Zoos have an important role

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/08/2024 (705 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While the sentiment expressed in a recent editorial (“Zoos and rehabilitating animals”, July 26) following the tragic passing of Baffin the polar bear at Calgary Zoo may be well-intentioned, it overlooks important information that should be considered when contemplating the role of modern zoos and, by association, the lives of animals in the care of such facilities.

The editorial suggests zoos could serve a rehabilitation function for injured or orphaned wildlife. The good news is, they already are. Modern zoos around the world support the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of a wide variety of species, many of which are endangered.

While wildlife reintroductions can be successful for many species, large carnivores — such as bears — present unique challenges. A bear that is less wary of humans and learns to associate them with food can be dangerous when returned to the landscape, so great care must be taken to prevent habituation. There has been some success reintroducing black and grizzly bears, though results are mixed, and the consequences can be devastating for both bears and people when things go wrong.

Polar bears are, quite literally, a different animal. Unlike black and grizzly bears — omnivorous generalists that can adapt to a variety of landscapes and available food sources — polar bears are specialists. They rely on a very specific diet (primarily seals) that can only be found in a very specific environment (Arctic sea ice). When it comes to polar bears orphaned at a very young age, there is simply no known way for humans to successfully take on the role of a mother bear and teach a cub how to survive in this harsh and unforgiving landscape.

For these reasons, it is widely accepted that polar bear rescue and release is an unfeasible theoretical concept that presents real risks if habituated polar bears come into contact with humans. Alternatively, letting nature take its course with orphaned polar bear cubs will almost certainly result in a painful death due to starvation or predation.

If we can learn anything from the outpouring of sorrow and compassion following Baffin’s passing, it is that his life in human care had meaning, value, and purpose.

People form deep and personal connections with these individual bears. Their stories have the power to educate and move hearts and minds.

The Assiniboine Park Zoo is one of seven modern Canadian zoological facilities currently accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which represents more than 235 facilities in the United States, Canada, and overseas that collectively draw more than 200 million visitors every year. AZA members are leaders in veterinary care, animal welfare, wildlife conservation, environmental education, and collaborative international efforts to save species from extinction.

Here at the Assiniboine Park Zoo, we are engaged in conservation and research programs that support the animals in our care and conservation efforts in the wild. Through a variety of year-round programs and experiences, we educate zoo visitors about the importance of biodiversity and protecting natural spaces.

We collaborate and share the expertise of our conservation scientists, veterinarians, and animal care professionals with a wide range of leading conservation organizations around the world. In the north, we work hard to maintain close working relationships with the Town of Churchill, Province of Manitoba, and federal authorities to support polar bear research, conservation, and veterinary efforts. By working collaboratively with these and other partners, our zoo expertise and resources provide vital supports to the Churchill region and its bears.

Nobody wants to imagine a future in which Manitoba is no longer home to polar bears. Regrettably, a recent study co-authored by University of Manitoba researchers and reported on in the Free Press, predicts this could become a reality within the next decade if we don’t act now to turn the tide of climate change.

Baffin’s life and legacy is a reminder that our decisions and actions can make a difference for the future of polar bears and other wildlife here in Manitoba and around the world.

Science-based solutions delivered by internationally accredited zoos are important to the protection this iconic species.

Chris Enright is senior director of zoological operations, animal management and conservation at the Assiniboine Park Zoo.