The reason why I don't like zoos...

This polar bear in Edinburgh Zoo is totally stressed out...

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• polar
• bear
• zoo

[Circaea2]

She's probably there because she would not survive in the wild. Look at

moeshowallstars comment. But she is not very happy... And 66tonto, I only go to zoos when I bring children. Actually zoos are great places to educate them! ;-)

[kevjones001]

We checked with the keeper and Polar Bears are solitary animals in the wild. She is perfectly healthy and would have been shot if the zoo had not taken her with the help of Mercedes Benz. She was found wandering in the town of Churchill for the 3rd time.Mercedes Benz paid to get her transferred to Edinburgh Zoo which was lucky for her as she would have been killed.You can tell she is a happy bear relaxing in the enclosure. She has excercise and eats regulary. This is the norm for a bear!

[Circaea2]

According to my nephew - 9 years - who is the young man talking to me on the video - your arguments do not matter because the bear needs snow and ice. This bear only has a dirty little pool. We are not sure that not being shot was good for her.

[Circaea2]

I never expected to get any comments on this video! Perhaps I should speak English when I shoot things like this?

The little guy speaking (and have some remarkably wise reflections) is my nephew who came with me to Edinburgh. A lovely town, but I just don't like zoos...

Thank you for your comments! :o)

[thesimonmcg]

As a member and volunteer at Edinburgh Zoo I can confirm that she is actually quite happy and content. She used to share the enclosure with a male polar bear but has been much happier since he died. There are plans for her to move to a new enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore in the north of Scotland and a much larger enclosure. She is one very happy, healthy and content polar bear!

[BillyNoon]

This bear is now in her new enclosure, in a more northern area with more chance of snow etc.

Last seen swimming around looking much more relaxed and content than any other zoo bear I've seen.

"Moan ra big berzz" :)

[lumegg]

I first saw Mercedes at Edinburgh zoo in 1989, when I was eight years old. I fell in love with her and visited her several times over the years at Edinburgh Zoo and for the final time in 2009 after she moved to the Highland Wildlife Park. I've seen her alone, with her mate and with her cubs. She always seemed happy and content to me but in latter years her health was failing, and this was evident in her behaviour. Her health worsened and she was put to sleep earlier this year aged 30.

[crombie2k6]

It's a shame people seem to have this impression of a zoo being like a prison when it really isn't, animals in zoos are far better off in zoos than they are in the wild, there are no predators in zoos, they dont have to search everywhere for food (sometimes not finding any for weeks) no hunters and they are cared for by professionals almost all the time, look at videos of these bears in the wild and you'll see they act exact same out there.

[kittenrenea]

yup...the pacing back and forth is from stress

I don't like zoos either...animals should be free to roam in plenty of space, not cooped up in zoos for our entertainment/exploitation

I am ok with animal sanctuaries that rescue injured/abused, etc. animals

that is different

and I read down below that this polar bear was rescued, but, if it was wondering the streets, if it was ok, why not put it back into nature? did it need medical help?

[mrJimmydibson]

She was rescued because she was going to be shot and Edingburugh zoo saved Mercadies's life.

[squirrel1612]

I so agree with you but she is still stressed out now even though she has been moved to Kingussie Wildlfe Park. She can be seen pacing the same area as her old cage here even though she has a large area now to roam. I feel for her. She looks so bored & unhappy. I HATE zoos.

[JohnnyNW]

Polar bears need their cold environment... like the one in Warszawa zoo, this one will die too! We need to treat these animals h

humanely!

[bobdnob08]

I've just recently been to this zoo and there is still room for improvement however it has changed a lot in the past few years for the better. Still need to improve rhino and big cat enclosures but other than that the zoo is getting much better

[bobdnob08]

@BillyNoon yeah shes at highland wildlife park now much bigger and better enclosure and loved the freezing cold winter we've just had :)