HUSBANDRY MANUAL FOR THE BROWN BEAR Ursus arctos Author: Shontelle Lorenzo Date of preparation: November 2009 TAFE NSW- Richmond college Course name: Captive Animals Management Lecturer: Graeme Phipps TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………….…6 1.2 OH & S………………………………………………………….....6-8 2 TAXONOMY……………………………………………………….…9 2.1 Nomenclature……………………………………………………………….….9 2.2 Subspecies……………………………………………………………….....….9 2.3 Recent Synonyms………………………………………………………...….10 2.4 Other Common Names…………………………………………………..….11 3 NATURAL HISTORY………………………………………………12 3.1 Morphometrics……………………………………………….……12 3.1.1 Mass and Basic Body Measurement………………………………….12-13 3.1.2 Sexual Dimorphism………………………………………………...……..13 3.1.3 Distinguishing Features………………………………………….……13-15 3.1.4 Basic Anatomy………………………………………………………..……16 3.2 Distribution and Habitat……………………………………....16-18 3.3 Conservation Status……………………………………………18-19 3.4 Longevity…………………………………………………….……..19 3.5 Techniques Used to Determine Age in Adults……………….…..19 3.6 Physiological notes…………………………………………....……19 3.7 Hibernation/ Aestivation………………………………………19-20 4 HOUSING……………………………………………………………21 4.1 Exhibit/ Enclosure Design……………………………………..21-22 4.2 Holding Area Design………………………………………………22 4.3 Spatial Requirements………………………………………..…22-23 4.4 Position of Enclosure………………………………………....……23 4.5 Weather protection………………………………………….……..23 4.6 Temperature Requirements………………………………...…23-24 4.7 Substrate…………………………………………………..……24-26 4.8 Nesting/ Bedding…………………………………………..……24-26 4.9 Enclosure Furnishing…………………………………………..26-33 5 GENERAL HUSBANDRY…………………………………...……..34 2 5.1 Hygiene and Cleaning……………………………….…………34-36 5.2 Record Keeping…………………………………………..………..36 5.3 Methods of Identification……………………………...…………..37 5.4 Routine Data collection………………………………...………37-38 6 FEEDING REQUIREMENTS……………………………...………39 6.1 Wild Diet………………………………………………….…..…….39 6.2 Captive Diet……………………………………………….……39-41 6.3 Supplements………………………………………………..………41 6.4 presentation of Food…………………………………….……..41-44 7 HANDLING AND TRANSPORT………………………….………45 7.1 Husbandry Training……………………………………...……45-47 7.2 Timing of Capture and Transport……………………….……47-48 7.3 Catching Equipment………………………………………..……..48 7.4 Capture and Restraint Techniques……………………..……..48-49 7.5 Weighing and Examination………………………………...……..49 7.6 Release………………………………………………….…..………49 7.7 Transport Requirements…………………………………..………50 7.7.1 Box Design………………………………………………….……………50 7.7.2 Furnishings………………………………………………………………50 7.7.3 Food and Water…………………………………………….….………….51 7.7.4 Animals per Box…………………………………………….…..…………51 7.7.5 Timing of Transportation…………………………………………………..51 7.7.6 Release from Box……………………………………………..…………51-52 8 HEALTH……………………………………………………….……53 8.1 Daily Health Checks………………………………………….……53 8.2 Detailed Physical Examination……………………………...…….53 8.1.1 Physical Restraint…………………………………………….…………53 8.1.2 Chemical restraint……………………………………………..……..53-56 8.3 Routine Treatments……………………………………………56-57 8.4 Known Health Problems………………………………………57-65 8.5 Quarantine Procedures………………………………………..65-66 9 BEHAVIOUR………………………………………………….…….67 9.1 Activity………………………………………………….…………..67 9.2 Social Behaviour…………………………………………...………67 9.2.1 Social Structure and Relationships…………………………….………….67-68 9.2.2 Social Interactions…………………………………………………………67-68 9.2.3 Communication…………………………………………………...….………..68 3 9.2.4 Predation…………………………………………………………..…………..68 9.2.5 Learning…………………………………………………………….…………68 9.3 Reproductive Behaviour…………………………………….…68-69 9.4 Bathing………………………………………………………...……69 9.5 Behavioural Problems…………………………………….……70-76 9.6 Signs of Stress………………………………………………..…70-76 9.7 Behavioural Enrichment………………………………………76-84 9.8 Introductions and Removals……………………………….….84-85 9.9 Intraspecific Compatibility……………………………….………86 9.10 Interspecific Compatibility………………………………………86 9.11 Suitability to Captivity……………………………………...........86 10 BREEDING…………………………………………………………87 10.1 Mating System……………………………………………………87 10.2 Ease of Breeding……………………………………….…………87 10.3 Reproductive Condition………………………………….………87 10.4 Techniques used to Control Breeding………………….……87-90 10.5 Occurrence of Hybrids………………………………….……90-91 10.6 Timing of Breeding………………………………………….……91 10.7 Age of Breeding…………………………………………...………91 10.8 Ability to Breed Every Year……………………………..………91 10.9 Ability to Breed more than Once a Year………………..………91 10.10 Nesting and Den Requirements……………………………..91-94 10.11 Breeding Diet……………………………………………..……..94 10.12 Oestrous Cycle and Gestation Period…………………….……95 10.13 Litter Size…………………………………………………..……95 10.14 Age at Weaning…………………………………………………95 10.15 Age of Removal of Parents…………………………….……95-96 10.16 Growth and Development……………………………..……95-96 11 ARTIFICIAL REARING…………………………………………97 11.1 Housing……………………………………………………..…97-98 11.2 Temperature Requirements…………………………….……97-98 11.3 Diet and Feeding Routine………………………………...…98-100 11.4 Specific Requirements…………………………………..…100-101 11.5 Data Recording……………………………………………….…101 11.6 Identification Methods………………………………….………101 11.7 Hygiene……………………………………………………...101-102 11.8 Behavioural Considerations…………………………....………102 11.9 Use of Foster Species………………………………….……102-103 4 11.10 Weaning……………………………………………...…………103 11.11 Rehabilitations and Release Procedures…………...……103-104 12 REFERENCES……………………………………….………104-116 13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………...…….116 5 1 Introduction Brown bears in large population groups are considered fairly stable at the moment; therefore they are currently being displayed for their educational value and general interest from the public rather then for breeding purposes. Brown bears are an impressive carnivore to display due to their size and gentle looking appearance. They are an intelligent, curious and fascinating animal deserving of great respect. Figure 1 Zoo guide educating school children 1.2 OH&S WARNING- DANGEROUS ANIMAL Due to its power, size and unpredictable behavior, the brown bear is considered a threat to humans. Working in the enclosure/yards with the brown bears could be harmful or fatal. To ensure the safety of keepers, staff and public many zoos work with 2 keepers double checking locks are secure before entering a yard or den. It is important that the keepers have perfect communication when working together on a dangerous animal section to ensure there is no miscommunications. 1.2.1 Example of an effective safety procedure from National Zoo & Aquarium, Canberra. The theory behind this safety procedure is to call out loud over the 2-way radio as you check locks are secure so that the other trained keepers can follow your security process as you enter and leave dens/enclosures. It also is a way of telling ‘yourself’ that you have secured locks. By only having one trained keeper working with the bears for each day there is no chance of miscommunications. Personal tags from each 6 extra people (volunteers, tours, maintenance) must be hung on the keeper access door as the personnel enter enclosures and removed when they exit, so the keeper knows exactly who and how many people are entering the enclosure. This is especially important if the volunteers, maintenance etc are left unattended by the keeper. Figure 2 These tags show that there are two volunteers currently working in the enclosure. BROWN BEAR PROCEDURES FOR TRAINED BEAR KEEPERS (for keepers that are training- a second trained keeper double checks the locks and holds the key to access dens and enclosure.) BROWN BEAR KEY/LOCKED BOX PROCEDURE 1. Use “A” key to enter den and raceway 2. Collect “bear two” key from locked box; for slides and enclosure entry 3. Put “bear two” key chain around neck until all work finished 4. Once all work finished replace “bear two” key in locked box 5. Lock doors on the way out LOCK BROWN BEARS INTO DENS 6. Call bears into dens. 7. Separate bears and close slides, check that pins are across 8. Lock padlocks when slides are down, bolt across 9. Double-check that locks are secured and call action over two way radio i.e. “brown bears secured in den though slides 2, 4” etc until you’ve checked EVERY slide that leads into the enclosure. 10. Wait for call to be copied. Repeat call if not copied. 11. Enter yard. All extra persons entering the enclosure (maintenance, volunteers, tours) MUST hang their personal tag on the access door BEFORE entering the enclosure. 12. Clean yard, enrichment, food and water (as per schedule) 13. All extra people are to REMOVE their tag as they leave the enclosure. 14. Check there are no tags left on door to ensure every extra person has left the enclosure. 15. Secure enclosure 7 16. Double-check that locks are secured and call action over two way radio i.e. “brown bears enclosure secured.” 17. Wait for call to be copied. Repeat call if not copied. 18. Release bears into enclosure/rotate bears ENTER AND CLEAN DENS 1. Close slides; to secure bears in yard; check that pins are across 2. Lock padlocks when slides are down, bolt across 3. Double-check that locks are secured and call action over two way radio i.e. “brown bears dens secured for keeper access through slides 2, 4” etc until you’ve checked every slide that leads into the dens. 4. Wait for call to be copied. Repeat call if not copied. 5. Unlock dens for cleaning 6. Clean dens/water 7. Lock den doors 8. Double-check that locks are secured and call action over two way radio i.e. “brown bears dens secured through keeper access doors A,B…etc” until you’ve check every keeper access door that leads into the dens 9. Wait for call to be copied. Repeat call if not copied. 10. Unlock slides for animal rotations. 8 2 Taxonomy 2.1 Nomenclature