Sun & Sloth Bear Care Manual
Using stage-based system dynamics modeling for demographic management of captive populations
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.10071.abs Management of captive populations relies on a complex synthesis of genetic and demographic analyses to guide populations toward sustainability. Demographic analyses of captive populations currently utilize age-based matrix projections to predict a population’s trajectory. An alternate approach is to use a stage-based, system dynamics model for captive systems. Such models can more easily […]
Causes of mortality in sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) housed in U.S. zoos
A retrospective mortality review was performed of necropsy records from 1905-2015 to determine the mortality trends present for the captive U.S. sloth bear ( Melursus ursinus ) population. Records were obtained for 68 bears from 17 institutions. Neonates had an average age at death of 7 days (median 0 days). Neonatal mortality accounted for a […]
A work‐for‐food enrichment program increases exploration and decreases stereotypies in four species of bears
Zoo‐housed bears are prone to exhibiting stereotypic behaviors, generally considered indicators of negative welfare. We explored the effects of a variable‐time feeding enrichment schedule on behavioral indicators of welfare in four bear species at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. We distributed the diets of eight bears in one of five enrichment items, for two consecutive days each, […]