Undercover investigation at Singapore Zoo reveal serious welfare concerns

September 6, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

6 September 2006

UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION AT SINGAPORE ZOO REVEALS SERIOUS WELFARE CONCERNS

SINGAPORE 6 September - A four month undercover investigation by the Animal

Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) into the welfare of the polar

bears (Ursus maritimus) at the Singapore Zoo revealed serious concerns.

Two polar bears are housed at the Singapore Zoo (Sheba, a female and Inuka, her

male offspring) in an open-air enclosure that provides only approximately

0.0000005% of a polar bear's natural home range.

Since 2004, Acres has been in discussions with the Singapore Zoo and has called

for the zoo to improve the living conditions so that the bears can, at the very

least, express some of their natural behaviours.

From September until December 2005, Acres placed undercover researchers at the

Singapore Zoo to conduct a detailed scientific behavioural study into the

welfare of the polar bears. Key findings of the four month scientific study

(based on 3,150 minutes of data) were:

Both bears exhibited signs of severe heat stress. The bears were both seen to be

panting for long periods of time (Inuka: 36.0% of the time; Sheba: 38.7% of the

time), indicating that they are far too hot. The bears were also seen to be

exhibiting other behaviours indicating heat stress.

Both bears engaged in high levels of abnormal stereotypic behaviour (Inuka:

64.5% of the active periods; Sheba: 56.8% of the active periods). The bears were

at times observed to be constantly pacing or swimming stereotypically.

Stereotypic behaviour is widely recognised as a clear indication of an abnormal

animal-environment interaction and a sign of psychological disorder in animals.

Both polar bears displayed high levels of inactivity (Inuka: 42.5% of the time;

Sheba: 64.6% of the time). This is recognised as a clear indication of an

abnormal animal-environment interaction, almost certainly caused by a

sub-optimal environment that does not satisfy the natural, species-specific

behavioural needs of the bears.

There is no doubt that polar bears are poor candidates for captivity. They are

extremely wide-ranging, highly intelligent, cold weather carnivores, so they are

extremely problematic to house in captivity.

The bears also cannot simply 'adapt' to life in hot climates; wherever they are

in captivity they will still possess all the physiological adaptations to life

in the Arctic. Even if they lose some fur and blubber, they will always have

black skin that absorbs heat. Whilst an indoor air-conditioned area is provided

for the polar bears at Singapore Zoo, this area is reported to be extremely

small and not big enough for the bears to rest comfortably. Therefore, although

the bears can choose to enter the air-conditioned area during the day, this

means being cramped in a small, uncomfortable area.

A 2003 report by Oxford University researchers concluded that polar bears are

one of the species most affected by captivity. The bears are prone to problems

that include poor health and repetitive stereotypic behaviours. These problems

were suggested to stem from constraints imposed on the natural behaviour of

animals with wide-ranging lifestyles in the wild. The report revealed that

naturally wide-ranging species show the most evidence of stress and/or

psychological dysfunction in captivity.

Acres presented the results of the scientific study to the Singapore Zoo in June

2006 and are pleased that the Singapore Zoo has responded positively and agreed

to:

· Eventually relocate Inuka, the male polar bear, to a more suitable

facility in a more appropriate climate.

· Not import any Arctic animals in the future.

Rob Laidlaw, a Chartered Biologist and Director of ZooCheck Canada said " I am

very pleased to hear that the Singapore Zoo has finally recognised that the

keeping of polar bears in tropical situations is problematic. It is difficult to

think of a worse candidate for life in captivity in a hot climate. I hope other

zoos around the world learn from this example " .

" The tropical Southeast Asian climate is no place for Arctic polar bears and the

World Society for the Protection of Animal (WSPA) congratulates the Singapore

Zoo for making this progressive step in phasing out the keeping of polar bears "

said Dr. Roy Jones, who has a PhD in Applied Ethology/Animal Welfare and is the

Wildlife Project Officer for WSPA Asia.

Acres will be presenting the results of the investigation at the Southeast Asian

Zoo Association conference in Vietnam next week and will continue to monitor the

welfare of the polar bears to ensure that improvements are made to their living

conditions.

Contact:

Louis Ng (Executive Director)

Email: louis

Office: +65 6581 2488 Handphone: +65 9796 8592

- ends -

Notes

· Video footage of the polar bears displaying abnormal stereotypic

behaviours and photos of the polar bears are available on request.

· Acres is a local animal welfare charity aimed at fostering respect and

compassion for all animals. Our approach to raising animal welfare issues is to

focus on education and back up our advocacy with scientific clarity accrued

through research. Using our findings, we will inform the public and work towards

synergistic partnerships with the authorities and related parties to improve

animal welfare.

· This campaign is conducted in collaboration with WSPA who is

recognised by the United Nations and works to raise the standards of animal

welfare throughout the world.

September 6, 2006

Dear Debashishda and Mr Louis and AAPN colleagues,

Whilst I concur with Debashishda's philosophy, I can only applaud Mr Louis's

efforts and congratulate him on this enormous achievement. As Noam Chomsky

says, expanding the cage is an essential preliminary towards dismantling it.

I know how difficult it is to conduct zoo research since I have undertaken

it myself. ACRES has done a terrific job and I fervently hope their Vietnam

presentation makes an even greater impact. Their efforts on behalf of the

animals of Singapore Zoo are laudable and hats off to the researchers who

spent day after day to build up data to present their case. Catchy slogans

do not always change reality. Neither do newspaper reports as much as I

would like them to. Nor court cases which run endlessly for decades without

any final judgment in sight. As the former project coordinator of the Indian

Zoo Inquiry I can only express the utmost appreciation for this effort by

ACRES to make the lives of captive animals a little more tolerable. WELL

DONE MR LOUIS.

Best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

On 9/6/06, Louis Ng <kknglois wrote:

>

> PRESS RELEASE

>

> 6 September 2006

>

> UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION AT SINGAPORE ZOO REVEALS SERIOUS WELFARE CONCERNS

>

> SINGAPORE 6 September - A four month undercover investigation by the

> Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) into the welfare of

> the polar bears (Ursus maritimus) at the Singapore Zoo revealed serious

> concerns.

>

> Two polar bears are housed at the Singapore Zoo (Sheba, a female and

> Inuka, her male offspring) in an open-air enclosure that provides only

> approximately 0.0000005% of a polar bear's natural home range.

>

> Since 2004, Acres has been in discussions with the Singapore Zoo and has

> called for the zoo to improve the living conditions so that the bears can,

> at the very least, express some of their natural behaviours.

>

> From September until December 2005, Acres placed undercover researchers at

> the Singapore Zoo to conduct a detailed scientific behavioural study into

> the welfare of the polar bears. Key findings of the four month scientific

> study (based on 3,150 minutes of data) were:

>

> Both bears exhibited signs of severe heat stress. The bears were both seen

> to be panting for long periods of time (Inuka: 36.0% of the time; Sheba:

> 38.7% of the time), indicating that they are far too hot. The bears were

> also seen to be exhibiting other behaviours indicating heat stress.

>

> Both bears engaged in high levels of abnormal stereotypic behaviour

> (Inuka: 64.5% of the active periods; Sheba: 56.8% of the active periods).

> The bears were at times observed to be constantly pacing or swimming

> stereotypically. Stereotypic behaviour is widely recognised as a clear

> indication of an abnormal animal-environment interaction and a sign of

> psychological disorder in animals.

>

> Both polar bears displayed high levels of inactivity (Inuka: 42.5% of the

> time; Sheba: 64.6% of the time). This is recognised as a clear indication

> of an abnormal animal-environment interaction, almost certainly caused by a

> sub-optimal environment that does not satisfy the natural, species-specific

> behavioural needs of the bears.

>

> There is no doubt that polar bears are poor candidates for captivity. They

> are extremely wide-ranging, highly intelligent, cold weather carnivores, so

> they are extremely problematic to house in captivity.

>

> The bears also cannot simply 'adapt' to life in hot climates; wherever

> they are in captivity they will still possess all the physiological

> adaptations to life in the Arctic. Even if they lose some fur and blubber,

> they will always have black skin that absorbs heat. Whilst an indoor

> air-conditioned area is provided for the polar bears at Singapore Zoo, this

> area is reported to be extremely small and not big enough for the bears to

> rest comfortably. Therefore, although the bears can choose to enter the

> air-conditioned area during the day, this means being cramped in a small,

> uncomfortable area.

>

> A 2003 report by Oxford University researchers concluded that polar bears

> are one of the species most affected by captivity. The bears are prone to

> problems that include poor health and repetitive stereotypic behaviours.

> These problems were suggested to stem from constraints imposed on the

> natural behaviour of animals with wide-ranging lifestyles in the wild. The

> report revealed that naturally wide-ranging species show the most evidence

> of stress and/or psychological dysfunction in captivity.

>

> Acres presented the results of the scientific study to the Singapore Zoo

> in June 2006 and are pleased that the Singapore Zoo has responded positively

> and agreed to:

>

> · Eventually relocate Inuka, the male polar bear, to a more

> suitable facility in a more appropriate climate.

>

> · Not import any Arctic animals in the future.

>

> Rob Laidlaw, a Chartered Biologist and Director of ZooCheck Canada said " I

> am very pleased to hear that the Singapore Zoo has finally recognised that

> the keeping of polar bears in tropical situations is problematic. It is

> difficult to think of a worse candidate for life in captivity in a hot

> climate. I hope other zoos around the world learn from this example " .

>

> " The tropical Southeast Asian climate is no place for Arctic polar bears

> and the World Society for the Protection of Animal (WSPA) congratulates the

> Singapore Zoo for making this progressive step in phasing out the keeping of

> polar bears " said Dr. Roy Jones, who has a PhD in Applied Ethology/Animal

> Welfare and is the Wildlife Project Officer for WSPA Asia.

>

> Acres will be presenting the results of the investigation at the Southeast

> Asian Zoo Association conference in Vietnam next week and will continue to

> monitor the welfare of the polar bears to ensure that improvements are made

> to their living conditions.

>

> Contact:

>

> Louis Ng (Executive Director)

>

> Email: louis

>

> Office: +65 6581 2488 Handphone: +65 9796 8592

>

> - ends -

>

> Notes

>

> · Video footage of the polar bears displaying abnormal stereotypic

> behaviours and photos of the polar bears are available on request.

>

> · Acres is a local animal welfare charity aimed at fostering

> respect and compassion for all animals. Our approach to raising animal

> welfare issues is to focus on education and back up our advocacy with

> scientific clarity accrued through research. Using our findings, we will

> inform the public and work towards synergistic partnerships with the

> authorities and related parties to improve animal welfare.

>

> · This campaign is conducted in collaboration with WSPA who is

> recognised by the United Nations and works to raise the standards of animal

> welfare throughout the world.

>

September 7, 2006

Yes, well done Louis! It was so nice to meet you at the last conference that

ACRES hosted. Hope to see you in December in India. My own story in regards

to Polar Bears is that I was living in Denver when Klondike and Snow where

born in captivity (book here:

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/customer-reviews/1570980594). I remember

thinking then " how disgusting, but what to do? " The only thing I could

think of then was to modify the free bumper stickers given out by the Denver

Zoo to say " FREE Klondike and Snow from the Denver Zoo. " Years later I was

in Florida for work and the office took everyone out to WaterWorld, where

Klondike and Snow had been relocated when they outgrew their " exhibition

space. " Polar bears in Florida. Confirmation that humans are crazy animals.

So to hear that Louis & Acres is doing something to prevent such insanity is

heartwarming and appreciated. Thanks again!!!!

Jigs, AnimalNepal

www.animalnepal.org

aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of

Wednesday, September 06, 2006 10:20 PM

Louis Ng

Cc: aapn ; animalcrusader; rob

Re: Undercover investigation at Singapore Zoo reveal serious

welfare concerns