Polar bears, April 2016

Photo taken on the 2nd April 2016.

What did you make of their enclosure?
I have concerns over indoor polar bear enclosures any sign of stereotypical behaviour?

A reasonably sized polar bear enclosure; the land area is larger than the pool, but the pool is also quite deep. There were lots of enrichment items around but both bears were stereotyping. The one on land in this photo was mid-pace, and the other was to later keep swimming in loops. I've not seen many indoor polar bear enclosures but this is one of the best I've seen. I think polar bears are quite prone to stereotypical behaviour; I've seen worse stereotyping in some larger outdoor enclosures too (in young bears).

I remember reading an article that stated that these polar bears lived in a much smaller exhibit in a Russian zoo before arriving at Sao Paulo aquarium, so the stereotyped actions may have something to do with that.

@carlos55
Yes, that's true. They used to live in an extremely small cage in Kazan zoo, Russia. Maybe the stereotyped behaviour came from those times...