Polar Bear enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo 2008

That's the exhibit I hear all the complaining about? I mean it's not hardly adequate but sadly I've seen much, much worse.

I'm inclined to agree. It's not huge but it's quite well furnished and for a single bear it's fine. Not ideal, but OK.

The famous Mercedes has an exhibit that is a million times better than any of the truly dreadful polar bear enclosures in many countries around the world. Japan has some downright shocking bear exhibits that are all concrete, steel bars and tiny pools.

Mercedes left and went to HWP, but sadly died.

This exhibit has been re-furbished and Is now for two sun bears. This is exhibit is much better, and I believe bigger

Polar Bear enclosure

Can't remember where I heard this, but there was a story that Mercedes was incredibly laid-back & happy after her somewhat pushy mate died, because she had a panoramic view across Edinburgh -- Polar Bears in the wild can see for long distances, one of the reasons they stereotype badly in pits.

Possibly coupled with the fact she may have been happier alone anyway- mature male and female Polar Bears don't associate together in the wild outside of mating times, yet in Zoos they are usually forced to do so.

What did they do with this exhibit when the polar bear died?

It was refurbished and expanded and now houses Malayan Sun Bears.

(in point of pedantic accuracy, the enclosure was vacated not by Mercedes' death but by her move to Edinburgh's 'country home' Highland Wildlife Park, where she later died)