on really sunny and wind-free days; it's not a worthwhile stop for this particular species.

I can confirm. I was at Racine Zoo on Sunday (it rained in the morning but it was partly cloudy in the afternoon) and neither the sun bear nor the Andean bear were on exhibit.