Polar bears and zoo's green contradiction

Clivebenss SG

I REFER to the article ('Helping errant zoos do better'; Aug 23), which stated that 'the zoo, though, stopped short of granting the non-governmental organisation's request for the polar exhibit to be phased out'.

Ms Fanny Lai, chief executive officer of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), explained that 'one reason we keep polar bears is as an insurance in case something happens in the wild. We can't foresee the future, but it doesn't look positive for polar bears'.

In 2007, Singapore Zoo confirmed in a number of media articles that it will not bring any more polar bears into the country. Is the zoo reversing its decision again?

Disappointingly, WRS had already reversed a September 2006 decision to relocate Inuka the polar bear to a more temperate and appropriate climate.

Studies have shown that polar bears are poor candidates for captivity and Singapore's tropical climate is totally unsuitable for polar bears.

The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) congratulates the zoo for building a larger and climate-controlled enclosure for the polar bears. Is this, however, contradictory to the zoo's message with regard to fighting global warming?

On the one hand, the zoo is creating awareness about the need to cut our carbon emissions to save the polar bear's habitat. But on the other, a large climate-controlled enclosure for the polar bears, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, will undoubtedly contribute to global warming and to the demise of wild polar bears.

Acres hopes that WRS will indeed phase out the keeping of polar bears and focus on being a tropical zoo.

Louis Ng
Executive Director
Acres (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society)

ditzy SG

Ok, let's help the zoo save some money, we should petition for the removal of the polar bear enclosure and the bear as well since they serve no beneficial purposes.

I support the removal of the polar bear and its enclosure!

Clivebenss SG

I tot the polar bears were sent to German zoo oredi?

^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~ SG

There goes simple bear

Clivebenss SG

they are still in Sgf.

dukedracula SG

it's a zoo, if they only have exhibits native to the region what's the attraction then? i would actually support more 'non-native' animals to be showcased, at least there will be pandas, that will be quite a draw....the penguin exhibit at the bird park is probably the best crowd pleaser and that's not tropical....

ditzy SG

Then the penguin exhibit at the bird park should go too!

Junyang700 SG

Inuka native Singaporean polar bear. Cannot release him into the wild lah... He scared cold de....

Only the mama is New Citizen... but den i tink she spent most of her life in Singapore liao... old liao send her go cold country she oso cannot tahan...

That was actually wad animal removal committee said before.... wanted to relocate them... but mother 30 plus year old liao... shift already will die... as for the son... he is Singapore-born and has a thinner fur than other polar bears... may die if the temperature is too cold...

Clivebenss SG

Inuka native Singaporean polar bear. Cannot release him into the wild lah... He scared cold de....

Only the mama is New Citizen... but den i tink she spent most of her life in Singapore liao... old liao send her go cold country she oso cannot tahan...

That was actually wad ACRES said before.... wanted to relocate them... but mother 30 plus year old liao... shift already will die... as for the son... he is Singapore-born and has a thinner fur than other polar bears... may die if the temperature is too cold...

tropicalise polar bears.

Junyang700 SG

tropicalise polar bears.

Inuka.... probably the only male citizen in Singapore that hasnt served NS.... LOL...

TooFree SG

Zoo is a place where animals are kept in a confined area. The idea of having a nation zoo is for children and adults alike to get a chance to see animals which we have no opportunity to see either in the wild or due to Singapore urban landscape. So does it means that phasing out the polar bears would deprive future generations a chance to see the white color bears?

dukedracula SG

the bears are no longer white, yellowish...anycase, despite the confines, they are well fed and i think they would prefer a sentry existance than one that's frought with dangers....given the shrinking ice mass...

Clivebenss SG

I APPRECIATE the views expressed in the letter ('Polar bears and zoo's green contradiction'; Sept 1) by Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) executive director Louis Ng.

In 2006, the Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee (Awec) undertook an extensive review of whether we should keep the polar bears, Sheba and Inuka, in Singapore. After careful consideration, the committee decided it was against the best interests of the bears to be released into the wild or moved out of Singapore Zoo.

First, the natural habitat of polar bears is extremely resource-sparse, and cubs are trained from a young age to swim and travel vast distances to hunt for prey. Having been raised in captivity, both Sheba and Inuka do not have the necessary skills or knowledge to hunt for their own food. In addition, climate change has caused the melting of the ice caps, resulting in more wild polar bears dying of starvation. Both bears will not be able to survive the introduction into such a harsh environment.

Other options were also considered, namely to relocate Inuka to a different zoological institution after the passing of Sheba. We recommended that Inuka should remain here and not be sent to a temperate country because it would cause him more stress, with the move having its own share of risks.

On the one hand, logic prevails that Arctic animals should reside in temperate climates. On the other hand, Sheba, who is 33, has lived eight years past her average lifespan, and Inuka, who was born here, will be 20 years old by end 2010. This shows that they are thriving well in this environment.

Nevertheless, Awec will continue to keep an open view. With new discoveries in veterinary science, as well as improvements in captive animal breeding and management around the world, there will be a need to assess the situation again.

Captive habitats provided by wildlife institutions have enabled polar bears to successfully reproduce and raise their young as in the case of Sheba and Inuka.

We are glad that Wildlife Reserves Singapore has decided to move the bears to their new enclosure at the River Safari, which will serve as a better living environment. We believe both of them will continue to be provided with the best care and facilities here.

Professor Leo Tan
Chairman
Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee

Clivebenss SG

I REFER to the letter ('Polar bears and zoo's green contradiction'; Sept1) by Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) executive director Louis Ng, which argued that polar bears Sheba and Inuka should be moved out of Singapore.

First, both mother and son polar bears were born in captivity, with Inuka being the first polar bear to be born in the tropics at Singapore Zoo close to 20 years ago.

Both bears have neither the necessary skills nor training to be released into the wild.

Sheba is now 33 years old, which is eight years above the average lifespan of a polar bear in captivity and almost double the longevity of a polar bear in the wild (15 to 18 years).

Second, we would like to reiterate that Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) has been consulting the Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee (Awec) and adhering to its recommendations.

It was Awec's strong recommendation in 2006 - under the chairmanship of Professor Tommy Koh - that the polar bears should remain here, considering their age, familiarity with their keepers and environment, and the uncertainty of whether other facilities would be able to provide the same high level of care.

It was also at this time that WRS started the conceptualisation of the Frozen Tundra exhibit at River Safari, as an upgrade to the polar bears' habitat.

All through this process, WRS had continued to upgrade their existing habitat, with new air-conditioners, misting fans and net shades.

On Mr Ng's point about the carbon footprint of the polar bear enclosure, we would like to highlight that WRS will be using currently available green building technology to ensure that energy use and carbon emissions are kept at minimal levels.

Environmentally friendly and energy-efficient cooling towers will be used to cool the new habitat, and independent experts will be assessing the construction of River Safari when it is built.

In fact, it is worth noting that all our parks are the first zoological institutions in South-east Asia to achieve both ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications, which indicate compliance with the highest standards in environment, health and safety.

Established and well-run zoos play an important part in ensuring the survival of endangered animals such as the polar bears. WRS remains deeply committed to running world-class wildlife institutions and ensuring the long-term survival of earth's biodiversity.

Fanny Lai (Ms)
Group CEO
Wildlife Reserves Singapore