Zoológico de Morelia Yupik, polar bear in controversy

[carlos77]

There are only 4 polars bears in mexican zoos. All are females. They are at 4 different zoos, Chapultepec, Guadalajara, Leon and Morelia. Yupik is the polar bear at Morelia zoo. She arrived there at the age of 3 months, 20 years ago, an orphan from Alaska. Yupik is the youngest polar bear in Mexico. A strong controversy has arisen about Yupik living in Morelia, a city in central Mexico. Variuos animal rights and anti - zoo groups considered that her living conditions were very inadequate and petioned (also on internet) that yupik be transfered. It was mentioned that animal collection in Ontario would recieve her. It is not clear which one. In the last elections a politician from the mexican green party ( which is a disater)
also asked for Yupik´s transfer. Even Al Jazeera, the arab broadcasting company did a documentary on Yupik. Morelia zoo directors have insisted that yupik is well taken care of and have added some improvements in Yupik s large enclousure. She is an important attraction at the zoo and has various years ahead of her.
Last week, after a conference, i was able to visit Morelia zoo and of course went to see Yupik. She was very active, using enrichment barrels, scracthing on logs, and took a quick swim. She had a large covered sandbook. She looked very well with no streotyped movements. It seem to me that her enclousure was actually one of the better ones at this very overcrowded zoo. I am posting my pictures so fellow zoochaters may also
have their own opinion on the Yupik discussion.

 

[carlos55]

Here we are again. AZCARM firmly opposes moving Yupik from Morelia zoo. A petition to let Yupik stay at morelia zoo now has 8000 signatures.Yupik, la osa polar en riesgo por una iniciativa viral

 

[carlos55]

"Michoacán es hogar de 'Yupik' y aquí se queda"
Yes you read here first. The governor of Michoacan state, where Morelia is located has publicly said that " Yupik has her home in Michoacan and here she will stay". Since the state government runs the zoo, he can legally stop the transfer to the UK. I agree with AZCARM on this. Moving Yupik at her age was too risky.

 

[carlos55]

When Azcarm asked for support to stop moving Yupik from Morelia zoo because of her health 12000 persons, including me signed a petition to keep her there. The governor of Michoacan was responsive. Why does YWP go with antizoo groups like Zoocheck that distort all the facts. The research proposal that was to support The moving of Yupik was really awfull and had no backing of any scientific institution at all

 

[Chlidonias]

Cross-posting for the benefit of members who don't move around the forum much: Yorkshire Wildlife Park - YWP in 2018

 

[carlos55]

Por irregularidades en convenio de traslado, Osa Yupik “se queda en Morelia”
Federal authorities from the Secretary of Enviroment have found 38 "irregularities" which revoke the agreement to move Yupik from Morelia zoo. Fact remains that Zoocheck was quite untidy on this.YWP should choose its collaborators more carefully.

 

[carlos55]

Yupik died yesterday at 27 years of age. She will be missed.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Yupik died yesterday at 27 years of age. She will be missed.

Proof of and underlining why a transfer overseas would not (have) be(en) in the interest of the individual animal.

Also 27 years of age is rather a good longevity for a captive polar bear (even some do surpass the 30's marker).

BTW:
a) I also have some reservations over the title "controversy". Everyone is entitled to their opionion, but I do find it is a tad contrived in my personal perception.
b) I would like to see some more general zoo news on Morelia Zoo in the relevant thread.