Abstract

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a vulnerable species currently a part of the Species Survival Plan Program (SSP) within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).¹ In the wild, polar bears face a range of threats, including habitat loss due to climate change, human caused mortality, and environmental contaminants.

Among North American facilities participating in the polar bear SSP, there are a total of 51 polar bears with eight pairs that have ongoing breeding recommendations. While the polar bear reproductive cycle is not completely understood, key components in this species include delayed implantation and denning by the female, allowing the gestation and birth to occur while sequestered during fall and winter. Providing an environment that encourages managed bears to engage in this process has been a major obstacle to successful polar bear reproduction in a zoo setting. Annually, facilities hoping to den females discuss management approaches and follow recommendations based on the individual animal needs as well as the institution’s capacity to support those needs. At Utah’s Hogle Zoo, zoo-wide impactful measures were implemented during a 5-year-old female polar bear’s first ever breeding and denning season. In addition, a survey was conducted across participating SSP facilities that described the actions and outcomes of individual institutions with breeding and denning polar bears, with the goal of helping to inform animal care manager and veterinarian decisions in approaching polar bear denning.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Utah’s Hogle Zoo Animal Care team and the AZA Polar Bear SSP for their support and assistance with conducting the survey.

*Presenting author

Literature Cited

1.  AZA Bear Taxonomic Advisory Group. 2009. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) care manual. Silver Spring, MD: Association of Zoos and Aquariums.