The Observation Program On Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) In Captivity (Zoo).

A.V. Malyov and A.R. Moudarisov, Kazan Zoo, Russia

The Polar Bear is a vulnerable, rare species registered in the International Red Book. Because of this there is a necessity to study biology and etiology of this species not only in natural conditions but also in captive ones, because of the difficulties of observing the concrete periods of a polar bear’s life in natural conditions. As of January 2003, there were 381 individuals in zoos all over the world (2), and 34 species in CIS (1).

Having studied and cared for polar bears for more than 20 years at the Kazan Zoo, we are able to systematize different periods of their life. Realizing the importance of everyday observation and fixation of results, we offer a list of observations for all colleagues working with polar bears to take into account.

(Taking into consideration that the received facts must be systematized and published later on, the observation program sketched below might eventually serve as an outline for an article on keeping and breeding polar bears in captivity.)

The Observation Program.

  1. Introduction: A short historical reference on keeping and breeding polar bears in the zoo
  2. Keeping conditions: dimensions of open-air cage and closed cage, maternity room, feeding ration
  3. Information on polar bear producers kept in zoos (# in the International Pedigree Book, sex, name, age, parentage, length of animal’s stay in zoo)
  4. Reproduction and sexual conduct of polar bears:
    1. Preparation of animal for estrus ( hormone stimulation etc.)
    2. Sexual pubescence age
    3. First pairing
    4. Annual estrus duration (beginning date and finishing date)
    5. Tolerance of partners
    6. Conduct before pairing and during pairing (photo or video)
    7. Results of sexual conduct analysis
    8. Duration of coitus
    9. Number and duration of pairings per day
  5. Time of separation of male from pregnant female
  6. Conduct of pregnant female:
    1. Aggression towards male
    2. Preferable poses during rest time
    3. Conduct the day before "bedding" in the den, including refusal to eat, etc.
  7. Date and time of delivery (cry of the cub or what is left of the cub)
  8. The periods of pregnancy (in the table)
  9. The number of live and stillborn cubs with bio-metrical indices (size, weight)
  10. The supposed cause of death of cubs. The confirmation of the fact of birth and death of bear cubs. Photography and preservation of the corpse and parts of the body in formalin [sic.] solution in case the female eats the cub.
  11. The female and cubs’ conduct during lactation
  12. When the female starts to eat
  13. Feeding ration of female bear during lactation
  14. When the cub starts eating firm food and leaves the maternity room
  15. Date of cub’s first independent swim in swimming pool
  16. .Bio-metrical indices (size, weight) of cubs in the event that they are removed from the mother
  17. The reason the cubs are removed from the mother
  18. The date they are removed and the age of the cubs
  19. Feeding ration of cubs
  20. Female bear’s conduct after removal of cubs: aggression, depression, refusal to eat, aggression towards male. Duration of such conduct.
  21. Illness, treatment
  22. Follow-up on cubs: where they are dispatched upon leaving the Zoo
  23. Conclusion
  24. References

The received data is to be presented in a table and briefly analyzed.

References

1. Reference Book of Euroasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Moscow, 2003, p. 301. (in Russian)

2. Linke K. International Studybook Of The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus). Rostok, 2003.

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