Former Polar Bear Holders

Polar Bears are an animal that it seems like every zoo used to have, even though there are now not very many holders.
Here are the list of former polar bear holders I am aware of-
Roger Williams Park Zoo- left in 2005
Stone Zoo- left in 2000
Ecotarium- left early 2000s
Capron Park Zoo- left 1988
Slater Park Zoo (closed)- left 1979 (?)
Central Park Zoo- early 2010s
Bronx Zoo- c. 2018
Franklin Park Zoo- exhibited 1912-??
Philadelphia Zoo- exhibited until ??
Sea World San Diego- exhibited until ??

What other zoos used to house polar bears, but don't any more?

 

You can add Philadelphia Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego to the list.

 

Philadelphia Zoo - 2018
SeaWorld San Diego - 2017

 

In California the Sacramento Zoo, Micke Grove Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, and Fresno Zoo all formerly exhibited polar bears.

 

Kenda at the Ecotarium died in 2011

 

Thank you for your replies. It is too late for me to edit my initial post to add those but will likely recompile the list soon with these additions.

 

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC used to hold polar bears.

 

Wouldn't surprise me being such a major institution.

 

Denver sent their polar bears away in 2018.

 

Updated list-
Roger Williams Park Zoo- left in 2005
Stone Zoo- died in 2000
Ecotarium- died in 2011
Capron Park Zoo- exhibited from 1956-1988
Slater Park Zoo (closed)- died 1979 (?)
Central Park Zoo- died early 2010s
Bronx Zoo- died c. 2018
Franklin Park Zoo- exhibited 1912-??
Philadelphia Zoo- exhibited until 2018
Sea World San Diego- exhibited until 2017
Sacramento Zoo- until ?
Micke Grove Zoo- until ?
San Fransisco Zoo- until ?
Los Angeles Zoo- until ?
Fresno Zoo- until ?
Smithsonian National Zoo- exhibited until 1986
Denver Zoo- left in 2018

 

The Smithsonian National Zoo last had polar bears in 1986 (they were exhibited where Amazonia is today).

 

Some more:

1. Erie Zoo - sent their last bear to North Carolina in late 2013.
2. Lake Superior Zoo - last bear left after the 2012 flood.
3. Indianapolis Zoo - sent their last bear to Detroit in 2016.
4. Henry Doorly Zoo - sent their last bear to Kansas City in 2018.
5. Reid Park Zoo - last one passed away I believe in 2012.
6. Tulsa Zoo - last one passed away I believe in 2009.

 

I greatly envy those visiting the European and North American zoos in that they can still see Polar bears (albeit at a sporadic and decreasing list of holding facilities).

Largely due to their unsuitability to the climate, they were phased out of all the main Australasian zoos decades ago:

Australia:

Perth Zoo (1980)
Taronga Zoo (1984)
Melbourne Zoo (1986)
Adelaide Zoo (1992)

New Zealand:

Wellington Zoo (1950 approx)
Auckland Zoo (1995)

They have since returned to one Australian facility (Sea World Gold Coast) in 2000. They remain the only holder in my region.

 

Jacksonville held them at one point, late 70s-early 90s
Also Circus World, thought no long existent, had Ursala Bottcher performing polars

 

Abilene Zoo had them in the 60's through 80's, and San Antonio Zoo had them for many years (San Antoonio Zoo photo dated 1956 from University of North Texas Libraries).

 

Don’t forget SeaWorld Orlando too, who long replaced the Polar Bear exhibit in the Wild Arctic with Harbor seals.

 

Birmingham had them probably until the accreditation loss in 1999.

 

While fun to see in that immersive exhibit, I always felt that it was a bit small for them.

 

Atlanta Zoo (Pre Zoo Atlanta) had them, but I am not sure when they got rid of them.

 

Updated List-
USA:
Roger Williams Park Zoo- left in 2005
Stone Zoo- died in 2000
Ecotarium- died in 2011
Capron Park Zoo- exhibited from 1956-1988
Slater Park Zoo (closed)- died 1979 (?)
Central Park Zoo- died early 2010s
Bronx Zoo- died c. 2018
Franklin Park Zoo- exhibited 1912-??
Philadelphia Zoo- exhibited until 2018
Sea World San Diego- exhibited until 2017
Sacramento Zoo- until ?
Micke Grove Zoo- until ?
San Fransisco Zoo- until ?
Los Angeles Zoo- until ?
Fresno Zoo- until ?
Smithsonian National Zoo- exhibited until 1986
Denver Zoo- left in 2018
Erie Zoo- left 2013
Lake Superior Zoo- left 2012
Indianapolis Zoo- left 2016
Henry Doorly Zoo- left 2018
Reid Park Zoo- died in 2012
Tulsa Zoo- died in 2009
Jacksonville Zoo- late 1970s-early 1990s
Circus World (closed)- until ??
Abilene Zoo- 1960s-1980s
San Antonio Zoo- until ??
Sea World Orlando- until ??
Birmingham Zoo- until 1999
Atlanta Zoo- until ??
Australia:

Perth Zoo (1980)
Taronga Zoo (1984)
Melbourne Zoo (1986)
Adelaide Zoo (1992)

New Zealand:

Wellington Zoo (1950 approx)
Auckland Zoo (1995)