a handstand scent mark involves the bear standing on its fore paws and lifting its rear up high to mark against the wall. Both back paws are off the ground. There are two forms of this scent mark: the contact mark, in which the animal actually rubs the gland under the tail against the wall, and the non-contact mark, in which the male doesn’t rub the gland but instead urinates on the wall (or tree, etc.) and the urine splashes down the length of the wall. Most males favor the latter, but Gao Gao is really good at making contact in this position.

Bernice #32,

You are correct, the bears do have a reason to get their scent up high. Our research has shown that bears react differently to the same scent depending on how high up it is placed. There appears to be some important information conveyed in the placement. As to what exactly it conveys, dominance or strength or intimidating size are the likely possibilities. Very interesting since one of the most prolific handstand markers I have ever known, Gao Gao, is also one of the smallest adult males I have ever seen. Either he is trying to pass himself off as something he is not, or he has a healthy sense of self confidence!

Yes, we were all quite surprised by Mei Sheng’s hand stand scent marking… we found it hard to believe at first. One thing that is very interesting is that we have known only one bear in captivity who scent marked in the hand stand position as much or more than does Gao Gao… so maybe there is a strong genetic tendency playing out here. It certainly can’t be true that Mei Sheng learned this from Gao Gao, since they are never housed together. Even their howdy gate experiences occurred AFTER Mei Sheng started up with the hand stands. Perhaps Gao Gao passed along a drive to get one’s scent mark up high!