Issues of choice and control in the behaviour of a pair of captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
Abstract
Stereotyped behaviour occurs in a wide variety of captive animals including ursids. The provision of animal control over aspects of their environment by providing choices is a critical element for improving welfare. The behaviour of two sibling polar bears at a metropolitan zoo was examined to investigate the effect of providing access to their indoor, off-exhibit holding space. Both bears demonstrated behavioural changes when given the choice to access their indoor dens including decreased stereotyped behaviours and increased social play. These results, although based on just two bears, provide additional support for the assertion that choice and control are closely tied to issues of well-being for captive animals.
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Ross documented that polar bears showed a reduction in pacing and increased positive social play when given free access to their off-display areas, even though they rarely chose to enter this area.
“Ross [139] documented that polar bears showed a reduction in pacing and increased positive social play when given free access to their off-display areas, even though they rarely chose to enter this area.”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [139]
Enclosures that provide captive animals with a level of choice and control over interactions with visitors, for example by providing an area to retreat, can help minimise visitor-induced stress.
“Like animals in other captive settings, research has shown that enclosures that provide zoos animals with a level of choice and control over the interactions with visitors, for example by providing an area to retreat, can help minimise visitor-induced stress (Owen et al. 2004;Ross 2006;Morgan and Tromborg 2007).”
From Effects of the presence of zoo visitors on zoo‐housed little penguins ( <i>Eudyptula minor</i> ) (2022) · cites this paper as Ross 2006
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“For example, Ross [139] documented that polar bears showed a reduction in pacing and increased positive social play when given free access to their off-display areas, even though they rarely chose to enter this area.”
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Effects of the presence of zoo visitors on zoo‐housed little penguins ( <i>Eudyptula minor</i> )
Chiew, S. J., Butler, K. L., Fanson, K. V., Eyre, S., Coleman, G. J., Sherwen, S. L., Melfi, V., & Hemsworth, P. H. (2022) · New Zealand Journal of Zoology · doi:10.1080/03014223.2021.1896560 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Ross, S. R.
- Affiliations
- Lincoln Park Zoo (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ross, Stephen R.
- ORCID
- Ross, Stephen R.
- Venue
- Behavioural Processes
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-07
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 117-120
- ISSN
- 0376-6357 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2089205107
- Cited by
- 144
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Behavioural Processes (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Keywords
- polar bear, captive animal welfare, stereotypy, animal choice, animal control, social play, zoo animals
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animals, Zoo, Ursidae, Behavior, Choice Behavior, Environment, Female, Humans, Male, Play and Playthings, Social Control, Informal, Stereotyped Behavior
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