A sun bear displays her impressive tongue.
May 16 to 22, 2011, is Bear Awareness Week, and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating these amazing animals. While you learn more about bears, please take the time to reflect upon the challenges all bears face in wild and learn all that you can about what you can do to make a difference to help conserve bears. At the San Diego Zoo, we are passionate about bear conservation, and we’re excited to share with you our current research efforts, as well as an overview of the challenges that free-ranging populations of bears face around the world.
The bear family (Ursidae) currently consists of eight species, seven of which are conservation-dependent species (the sole exception: the American black bear). Each conservation-dependent species inhabits a very different habitat, has generally evolved to exploit a particular resource niche (which may change seasonally), and has evolved a number of striking adaptations that have enabled them to take advantage of the unique foods they eat and the habitats in which they live.
While each bear species has evolved, over thousands of years, to cope with the various natural challenges to survival found in their environment, they all face extreme challenges to their persistence in the wild due to the impacts of human populations and the rapid pace of environmental change due to human activities. While humans impact the environment in a variety of ways, ultimately it is one single factor that poses, by far, the greatest threat to the persistence of all wild bear populations: HABITAT LOSS. From great polar bears roaming the vast Arctic sea ice to diminutive sun bears dwelling in the tropical rain forests of Southeast Asia, suitable habitat is being lost or fragmented at an alarming pace. Climate change, resource extraction, and human population growth have all contributed to habitat losses. But, while these challenges may seem daunting, the reality is that if we can change our habits, reduce our carbon footprint, and make conscientious changes in how we buy and use products, we can reverse these trends, and we can save the world’s bears.
Historically, hunting was the greatest threat to all bear species. Unregulated hunting had dramatic impacts on population numbers for bears worldwide, especially in the first half of the 20th century, when a lack of regulation was coupled with enhanced access to bears (through motorized vehicles) and more efficient weapons. In the 1970s, the impact of hunting on some species, such as the polar bear, impelled wildlife biologists and managers to develop science-based harvest quotas that, over the years, served to stabilize polar bear populations. However, the unregulated “take” of wild bears continues in some parts of the world, and bear parts and the pet trade have continued to take their toll on a number of Asian bear species (except the giant panda).
Just as the impact of hunting on most bear populations was minimized through the efforts of people, so, too, can the impacts of habitat loss and climate change be reduced. We can all make a difference, and the first step is to get passionate about bears and bear conservation. A great place to start? The San Diego Zoo!
Come visit Kalluk, Chinook, and Tatqiq (polar bears); Montana, Scout, and Blackie (brown bears); Marcella and Francis (sun bears); Bai Yun, Gao Gao, and Yun Zi (giant pandas); Houdini and Tommy (Andean bears); and Ken and Bhutan (sloth bears). They are all great bear ambassadors. After visiting the wide array of bears at the San Diego Zoo, I have no doubt you’ll be inspired to turn off your TV, ride your bike (or walk) instead of driving, and carefully read product labels!
Find out more about the bear research the San Diego Zoo is actively engaged in…
Megan Owen is a conservation program specialist at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Read her previous post, Love is in the Air.
Great article – we all need to work to save all bears.
And when you are done visiting the bears in San Diego Zoo, please come on up to Maine and see some wild black bears. It is the best time of year to be in Maine. You will need to get away from the ocean and up into the North Maine Woods, but it is worth it.
I know how much we all appreciate the hard work our bear keepers do to keep the bears so happy.
When is Bear Keeper Week?
Moderator’s note: I know that National Zoo Keeper Week is July 17 to 23, 2011. Visit your local zoo and let the keepers know you appreciate their hard work.
Think I just saw a tree uprooted in Yun Zi exhibit, am I right??? What’s he up to now?
Maybe along with the “Save the Bears” campaign we will need to start a “Save the Trees” campaign and convince out panda boy to help us out. Lucilla, could you please get Bai Yun to convince her son he needs to save the trees?
Thanks, Auntie Megan. I never knew I had so many distant cousins. I want to visit them all one day and maybe go play with the baby ellies and hippos. Can you ask the nanykeepers for me? Hee Hee.
Love all bears, save all bears!
Lovingly yours,
Yun Zi Gao
Two questions:
Is the San Diego Zoo doing anything for Bear Awareness Week? I haven’t seen any special tours offered, received any emails about it, or seen anything on the Zoo calendar…
How the heck do you tell the difference between Ken and Bhutan? The differences between the rest of the SDZ bears are relatively easy…
Moderator’s note: We are not offering special tours this year, but we’ll feature one bear post each day, including one about our sloth bears!
FYI Bhutan is generally located in the exhibit just downhill from his brother Ken.
Last April, for a birthday present, My family took me to theZoo. We did it all, and I got to see Su Lin, Bai and Yunnie baby. As well, we got to see the polar bears early. The demonstration of the bears, eating, swimming and playing was outstanding. Their keeper seemed to be love by all. It was a joy to know that in Zoos some would be saved.And the intelligence of the bears plus our Pandas, and those everywhere now, gave a glimmer of hope for their salvation. Little Po, our latest baby, “little dumpling” hasn’t mastered going inside with his mama. She seems to be knocking him around, while he just climbs back on the structure.We know from Bai Yun how important for safety that is.Visiting the Cams, seeing their behaviour, everywhere, allows us to hope for their safety. And successful reproduction. Their futures.
Another place to visit bears is the Moonridge Animal Park in Big Bear, Ca. They have 3 rescued grizzlies,and a 3 footed black bear rescued from a trap. They are a tiny zoo with mostly animals native to the area and are working on relocating to a larger area.
Excellent information and I dearly share your concerns about the species survival. Here in the Pacific Northwest on Puget Sound we have a fairly significant population of black bears and I am always concerned about their survival. We actually had an adult bear stroll across the upper deck of our home last year. The are beautiful and magnificent animals and should be protected to the maximum extent possible. Thank you for sharing your insights to their survival.
Just read on the CNN scroll that the world’s oldest panda has just died at 34 years of age. Is this BaSi? Does anyone know?
Moderator’s note: The panda was named Ming Ming.
What type of bear is in the picture at the top of this page? Is he a brown bear? I think I saw him when I was at SDZ. He must be the biggest bear there is. Thanks for the post. I guess you’re saying that climate change is the main reason for loss of habitat. At least I think that’s the case for the polar bear. Giving up driving is a tough one in Los Angeles. But I don’t have a TV.
Moderator’s note: That is Blackie, our Manchurian brown bear. He is quite a hunk!
I just checked in on the polar bears and saw one of them (with a rather dirty face) snoozing on one of the rocks with a piece of burlap for a pillow — so cute! They look so snuggly and soft — it’s hard not to imagine curling up and taking a nap with one of them. Yes, I know… not possible — but they have such sweet faces — especially with they look a little sleepy and they are wiggling their toes… maybe I just need to go home and take a nap on the sofa with my dog!
‘MAMAMAMAMAMA!’ hollers Yun Zi as he trots into her room clutching an envelop.
‘Yes?’ replies Bai Yun as she raises her eyepads.
‘The invites to Uncle Po’s premiere have come. He says he will send a limo for us. Mama, can I make a new tux for that night? Please, please…maybe an Alexander McBear or Hugo Bear? Huh Huh can I can I?
‘And why will you need a new tux, my dear sweet dumpling?’
‘Because I am no longer a dumpling but a syudly subadult…..(he strikes a pose) and I don’t think I can squeeze into my old tux anyway. Also I want to look good cos Angelina Polie will be there as well as Ms Panda Universe 2008…’
‘NOW I see the reason for the fuss, humph….is she worth all the fuss, Mama will have to check her out…and I think you do need to look nice as all of Pandas of the Kingdom will be there. Mama will call the store to send over a selection….I think a maroon cummerband will be nice…’
‘THANK YOU MAMA! I LOVE YOU!’
‘Woah what’s all the fuss?’ asks Gao Gao, dripping with sweat as he comes in fresh from his boolisthenics.
‘Your son wants a new tux so he can go courting!’
‘That’s my boy! Come see Papa later and we will have some Panda male talk…’
‘And what about you? Don’t you need a new tux too?’
‘Hey, maybe dear as I have been bulking up for you, hee hee, you know for the Spring Salsa, remember my one paw handstand, hee hee…’
‘Yes, yes, dear. And you did very well too, my sweet!’
‘Hey Babe, why don’t you wear your crimson red ball gown with the black mantilla, ole my sweet senora will be the most gorgeous panda lady there!’
‘Oh Gao, you are such a riot. Who will look at me when all the young ones will be there, Ping, Zi ZI and even our grand-daughter Hao Hao…I am an old grandmama, maybe a great grandmama even…’
‘Eh Babe, I only have eyes for you dear…’
‘Papa, can you teach me that song? And the ancient Panda wooing songs too?’
‘Yunnie, Yunnie, Papa is going one better, I have a DVD with me singing all the songs and I am presenting you with a copy. Come, lets go into my den and let me teach you a new one I wrote that did the trick this Spring. Your Mama wants to do her facial now.’
‘COOOL, Papa, I love you too. Mama, all the Ge Ges and Jie Jies in China will be flying in for the Premiere too. Su Lin asks what you would like her to bring you?’
‘Oh Oh Oh, I miss this special boo biscuit that they make only in China and it comes in round shapes like a moon cake with bean paste and lotus seeds. I want as many as they can bring!’
‘Mama, I thought you were on a diet?’
‘I need to eat for two now…’
‘Mama, you mean…’
‘Ooops, I mean, I don’t know, we’ll see, but I do feel hungrier than usual…’
‘Hip Hip Hoooray!, Yay, Party Time at Panda Canyon. Daddy, you the Man!’
Wow! This is going to be some party! Hope Rita Petita and Doxie Mom are ready to record it for panda posterity.
I plan on working in zoos in the future to help save all endangered animals. At my school the other students think that my hopes are stupid and not as important as the jocks and snobs being perfect. I wish students at my school weren’t so ignorant. I know I’m going on a rant but I have had a classmate basically tell me that he wants to see all animals die especially pandas. I showed all of the classes that I am in that I don’t care what they think. I wear my panda outfit to just drive them crazy. I want to work at zoo some where some day. I love PANDAS!!
Hang tough, Nancy! You are the student our amazing wild animals need. I hope your dream to work in a zoo comes true, maybe even in San Diego.