A mate has been sought for one of two male polar bears
kept in Scotland but what does it take to find the perfect mate for a polar
bear?
Arktos shares an enclosure with Walker at the Highland Wildlife Park at
Kincraig, near Aviemore. Next year, Arktos could be paired up with a female. But
the process of finding a suitable mate is far from simple.
Arktos, right, is a year older than Walker. He arrived at the park in April
2012 from a zoo in Hannover, Germany. Walker has been at the site since November
2010, after being introduced from a Dutch zoo.
The two are the only polar bears in a UK zoo.
The Highland Wildlife Park's other residents include wolves, bison, lynx,
wildcats and snow monkeys.
In 2011, the park had hopes of pairing up Walker with a mate but that plan was put on ice following suspicions that she was already pregnant. The new female bear would be genetically compatible with both Walker and Arktos. However, Arktos is regarded as "slightly more genetically important," according to the park. That is because he has fewer relations in the European zoo population, lowering the risk of inbreeding.
The park's Douglas Richardson recently attended a meeting of the European Zoo Association's polar bear breeding programme species committee. A range of matters were discussed, including how best to pair up males and females for breeding. During the meeting, a female was recommended for the Highland Wildlife Park.
Mr Richardson said: "We have specialized software which allows us to make complicated decisions. It looks at inbreeding coefficients, degree of relatedness, age of the animals and whether a bear is of a rare bloodline or a common one. This is stuff that would take three days to work out with pen and paper. A document has been produced and given to all the zoos. But it is like being in a chain for buying a house. It could be the female bear recommended is already being prepared for another mate, or has a health condition. If one thing breaks in the chain, it affects the whole process."
The park has set aside space for a new enclosure for the female. Depending on funding, the bear could be in Scotland next year. Mr Richardson said: "Getting the female pregnant is not the hardest part - most zoos with bears have cubs. Persuading the female to rear her cubs is the difficult part. They have a very exaggerated need for privacy. We are confident the enclosure we are planning at the park would give her that."
Aunt Jeannie , I hope they find a mate for Arktos it will make everyone happy . I asked daddy why they was going to find Arktos a mate , daddy said go ask your mama , I told him that mama said to ask him she had a headache . daddy said now that is just like baby she gets a headache when he needs her daddy is so funny . daddy said come here little woman and listen close , daddy said Arktos will put his half of the cub in his mate with her half of the cub and the mama bear will bale it in her oven until the cub is done . I asked daddy was mama his mate and he smiles and said look at you guys . daddy said remember me and mama told you and Sha why she was their special child on my birthday . Aunt Jeannie daddy said the doctors shook mama up like a milkshake for her half of Sha and he gave the doctors his half of Sha and the doctors put Sha in aunt mama Nan oven to bake and daddy and mama made us . aunt Jeannie daddy is so funny and aunt Mae said Gil that is a good way to explain it and daddy said for a year maybe , aunt Mae said you are a good daddy and daddy start shouting for mama .
ReplyDeleteThe baby bears is so cute they act like human babies . Aunt Jeannie we love you and sending you lots of get well love .
Wrote by Jenny
Hello Jenny, my favorite Crusader,
ReplyDeleteArktos needs a mate so that he can have a family. We need lots of polar bears in the zoos in case we lose them all in the wilderness. The mama bear keeps the cub in her nice warm tummy for about three months – they’re usually born in late December or early January – and when they are born they are tiny, blind, fluffy and very helpless little guys. They spend the next two to three months drinking their mothers’ rich milk and growing by leaps and bounds. Cubs often grow from two pounds at birth (about the size of guinea pig) up to 30 pounds when they finally come out of their dens.
Daddy is right, he and Mama made you Sha and Man. They did it together. Aren't you lucky? He will explain more as you get older. It is all really very simple but you will understand better when you are about 12 or so. Daddy and mama can both be pretty funny. I know they have both made me laugh lots of times.
I love the baby bears and would love to raise one myself. I am just afraid it might eat Jakey or Nana because she can't move very fast...Hahahaha!
Thankyou for all the love. It sure makes me feel good. And I am sending you all some very happy dreams....lots of love...Aunt Jeannie