______________________________________________________________________ AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE WELFARE OF CAPTIVE POLAR BEARS IN JAPAN ______________________________________________________________________ by the ANIMAL CONCERNS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SOCIETY (ACRES). Published by Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) 2007. Written by: Amy Corrigan. Edited by: Rob Laidlaw, Louis Ng. Translations by: Nicholas Hirayama, Atsuchi Shoko. Wild polar bear photo : Lynn Rogers. The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) is a Singaporean-based charity, founded in 2001 by Singaporeans. Acres aims to: • Foster respect and compassion for all animals. • Improve the living conditions and welfare of animals in captivity. • Educate people on lifestyle choices which do not involve the abuse of animals and which are environment-friendly. Our approach is Scientific, Creative, Practical and Positive . 30 Mandai Estate #05-06 Mandai Industrial Building Singapore 729918 Tel: +65 581 2488 Fax: +65 581 6318 www.acres.org.sg [email protected] www.acres.org.sg i AUTHORS AND EDITORS Amy Corrigan Amy Corrigan is the Director of Education and Research at the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) and has a degree in Zoology from the University of Sheffield, specialising in animal behaviour. She has vast experience in the field of captive bear welfare, having worked with them for several years in a wildlife rescue centre. In 2005 she conducted a four-month investigation into the welfare of the polar bears at Singapore Zoo and subsequently wrote the report “What’s a polar bear doing in the tropics?” which was published by Acres in 2006. Rob Laidlaw Rob Laidlaw is a Chartered Biologist who began his involvement in animal protection work more than twenty-five years ago. He has conducted numerous investigative and legislative campaigns for the protection of wildlife in Canada and elsewhere around the world. He has been involved in hundreds of site visits to zoos, aquariums, breeding centres, sanctuaries and other captive wildlife facilities in more than a dozen countries. Rob also founded ZooCheck Canada. Louis Ng Louis Ng is the founding member and Executive Director of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres). Louis has a degree in biology and a Masters in Primate Conservation. He has inspected zoos throughout Asia, including in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, Japan, Thailand and Myanmar. He has successfully campaigned to end the use of chimpanzees in photography sessions at Singapore Zoo. In 2005, Acres successfully campaigned to end circus-style animal shows at Singapore Zoo. www.acres.org.sg ii CONTENTS PAGE _______________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……..………………………………………….…………………………. 7 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………...……...………………… 11 1.1 Project objectives….………………………………………………………………………… 11 1.2 Introduction to Japan and its captive polar bears.……………….………… 11 1.3 Project methods………………………………………………………………………………. 12 1.4 Introduction to polar bears……………..……………………………….……………… 14 1.5 Welfare of wild animals in captivity.....……………………….……… …….... 15 1.6 Welfare concerns for polar bears in captivity: International scientific studies……………………………..………………………………………………. 16 1.6.1 British zoos studies……………………………….……………………………… 17 1.6.2 Oxford University report…………………………..………….……………. 18 1.6.3 Singapore Zoo study……………………………………………………………… 19 1.7 The phasing out of keeping polar bears in captivity……………………….. 19 CHAPTER 2. LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS: INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL……………. ….................................................................. 23 2.1 Japanese legislation…………….…………………………………………...…......... 23 2.2 Canadian legislation.……….………………………..……………………………… …… 24 2.3 Japanese Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquariums (JAZA) Code of Ethics…………………………………………………………………………………………… 24 2.4 World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Code of Ethics…………………………………………………………………………………………… 25 CHAPTER 3. PROBLEMS WITH POLAR BEAR ENCLOSURE DESIGN AND HUSBANDRY AT JAPANESE CAPTIVE FACILITIES…………………………………… 26 3.1 Problems with enclosure design and husbandry …………………………….. 26 3.2 Problems with enclosure design……………………….………………………… 28 3.2.1 Size………………………………………………………………………………………. 28 3.2.2 Style ……………………………………………………………………………………. 31 3.2.3 Design of interior………………………………………………………………. 32 3.2.4 Substrate……………………………………………………………………………… 35 3.2.5 Shelter ………………………………………………………………………………… 38 3.2.6 Furniture……………………………………………………………………………… 40 3.2.7 Private areas………………………………………………………………………… 42 3.2.8 Safety…………………………………………………………………………………… 45 3.2.9 Noise levels…………………………………………………………………………. 46 3.3 Problems with husbandry…………………………………………………………………. 47 3.3.1 Condition of enclosure…………………………………………………………. 47 www.acres.org.sg iii 3.3.2 Access to off-exhibit areas…………………………………………………… 47 3.3.3 Provision of clean drinking water ………………………………………. 48 3.3.4 Feeding routines and methods ……………………………………………. 48 3.3.5 Enrichment…………………………………………………………………………… 50 3.3.6 Hygiene………………………………………………………………………………… 56 3.3.7 Social groupings……………………………………………………………………. 58 3.3.8 Overcrowding………………………………………………………………………. 58 3.4 Physical signs of stress……………………………………………………….…......... 59 3.4.1 Weight abnormalities………………………………………………………….. 59 3.4.2 Minimal lean body mass……………………………………..………………. 60 3.4.3 Fur loss……………………………………………………………………………….. 61 3.5 Summary……………….………………………………………................…….…..... 62 CHAPTER 4. BEHAVIOURAL EFFECTS OF CAPTIVITY FOR POLAR BEARS………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 64 4.1 Stereotypic behaviour………………………………………………………………. 64 4.2 Excessive inactivity…………………………………………………………………… 67 4.3 Other abnormal behaviours………………………………………………………. 69 4.4 Summary……………………………………………………………………………………. 69 CHAPTER 5. ANALYSIS OF THE EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT …………………... 70 5.1 Educational value of captive polar bears in Japan………….…......... 70 5.1.1 Time spent at enclosure by visitors ………….……..………….…… 70 5.1.2 Number of visitors who looked at informational signs………. 70 5.1.3 Informational sign content…………………………………………………. 71 5.2 Summary……………….………………………………………................…….…..... 71 CHAPTER 6. HEAT STRESS FACED BY POLAR BEARS IN UNSUITABLE CLIMATES…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 73 CHAPTER 7. INDIVIDUAL CAPTIVE FACILITY REPORTS……………………….. 77 7.1 Explanation of categories used in individual captive facility reports……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 77 7.2 Individual Captive Facility Reports…………………………………………………… 80 7.2.1 Adventureworld………………………………………………………………………… 80 7.2.2 Asahiyama Zoo………………………………………………………………………. 84 7.2.3 Cuddly Dominion………………………………………………………………………. 89 7.2.4 Hamamatsu Zoo………………………………………………………………………… 93 7.2.5 Higashiyama Zoo………………………………………………………………………. 97 7.2.6 Himeji City Zoo………………………………………………………………………… 101 7.2.7 Hirakawa Zoo……………………………………………………………………………. 104 7.2.8 Kobe Oji Zoo……………………………………………………………………………. 108 www.acres.org.sg iv 7.2.9 Kumamoto Zoo………………………………………………………………………. 111 7.2.10 Kushiro Zoo……………………………………………………………………………. 114 7.2.11 Kyoto Zoo………………………………………………………………………………. 119 7.2.12 Nihondaira Zoo………………………………………………………………………. 123 7.2.13 Obihiro Zoo……………………………………………………………………………. 127 7.2.14 Oga Aquarium…………………………………………………………………………. 131 7.2.15 Sapporo Muruyama Zoo…………………………………………………………. 134 7.2.16 Tennoji Zoo……………………………………………………………………………. 138 7.2.17 Tobe Zoo………………………………………………………………………………… 141 7.2.18 Tokushima Zoo………………………………………………………………………. 146 7.2.19 Tokuyama Zoo………………………………………………………………………… 149 7.2.20 Toyohashi Zoo………………………………………………………………………… 152 7.2.21 Ueno Zoo………………………………………………………………………………… 155 7.2.22 Yagiyama Zoo…………………………………………………………………………. 158 7.2.23 Yokohama Sea Paradise…………………………………………………………. 163 7.2.24 Yokohama Zoo (Zoorasia)….…………………………………………………… 166 CHAPTER 8. RECOMMENDATIONS………………………………………………… ….... 170 8.1 Short-term recommendations………………….……………….....…………...... 170 8.2 Specific recommendations for some individual facilities………………… 175 8.3 Long-term recommendations………………………………………..………………… 175 CHAPTER 9. CONCLUSION……………….……………..…………………..……. …..... 176 REFERENCE LIST ………………….………………………………………………………... ….... 179 APPENDIX I. ZOOCHECK QUESTIONNAIRE……………………………………………. 183 APPENDIX II. JAZA CODE OF ETHICS……………………………………………………. 186 APPENDIX III. WAZA CODE OF ETHICS…………………………………………………. 189 APPENDIX IV. GUIDELINES FOR ENCLOSURE SIZE FOR BEARS……………. 194 APPENDIX V. GUIDELINES FOR ENCLOSURE DESIGN FOR BEARS………… 195 APPENDIX VI. GUIDELINES FOR PROVISION OF SUITABLE CLIMATE FOR BEARS……………………………………………………………………… 198 APPENDIX VII. GUIDELINES FOR SUBSTRATE FOR BEARS……………………. 199 APPENDIX VIII. GUIDELINES FOR ENCLOSURE FURNITURE FOR BEARS… 200 APPENDIX IX. GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE AREAS FOR BEARS………………… 202 www.acres.org.sg v APPENDIX X. GUIDELINES FOR ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMES FOR BEARS 203 APPENDIX XI. GUIDELINES FOR FEEDING TECHNIQUES FOR BEARS……. 204 www.acres.org.sg vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Polar bears are poor candidates for captivity, even in the best of circumstances. They are extremely wide-ranging, highly intelligent, cold weather carnivores, so they are extremely problematic to house and care for in captivity. In fact, many experts believe they are one of the species most ill-suited to captivity. 2. Studies by researchers at Oxford University have indicated that the fact that polar bears have large home ranges in the wild may be the reason why they suffer problems in captivity such as stereotypical behaviour and high infant mortality. As stated in the report: “our findings indicate that the keeping of naturally