Redesigning the Captive Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Exhibit to Prevent Stereotypic

Behavior and Promote Positive Visitor Experience

Cindy HoangApplied Animal Behavior in Captive Populations

NSCI 579 – 001December 4, 2012

Semester Project Proposal

Creating the Enrichment Plan: The Framework1. Goal setting – what do we want this enrichment to achieve? 2. Planning – given the potential enrichment ideas, how do we

decide which ones should be implemented? How do we review/approve the enrichments? How will animal care staff make sure the enrichment is routinely provided?

3. Implementing – who will implement the enrichment? 4. Documentation – what happened? Did the enrichment work?

All the observations need to be recorded.5. Evaluation – after a period of time, the outcome of the

enrichment must be analyzed. Did we like what happened? Did the enrichment achieve the goals we set?

6. Re-adjusting – adjust the plan if necessary and start the process over.

(Mellen and Sevenich Macphee, 2001).

Project Description

Using the AZA guidelines and published peer-reviewed articles I will plan an exhibit doing the following: Prevent/decrease the stereotypic behavior of pacing by

increasing the usage of enrichment Provide a more stimulating and appealing enclosure for

both the animal and the visitors Provide an educational experience to visitors without

stressing the animal

Aim: Redesign the exhibit for the captive polar bear (Ursus maritimus) to provide a positive experience for both the animal and the visitors

Comparative Study

Conducted study in 28 zoos observing stereotypic behavior due to the physical structure of the enclosure, housing management, social relationships.

Results:• Visible surroundings around the enclosure had lower levels of circling

behavior. • Medium or large pools promoted lower levels of stereotypy.• Bears locked during the night for feeding resulting in higher stereotypy in

the afternoon. • Those fed in the morning or afternoon showed significantly lower levels than

those fed at night.• Social relationships were observed, but will not be discussed due to

relevance.

(Montaudouin and Le Pape, 2005)

Environmental Enrichment Recap A surrounding view is more favorable. A large or medium pool is recommended. Allow the bears to have free access to the indoor

enclosure during the day and not lock them up at night. By scattering small pieces of food around the enclosure

will promote more curiosity and foraging, in addition to changing the feeding time to mornings.

It is recommended to add complexity to the environment by adding some elevation or levels to allow different functional areas (Newberry, 1995). Having access to different areas of the enclosures such as their indoor and outdoor living space may enhance more exploration (Newberry, 1995).

Other Forms of Enrichment

FEEDING NON-FEEDING Increase the foraging/search time by

scatter or hiding food Increase the capture time by

implementing live prey Increase extraction time such as a

puzzle feeder Change the variability of feeding times

to prevent predictability Increase the number of feeding/day

Adding non-permanent novel objects, such as inedible objects for manipulation/play

Adding scents/scented materials or auditory

Husbandry behavior performed during training to challenge cognitive skills

Rotating enclosures between two or more enclosures

Constructing a new enclosure – habitat redesign

Physical structure of the environment

Enrichment is a husbandry activity used to provide sensory and mental stimulation that can prevent and reduce the occurrence of stereotypic behaviors (Swaisgood and Sherpardson, 2005).

ToysAdditional ideas for enrichment “toys” include (AZA, 2009; Canino

and Powell, 2010): Plastic Drums Plastic floats 55 Gallon barrels Boomer balls Plastic weeble Cut up rubber and canvas hose Traffic Cones Heavy duty plastic outdoor play such as sleds, picnic tables,

climbing structures Beer kegs and plastic water cooler jugs

Enrichment Gone Wrong

(Hare et al., 2008)

Body part entrapment/entanglement

Unsupervised enrichment

Ingestion of toxic items

Materials

AZA RecommendationsSurrounding barriers

• Walls: at least 6m vertically/horizontally • Glass barriers: at least 2 inches thick

Land • Have elevated areas to avoid the pit-like effect• Have naturalistic landscape with soft substrate instead of hard• Can be easily modified• Should have resting platforms, water features, and nesting sites

Pool/Water • At least ~5-9ft deep and 96-760ft2 surface area• Irregularly shaped with shallow and deep ends• Cool saltwater with live fish, smooth walls and ledges, an island, polar themed floats, waterfalls or streams, changing currents, and wave machine• Freshwater streams in addition to the pool

Space •5400ft2 dry land and additional 1650ft2 per additional bear

Temperature • Heat stress is greater risk than the cold• Provided shade throughout the day• Free-access to air conditioned spaces, chilled water, or ice piles• Sprinklers, misters, and wind generating fans

Furniture • Moveable boulders, trees, logs• Climbing structures and platforms to observe distances

Off-Exhibit Housing

• Each bear must have its own area for sleeping have shift facilities• Must be at least 807ft2 and additional 269ft2 for each additional bear.

Maternity Dens • Quiet area away from the exhibit• At least 2.5m x 2.5m x 2.5m • Not allowed access to males

(AZA, 2009)

The Current Enclosures

Photos taken @ The Denver Zoo 11/10/12

E

B C

D

A

Habitat Redesign (cont.) Walls should be 6m high Viewing windows will be 2 inches

thick Open concept with full view for the

polar bear Should have elevated areas and

climbing structures w/in the enclosure

Both pools will have deep and shallow ends with either an island or waterfall

The ground will be made with softer substrates

Housing should comply with AZA and support rotations and open access for the bears

Toys should provided and rotated daily

The ground near the door will be concrete to prevent pacing near the doors

Should have “caves” or shelters for shade

The freshwater stream will contain live fish and small bits of food should be scattered

Prey scents can also be added for exploring

An elevated bridge/viewing window 6 m higher for an aerial view

Indoor/outdoor viewing for visitors will increase viewing time and educational awareness

Imax/Dome should be used for educational purposes

The End!

ReferencesAlman JD. 1999. Effects of inedible, manipulable objects on captive bears. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 2: 123-132.Animal Welfare Regulations (AWR). 2005. Animal welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. Animal Welfare Regulations, 9 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter A. Parts 1-4.Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 2009. Polar Bear (U. maritimus) care manual. www.aza.org.Canino W, Powell D. 2010. Formal behavioral evaluation of enrichment programs on a zookeeper’s schedule: a case study with a polar bear (Ursus maritimus) at the bronx zoo. Zoo Biology 29: 503-508.Endangered Species Act (ESA). 1973. Endangered species act. Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, Washington DC. http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/esact.htmlFischbacher M, Schmid H. 1999. Feeding enrichment and stereotypic behavior in spectacled bears. Zoo Biology 18: 363-371.Hare VJ, Rich B, and Worley KE. 2008. Enrichment gone wrong! The Shape of Enrichment, Inc., San Diego, USA.Mason G, Clubb R, Latham N, Vickery S. 2007. Why and how should we use environmental enrichment to tackle stereotypic behaviour?. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 102: 163-188.Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). 2007. The marine mammal protection act of 1972 as amended 2007. Marine Mammal Commision, Bethesda, MD. Pg. 113.Mellen J, Sevenich MacPhee M. 2001. Philosophy of environment enrichment; past, present, and future. Zoo Biology 20: 211-226.Montaudouin S, Le Pape G. 2005. Comparison between 28 zoological parks: stereotypic and social behaviours of captive brown bears (Ursus arctos). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 92: 129- 141.Newberry RC. 1995. Environmental enrichment; increasing the biological relevance of captive environments. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 44: 229-243.Polar Bear Protection Act (PBPA). 2002. Polar bear protection act. C.C..S.M c. pg 94.Shepherdson D.1998. Tracing the path of environmental enrichment in zoos. Second nature: environmental enrichment for captive animals. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. p 1–12.Swaisgood RR, Shepherdson DJ. 2005. Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: what’s been done and where should we go next?. Zoo Biology 24: 499-518.Wells D. 2009. Sensory stimulation as environmental enrichment for captive animals: a review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 118: 1-11. Website References:http://www.merriam-webster.com/http://www.polarbearhabitat.ca/http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/