A NEW POLAR BEAR HABITAT
IN SCANDINAVIAN WILDLIFE PARK
Frank Vigh-Larsen, Director, Ph.D., M.Sc.(agric.)
INTRODUCTION
In 2003 Scandinavian Wildlife Park, Denmark opened a new 2.5 ha habitat for brown bears (Ursus arctos). The habitat works very well and the 12 brown bears seem to be thriving. Experiences with this habitat are helping to guide the creation of a new polar bear habitat planned for 2006.
OUTLINE OF THE POLAR BEAR HABITAT
The polar bear habitat will consist of three enclosures, a total of 2.5 ha.
One summer enclosure at 1.8 ha with 2 lakes: a 4,000 square meter "Tundra Lake" averaging 2-meter water depth; and a 1,000 square meter "Glacier Lake" (4 meters deep) with a 20-meter-long tunnel going through it. The tunnel is 4 meters wide (see Photo 1) and will allow guests to see the bears from below while they are swimming. Next to "Glacier Lake" will be an artificial "glacier." The "glacier" will conceal a machine producing 5 tons of flake ice every night. Every day at 1 p.m., in connection with a polar bear presentation, the ice will be given to the polar bears.
The summer habitat will contain a water fall, small hills, large boulders, large tree trunks and some planted trees. It will be oversown with a clover-grass mixture, allowing the polar bears to spend a lot of time grazing.
Guests will enter the habitat through the tunnel under "Glacier Lake." When leaving the tunnel, guests will enter a 3-meter-wide and 200-meter-long boardwalk that will guide them through the rest of the summer habitat (see Photo 2). The boardwalk will be 4 meters high. It will be built in the bottom of a 3.5-meter-deep and 15-meter-wide ditch flooded with 1.5-meter-deep water, so guests will be walking at eye-level with the bears (see Photo 3). Most of the boardwalk will be situated in "Tundra Lake" (see Figure 1).
Two winter enclosures at 0.4 and 0.3 ha each at the south-west corner of the summer enclosure. Each winter enclosure will contain a 100-square-meter pond (2 meters deep), small hills, large boulders, large tree trunks and 2-3 underground dens. There will be a handling house with 6 pens where the bears will go 2-3 times/week for positive reinforcement training and weighing.
ANIMALS AND MANAGEMENT
We are planning to keep 3-4 females and 1-2 castrated males in the habitat. The bears will stay in the respective enclosures 24 hours/day. They will stay in the winter enclosures from November through March and during checkups and maintenance of the summer enclosure. In summer the bears will be moved to the winter enclosures and the handling house regularly for training. All feed will be given to the bears in the enclosures. In the summer enclosure feed will be scattered from the boardwalk or the perimeter fence.
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS - PLEASE HELP US!!!
A large number of questions arise when planning a habitat like the one described above. We kindly invite colleagues to comment on the proposed Polar Bear habitat and to address especially the following 3 questions:
COAT COLOR: The water in Glacier Lake will be replaced continuously by approximately 15% every 24 hours (in theory, 100% replacement every 7 days) so as to keep it clear and free of algae. The water in Tundra Lake is ground water and will harbor some algae, especially mid-summer. Will the polar bear coat repel these algae, or will the coat grow progressively green over summer?
PREFERENCE AREA: The brown bears utilize all corners of their habitat apparently without preference. Glacier Lake will be 4-5 degree Celcius (6-8 degree Fahrenheit) colder than Tundra lake. Will this difference keep the polar bears in Glacier Lake rather than Tundra Lake?
CURIOSITY: Will the polar bears be curious about the guests walking through the tunnel in Glacier Lake and dive down to look through the glass windows? If yes, will this curiosity persist or diminish (rapidly) over time?