Polar Bears in the Tropics: A Call for Compassionate Change
Polar bears are majestic, wide-ranging carnivores uniquely adapted to one of the planet’s most extreme environments—the Arctic. With thick fur, black heat-absorbing skin, and hollow hairs that act as solar collectors, they are built to retain warmth, not to release it. In the wild, polar bears can roam across vast distances, sometimes covering over 80 kilometres in a day and inhabiting home ranges as large as 250,000 square kilometres. These traits make them particularly unsuited for captivity, especially in hot, humid climates.
Yet for many years, Inuka and Sheba, two polar bears at the Singapore Zoo, lived in an environment that could not meet their fundamental biological and behavioural needs. Their original enclosure—open-air, barren, and lacking complexity—subjected them to chronic heat stress, physical discomfort, and behavioural distress. Despite being born in captivity, their physiological adaptations remained intact. The tropical climate was a constant challenge, and the lack of natural behaviours available to them led to visible signs of suffering.
Scientific Findings and Ongoing Concerns
In 2005, ACRES conducted a four-month scientific study to assess the welfare of Inuka and Sheba. The findings were deeply concerning:
- Prolonged panting, a clear sign of heat stress, was observed for over one-third of the time the bears were monitored.
- Both bears showed abnormal stereotypic behaviours—such as pacing and repetitive swimming—during over half of their active periods, indicating psychological distress.
- There were signs of severe fur loss and muscle wasting, further suggesting inadequate conditions for movement and rest.
- The bears’ inactivity levels were extremely high, suggesting a lack of stimulation and an impoverished environment.
These indicators painted a clear picture: despite their resilience, Inuka and Sheba were not thriving. Their enclosure provided just a fraction—0.0000005%—of their natural range. There were no soft substrates for them to roll in, no chilled water to cool down, no private areas to retreat to, and the air-conditioned space was cramped, dark, and barren.
Advocating for Long-Term Change
Since 2004, ACRES has been in dialogue with the Singapore Zoo, advocating for both drastic improvements to the bears’ living conditions and a long-term commitment to phasing out the keeping of Arctic species in tropical climates. We were encouraged when, in 2006, the Zoo announced it would no longer import Arctic animals, and again in 2010, when plans were shared for a new climate-controlled enclosure that would include natural substrates and temperature regulation.
While these steps represented progress, we continued to urge that Inuka be relocated to a reputable facility in a suitable climate, where he could experience a more natural environment and a better quality of life. Furthermore, the new enclosure, though cooler and more enriched, relied on constant air-conditioning—a high-energy demand with environmental consequences, especially for a species whose wild habitat is already vanishing due to climate change.
Polar Bears and Captivity: A Global Concern
Polar bears are among the species most affected by captivity, as confirmed by a 2003 Oxford University study. Their intelligence, physical needs, and natural behaviours are difficult—if not impossible—to meet in zoo settings. Even with the best intentions, enclosures often fail to offer the complexity, space, and climate these animals need. In fact, many progressive zoos in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland have chosen to phase out polar bear exhibits entirely, recognising the ethical and welfare challenges involved.
Educational Value or Misrepresentation?
While zoos play a role in education and conservation, true learning is compromised when animals are displayed in unnatural conditions. In the case of polar bears, performance shows and token feeding sessions that once included behaviours like “waving” or “ringing bells” only served to mislead the public about the species and trivialise their plight in the wild.
Captive longevity does not equate to quality of life. Just as bears on bile farms can survive for decades in cruel conditions, so too can polar bears live long lives in substandard enclosures—but this survival should not be mistaken for well-being.
ACRES’ Recommendations to the Singapore Zoo
In 2006, ACRES proposed the following to improve the welfare of Inuka and Sheba:
- Provide soft, natural substrates and space to dig day beds.
- Lower ambient temperatures and chill pool water effectively.
- Enhance the enclosure with furniture and enrichment that stimulates natural behaviours.
- Create an ongoing enrichment programme tailored to polar bear needs.
- Eliminate unnatural behaviours from shows and feeding demonstrations.
- Make a commitment not to acquire more polar bears or Arctic species in the future.
A Hope For The Future
While we recognise the efforts made by the Singapore Zoo to improve Inuka’s environment, our core belief remains: polar bears do not belong in the tropics. We remain hopeful that future decisions will place the welfare of animals—and the protection of their natural habitats—at the heart of wildlife education and conservation efforts.
ACRES will continue to speak out for those who cannot, advocating for a world where animals are respected for who they are, and not where they happen to be born.