Overview

Polar bears are the largest land carnivore eating animals like ringed seals and bearded seals. Found throughout the circumpolar artic, they inhabit arctic sea ice, water, islands and continental coastlines. Compared with other bears they have an elongated body and a long slender neck. Polar Bears skin is black and their fur is clear, it is designed to reflect light, and this is why Polar bears look white to cream in colour. As strong swimmers, they are able to swim long distances over several hours. They have a thick layer below the skin for insulation against cold water.

How, and why, would polar bears be bred in captivity?

Although Polar Bear numbers are considered to be healthy worldwide, this could change in the near future. Especially with the current effects of global warming, Polar bears are experiencing shorter winters thus having a shorter period of time to eat seals, and results in low cub survival rates. Polar bears are kept in captivity to possibly enable us to maintain these numbers and also educate the public about the Polar bears' lifestyle and habitat.

How do you control breeding of captive polar bears?

We participate in the established USA & International breeding programs, which use proven scientific models. Blood lines are monitored to enable us to determine who we can breed. Breeding can also be controlled through methods of separation (i.e. who is placed with who) including sending animals overseas to breed.

What facilities are needed to breed Polar bears in captivity?

The female Polar Bear needs a quiet environment where she feels safe and comfortable to raise her cubs. At Sea World we have a maternity den area specifically designed to accommodate the needs of a pregnant female and her offspring. The den is situated away from the day to day traffic of the service area. This den has thicker walls that can also be soundproofed to reduce noise and is monitored by close circuit television cameras. The female is provided with a variety of substrate and nesting materials to make a warm and comfortable bed for her and the cubs. Young cubs require a den area where they may remain with their mother for up to three months. The maternity area is the only den without a pool as the young cubs are not strong swimmers. The cubs are gradually introduced to shallow water as they gain strength and mobility.

Are there any reproductive problems associated with captivity?

When breeding any animal, blood lines must be closely monitored to ensure that cross breeding does not occur.

Do pregnant females in captivity have any special needs?

While a female is pregnant she needs to increase her body fat percentage in order to keep herself healthy during her pregnancy and also to make her milk high fat. This means that keepers would have to closely monitor her diet and ensure she is gaining weight. Her overall health would also be closely monitored.

What steps do you take to replicate the animal’s natural environment and how do you balance the expectations of the public and the animal’s welfare?

Our exhibit, Polar Bear Shores is based on an Arctic summer and therefore bears in the wild would experience this type of habitat. Within our exhibit we have natural looking rock work, a rock platform where the bears can see outside, various trees, shrubs and logs and a digging pit with changing substrates. We have a main salt water pool, with a depth varying from 1-4 meters and a water temperature ranging from 7-21 degrees. Over the back of the exhibit we have two waterfalls that lead into fresh water creeks and pools. Inset into the rock walls are five movie set fans that can reach speeds of up to 25km/hr. Also set into the rock work are rain and mist generators. All these features are used to replicate a natural environment, stimulate the bears and are key cooling agents. In regards to the animal’s welfare, this has always been the first priority during the planning and construction of the exhibit. If the animals are content and stimulated by their environment, the public is also. Within the exhibit we have three public viewing areas, ground level, higher level and underwater. This enables the visitors to Polar Bear Shores to gain different perspectives on the bears and their environment. Our first priority is of course the bears and their welfare, but it is also important to make the public comfortable and give them a stimulating, interactive environment.

What diseases are Polar bears most likely to contract in captivity and what are the symptoms of these diseases?

The main health-related issue Polar bears face in captivity and in the wild are problems with their teeth. If they contract a tooth disease or break a tooth, a Polar Bear can starve to death. All of the bear’s teeth are checked regularly during husbandry training sessions and two of our bears have had root canal surgery to correct tooth pre-existing teeth issues. All the bears' behaviours are monitored on an hourly basis. Our keepers notice the most subtle changes in their animal’s behaviours or attitude which could be the first symptoms of a bear being ill.

What are your methods of capture and restraint of the Polar bears and are there different methods for different situations such as injury?

If our Polar bears ever need serious medical work, they will be darted and sedated in our isolation den. Here, our resident vet can perform any medical assistance that they require. The isolation den is equipped with a hoist in order to move the sedated bear. Due to their size, there can be complications in sedating animals so this procedure is only done if the injury is of a major concern. Otherwise our Polar bears can be treated with antibiotics that are place within their food.

What are captive Polar bears fed?

In the wild, the main diet of a Polar bear is seal, due to its high fat content. Here at Sea World, our Polar Bears are second generation zoo born, and therefore they eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, breads and cereals, fish (mackerel, mullet, pilchards and tuna), meat (beef, kangaroo, rabbit, horse, chicken), dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese), eggs, and syrups (caramel, chocolate, honey, strawberry). The bears also have treats that they are given occasionally or during training sessions. These include muesli bars, peanut butter sandwiches, marshmallows, or ice cream. They eat twice a day, once in the morning and late afternoon, and consume on average approximately 15 kilograms per day.

What is the favourite food of your Polar bears?

The favourite food of Sea World's Polar bears is watermelon.

Is there any type of food that the Polar bears do not like eating?

Our Polar bears will not eat the heads of the fish, watermelon skin or the stalks from a bunch of grapes.

How big is a baby Polar bear when it is born?

When a Polar bear is born they are the size of a guinea pig but by the time they are 12 months old they weigh an average of 100kgs.

What colour is the skin of a Polar bear?

The colour of a Polar Bear's skin is black. It is thought that this is an adaptation for better heat retention. The tongue and thick pads on the sole of a Polar Bears foot is also black.