In search of the bear facts. A review of The Behaviour of Captive Polar Bears by Alison Ames. Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, Herts Eng. 3QD UK, 1993, 67 pp., $20.00 (postage included), softbound

Abstract

Welfare, laments the unsatisfactory state of polar bears in captivity. So dire are conditions that, in his estimation, if appropriate environments cannot be provided, the animals should be moved to more suitable homes or, as a last resort, humanely killed. He concludes that unless the zoological community is willing to fully meet the behavioral needs of polar bears, these bears should no longer be kept in zoos.This is an austere introduction to a book on polar bear behavior, a book which Dr. Poole feels should help zoos understand and address the needs of these popular megamammals. Indeed, the author, Alison Ames, states in the introduction, "This behavioural study was designed to be as comprehensive as possible, in order to obtain a complete picture of the behaviour of captive polar bears." Unfortunately, both Poole and Ames set up an expectation which is not realized in the 67 pages that follow. For, although the intent of the book is admirable and some new and valuable information is presented, there are substantial gaps in content and flaws in interpretation of information which ultimately leave the reader disappointed. This is unfortunate, since we happen to agree with Poole and Ames that of the many animals commonly displayed in zoological facilities, bears routinely get the short end of the proverbial stick. Thus, they are excellent candidates for closer examination and remedial action.Ames does a good job of highlighting the woeful state of polar bears in captivity. Her sample size of 13 bears came from seven zoos throughout the British Isles. Although varying in size and design, all exhibits consisted of concrete, rock, and water and were devoid of soil, trees, or any natural substrates. Only one facility was built within the last 10 years, with the others constructed between 1914 and 1965. A more sobering point is that of the 13 bears who were observed throughout the 2 year study, all 13 exhibited measurable stereotypic behavior, at times exceeding 40% of the observation time.The study was quite ambitious. Funded for 2 years by the UFAW and participating zoos, over 1,300 hours of data were collected. Ames set out to: 1) obtain a complete picture of the behavior of captive polar bears, 2) design, implement, and test an environmental enrichment program to give the bears greater choice and control, and 3) assess the impact of seasonal influences on captive polar bears by studying the ecology and behavior of wild polar bears. Individually, every one of