CREW Animal Research

Polar Bear – A species threatened with extinction

The polar bear has become an icon for global warming in political and public arenas.  Because sea ice is an essential component of the polar bears’ ecosystem, a change in its distribution and longevity due to global warming could profoundly affect the species’ future.  Because of this impending threat of the loss of sea ice, polar bears were listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2008.  Zoos are strategically breeding this species in efforts to develop a self-sustaining captive population while employing these charismatic ambassadors to educate visitors about global warming and wildlife conservation.

Predicting Polar Bear Pregnancy

High neonatal mortality and poor overall reproductive success in captive polar bears threaten the genetic health and long-term viability of this species in zoos.  Furthermore, population management by the Species Survival Plan (SSP) is particularly challenging because of the pronounced seasonality of this species and associated timing of breeding and cubbing seasons.  CREW scientists discovered a method for noninvasively monitoring the reproductive status of polar bears through fecal hormone analyses and have recently completed a nationwide project studying polar bears in breeding situations.

The results of this project have led to a better understanding of the species' basic biology, and from a more practical perspective, a method for possible pregnancy diagnosis in polar bears.  Specifically, the results of this study will 1) assist the SSP in its population management decisions so that females with greater chances of becoming pregnant are paired with genetically diverse males, 2) facilitate zoos' efforts to manage their bears for reproductive success by making sure potentially pregnant bears are appropriately denned up and not disturbed during the cubbing season, and 3) improve the overall welfare of captive bears by ensuring that non-pregnant bears are not maintained in dens when they would rather be outside swimming all winter. 

Future Polar Bear Projects

CREW scientists are currently collaborating with 15 North American zoos to continue ground breaking polar bear research.  New projects currently underway include a study of  male polar bear reproductive seasonality and semen collection and cryopreservation. The establishment of a polar bear sperm bank in CREW’s CryoBioBank™ will help guard against the loss of genetic diversity as this species’ numbers start to decline due to melting sea ice.  CREW scientists have initiated this effort in 2010, and we now have the first cryopreserved sample of polar bear sperm in the world.  However, there is still much to be learned about the best methodology for collecting and storing these samples. 

 

CREW Links Zoo with Polar Bears International as an Arctic Ambassador Center

With CREW’s expanding involvement in polar bear research, conservation and education and the Zoo’s progress in going green, it was a natural next-step to formally name the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden one of Polar Bears International’s official Arctic Ambassador Centers.  PBI Arctic Ambassador Centers are organizations endorsed by leading polar bear scientists and the AZA for actively engaging in saving polar bear habitat through greenhouse gas reductions within their organizations and communities.  As such, CREW and the Zoo are committed to: 1) providing information about climate change to the local community on Zoo grounds, on the website and through special programs, 2) actively reducing our own carbon emissions and 3) maintaining our polar bears in an exhibit that meets all AZA standards. 

In return, we receive: 1) access to educational materials and biofacts from PBI, 2) support from PBI staff, 3) special opportunities for social networking and public relations and, perhaps most important, 4) the opportunity to engage in several unique PBI education programs.  Two such programs include “Project Polar Bear” and “Teen Leadership Camp”, and CREW has wasted no time jumping into both.  To support our role as an Arctic Ambassador, a new video has been developed that can be viewed by zoo guests when they visit the CREW Public Exhibit.

Will You Take the Polar Bear Challenge?

There is so much more to learn about these magnificent animals. CREW scientists are hoping their work will help to: 1) distinguish true pregnancy from pseudopregnancy, 2) determine the efficacy and longevity of different contraceptives in female bears, 3) ascertain potential effects of different latitudes and climates on the timing of peak reproductive performance, and 4) establish a polar bear sperm bank to guard against the loss of genetic diversity. CREW is in the second year of a generous three year challenge grant from the Schumaker Family Foundation. If we raise $35,000 each year, the Schumaker Family Foundation will grant us an additional $35,000 to continue our invaluable research to help save these endangered polar bears. Will you help us to meet this year’s Challenge?