Behavioral development of a captive polar bear (Ursus maritimus) cub in the maternal den
Two female polar bear (Ursus maritimus) cubs were born to mother Suka at the Detroit Zoo on November 17, 2020. One cub (Lærke) was hand-reared out of medical necessity, while the other cub (Astra) was mother-reared. Using audio-equipped video cameras previously installed in the maternal den, staff were able to conduct uninterrupted continuous monitoring on […]
A Critical review of animal-based welfare indicators for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in zoos: Identification and evidence of validity
Captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are well-documented as being prone to behavioural disorders and, as a result, their welfare is the cause of increasing concern. There is therefore a need for an evidence-based approach to the assessment of the welfare of this species and identification of valid welfare indicators is the first step towards achieving […]
Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites as a measure of adrenocortical activity in polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
Analysis of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) is frequently applied to assess adrenocortical activity in animal conservation and welfare studies. Faecal sample collection is non-invasive and feasible under field conditions. FGM levels are also less prone to circadian rhythms, episodic fluctuations and short acute stressors than glucocorticoid (GC) levels obtained from other matrices, for example blood […]
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Care Manual
Recent observations of intraspecific predation and cannibalism among polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea
Intraspecific killing has been reported among polar bears (Ursus maritimus), brown bears (U. arctos), and black bears (U. americanus). Although cannibalism is one motivation for such killings, the ecological factors mediating such events are poorly understood. Between 24 January and 10 April 2004, we confirmed three instances of intraspecific predation and cannibalism in the Beaufort […]
Comparing movement patterns of satellite-tagged male and female polar bears
Satellite radiotelemetry has provided great insights into the movements and behaviors of polar bears (Ursus maritimus). The diameter of the neck of adult male polar bears exceeds that of their head, however, and radio collars slip off. This has limited collection of movement information to that from radio-collared females. To overcome this difficulty and gather […]
Short-term behavioural response of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) to snowmobile disturbance
In this study the distance, at which polar bears detected and actively responded to approaching snowmobiles was measured and the behavioural response was recorded. The study was performed on Svalbard, an arctic island where human traffic has increased substantially in recent years. Fieldwork was conduced in April and/or May during the years 2003–2005. Polar bears […]
Polar Bear Maternal Den Habitat in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) give birth during mid-winter in dens of ice and snow. Denning polar bears subjected to human disturbances may abandon dens before their altricial young can survive the rigors of the Arctic winter. Because the Arctic coastal plain of Alaska is an area of high petroleum potential and contains existing and planned […]
Climate change threatens polar bear populations: a stochastic demographic analysis
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) depends on sea ice for feeding, breeding, and movement. Significant reductions in Arctic sea ice are forecast to continue because of climate warming. We evaluated the impacts of climate change on polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea by means of a demographic analysis, combining deterministic, stochastic, environment-dependent matrix population […]
Behavioral Decisions for Managing Social Distance and Aggression in Captive Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in most zoos attracts high levels of public attention and can play an important role in conservation education. Polar bears in the wild are typically solitary; bears in captivity often house socially. This study reported behavioral evidence on how bears manage this situation and whether proximity leads to aggression. The […]