Polar Bears at Whipsnade » Whipsnade Zoo

Polar Bears at Whipsnade
09-07-2008

Does any one have any info on the polar bears that have been kept at whipsnade in the past ? I believe they had the best breeding record in the country, rearing about 12 cubs, in the 1960s and 1970s, including the first twin cubs in the UK, in 1960. I know the last two they had went to Chester in 1984. Does anyone have any old photos of the enclosure on the downs they could put in the gallery?

10-07-2008

I don't have any photos of the enclosure but I'm sure someone will oblige.
It was roughly oval in shape, had an undulating concrete surface with a pool and high iron railings(with an overhang on the bears' side)all round. It was near where the current 'viewpoint' cafe is situated.

The main pair of bears around that time were 'Amos' & 'Mosa' and they did produce and rear a number of cubs, more so than the ZSL bears.

I think one from Bristol may have been there for a while too.

10-07-2008

It was an eyesore and, far more importantly, very small for such large and active animals.
Apart from the brown bears, which are still kept in the same paddock, all of Whipsnade's bears were badly housed at that time. The spectacled bears were in a small cage and the Kodiak bears were in a very bare concrete pit near the polar bears (although they bred successfully).

Alan

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10-07-2008

The Kodiak bear enclosure was even uglier than the Polar Bear one. But the Spectacled Bears enclosure was little better than a Dog Kennel. I was always amazed that such a zoologically unusual species(the only other ones then in UK were at Jersey) should be afforded such little importance after they were moved out from London.

At least much better efforts have been made for the Sloth Bears when they were similarly transferred from ZSL recently.

11-07-2008

Amos was one of the bears sent to Chester in 1984. He was put to sleep in June 1989, after it was discovered he was suffering from kidney failure. His surviving mate at Chester was called Sabrina. Does anyone know if this is the same bear who was born at Bristol in 1966 (the first second generation captive polar bear birth in UK), who subsequently went to London as a mate for Pipaluk ?

11-07-2008

I'd be very surprised if she wasn't...

Bongorob?