Polar bear courtship could begin in March
Highland Wildlife Park begin preparations to mate Arktos and Victoria
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), have begun preparations to allow male polar bear Arktos to meet female polar bear Victoria for the first time.
Polar bears are an at risk species, currently listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.
Helping to protect the future of polar bears is not a straightforward task, as the loss of sea-ice due to climate change is the primary threat to the species. Research shows huge uncertainty for the future of polar bears in the wild, with estimates suggesting the global population could decline by over 30% in just three generations if sea-ice loss continues as projected.
A large 3 x 1.5 x 1.8 metre transportation crate was manoeuvred into position in the male polar bear enclosure on Friday morning and over the next month or so, eight year old Arktos will be habituated to it.
Slowly and steadily, the process will see his keeper’s use positive reinforcement training and his favourite foods to get him used to the new addition to his enclosure.
Eventually Arktos will be comfortable enough to enable his keepers at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park to transport him the one mile distance across the Park to Victoria’s enclosure.
Arktos is expected to travel the short distance to begin his courtship with Victoria around mid-March. Victoria’s enclosure was specifically designed with breeding in mind. The enclosure is believed to be unique as it offers maximum animal management flexibility with both a large main enclosure and a smaller holding enclosure.
In total, RZSS Highland Wildlife Park devotes more space to polar bears than any other zoological institution in the world – over four hectares, or 10 acres, in total – and the enclosures features soft grassy areas, natural slopes, ponds and trees.
Modern polar bear husbandry has moved on dramatically, following comprehensive research by experts in North America and Europe, the zoo community now has a thorough understanding of both the husbandry requirements of the species and how to care for and improve cub survival rates.
Douglas Richardson, Head of Living Collections at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, said: “When we first take Arktos to Victoria, he will live in a separate enclosure adjacent to hers. The two bears will be able to communicate and interact through a secure large fence to start with. We fully expect to see them showing an interest in each other right away.
“As with any introduction of large predators, the process must be approached slowly and carefully, paying close attention to positive behavioural indicators, like vocalisations and body posture. Whether we wait until Victoria comes into full breeding condition before mixing them together will depend on how they react to each other in the build-up to that key point.
Richardson added: “Polar bear conservation is definitely not simple or easy, but we have an important responsibility. As a conservation body with extensive bear husbandry experience, we truly believe we cannot afford to shy away from the task in hand. If we want to keep all the conservation options on the table for the future of polar bears, we must allow for the idea that a healthy captive population may provide a solution to the species’ plight.
“The birth and rearing of polar bears cubs will be of real value to the overarching breeding programme. As well as helping to highlight the plight of polar bears in the wild, any cubs born in the foreseeable future will remain within the vital safety net of the captive breeding programme. The shrinking polar ice-cap and shortening polar ice season has pitched the species to the forefront of conservation concerns.
Richardson added: “In an ideal world, conservation would happen first and foremost in the wild, but unfortunately this is not the scenario we are dealing with. The next best thing is a combined approach"