NEWS
ACRES IN THE NEWS
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The Straits Times
7 September 2006
Zoo's polar bears in distress, says group
By Tania Tan
Volunteers from the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) have told the Singapore Zoo that the polar bears kept there are showing signs of distress.
The society presented its report to the zoo after staking out the bears' exhibit and observing the animals' behaviour for four months.
Sheba, the 29-year-old mother, and her 16-year-old son Inuka, were observed to be panting and pacing aimlessly for long periods, the group said.
Acres executive director Louis Ng said these are “clear indications” that the bears are suffering from severe heat stress and have signs of psychological disorder.
Acres also expressed concern that the two bears are made to “perform unnatural behaviours” during feeding-time shows.
This is the group's second report in the last two years. In 2004, Acres submitted several recommendations calling for the bears' welfare to be improved.
Polar bears often fair poorly in captivity. Apart from lack of space, their thick coats make them extremely sensitive to the heat.
Sheba has been a resident at the zoo since 1978. She gave birth to Inuka in 1990. Inuka's father Nanook, also a resident at the zoo, died in 1995.
In 2004, the zoo agreed that after Sheba dies, Inuka should be transferred to a zoo in a temperate climate. Acres said that the zoo has now also agreed not to import any more Arctic animals.
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