In the zoo or in the wild, it's a tough lifefor the polar bear

A polar bear swims underwater in an observation tunnel of an exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in 2006.

Photo: Robin Rombach/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Koda, a 10-year-old male polar bear, shares an exhibit with 14-year-

old Kobe at the Pittsburgh Zoo. He comes out of a cubbyhole and steps out to a nearby

ledge, swinging his head from side to side. Then he backs into the cubbyhole, still

weaving his head. A moment later, he returns. He keeps doing the same thing, over and

over.

Koda isn't alone. Most polar bears in North American zoos do repetitive things. Experts call

them "stereotypic behaviors" and say they don't seem to have any purpose.

Many see these behaviors as signs of frustration. They say such patterns come from

keeping the polar bears in zoo exhibits.

But even in nature, it’s getting hard for the bears to act naturally. In the Arctic, polar bears

typically roam hundreds or even thousands of miles. But their home is starting to melt away

as the Earth warms up. Climate change is leaving the bears with less room to wander.

By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, adapted by Newsela staff on 03.05.15

Word Count 671

The Good And The Bad

Donald Moore is a top scientist for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. He thinks zoos

can help the polar bears. He says zoo animals represent their relatives in the wild, making

people care about them. They can draw attention to the polar bears' melting home.

But many animal rights groups disagree. They say polar bears in zoos are suffering.

“Animals can be upset just by people looking at them,” said Rob Laidlaw of Zoocheck

Canada.

Laidlaw says zoos just can't give polar bears enough space. Polar bears travel up to 60

miles in a day. Even the biggest zoo exhibits are only an acre.

Others share Laidlaw's concerns. In 2003, scientists at Oxford University spoke out about

exhibits that house animals that roam long distances. They said zoos needed to make

significant changes. If not, they should stop keeping animals like polar bears.

At The Water's Edge

At the time, Pittsburgh’s zoo didn’t have polar bears. Zoo officials said the zoo wouldn't

add polar bears unless they had an exhibit that met their needs.

Three years later, the zoo opened an exhibit called Water's Edge. The exhibit was

designed with some of Laidlaw's concerns in mind. For example, the polar bears' space

includes a separate back area. That way, the bears can move in and out of public view as

they please.

Pittsburgh’s polar bears are also given special challenges. Sometimes they crush plastic

barrels. Sometimes they have to find ways to get icy fish out of other containers.

Joseph Gaspard works at the Pittsburgh Zoo. He has seen repetitive behaviors from both

Koda and Kobe. “But it’s hard to get at the heart of what it means,” Gaspard said. Maybe

it's "just kind of a release of energy" like when humans pace, he added.

Things could be worse for the polar bears. And in the wild, they probably will be.

Things Are Getting Ugly

Steven C. Amstrup is the chief scientist for a group called Polar Bears International. He

predicts that, by 2100, polar bears will no longer be found in the wild. Some scientists

agree. Others think that a few polar bears will still be able to live in far-off areas.

Right now, there are about 20,000 polar bears living in the Arctic. That sounds like a lot

compared to the 4,000 tigers living in the wild. But the problems the polar bears face might

be more difficult to stop.

When people hunt animals too much or cut down too many trees, they can be stopped.

Usually, a wildlife preserve is made. But melting ice is a different kind of problem. “You

can’t build a fence to protect (bears) from climate change,” said Amstrup.

That is why some conservationists like seeing polar bears in zoos. They want to keep polar

bears where people can see them. They say it helps people feel connected to polar bears

and want to help them.

Yet no matter how much zoos help, some feel it's just not fair to keep polar bears cooped

up in small exhibits.

Quiz

1 Select the paragraph from the section "At The Water's Edge" that shows how zoos can make a

more natural environment for polar bears.

2 Which sentence from the article explains why it may be difficult to save the polar bears in the

wild?

(A) When people hunt animals too much or cut down too many trees, they can

be stopped.

(B) “You can’t build a fence to protect (bears) from climate change,” said

Amstrup.

(C) Right now, there are about 20,000 polar bears living in the Arctic.

(D) He predicts that, by 2100, polar bears will no longer be found in the wild.

3 Each answer option has two sentences from the introduction [paragraphs 1-4]. In which

answer option does each sentence include a main idea from the article?

(A) Many see these behaviors as signs of frustration. But their home is starting

to melt away as the Earth warms up.

(B) In the Arctic, polar bears typically roam hundreds or even thousands of

miles.Climate change is leaving the bears with less room to wander.

(C) Koda, a 10-year-old male polar bear, shares an exhibit with 14-year-old Kobe

at the Pittsburgh Zoo. He comes out of a cubbyhole and steps out to a

nearby ledge, swinging his head from side to side.

(D) Most polar bears in North American zoos do repetitive things. Experts call

them "stereotypic behaviors" and say they don't seem to have any purpose.

4 Which sentence from the section "The Good And The Bad" MOST supports the main idea of

the article?

(A) He thinks zoos can help the polar bears.

(B) But many animal rights groups disagree.

(C) Even the biggest zoo exhibits are only an acre.

(D) Polar bears travel up to 60 miles in a day.

Answer Key

1 Select the paragraph from the section "At The Water's Edge" that shows how zoos can make a

more natural environment for polar bears.

Paragraph 9:

Three years later, the zoo opened an exhibit called Water's Edge. The exhibit

was designed with some of Laidlaw's concerns in mind. For example, the polar

bears' space includes a separate back area. That way, the bears can move in

and out of public view as they please.

2 Which sentence from the article explains why it may be difficult to save the polar bears in the

wild?

(A) When people hunt animals too much or cut down too many trees, they can

be stopped.

(B) “You can’t build a fence to protect (bears) from climate change,” said

Amstrup.

(C) Right now, there are about 20,000 polar bears living in the Arctic.

(D) He predicts that, by 2100, polar bears will no longer be found in the wild.

3 Each answer option has two sentences from the introduction [paragraphs 1-4]. In which

answer option does each sentence include a main idea from the article?

(A) Many see these behaviors as signs of frustration. But their home is

starting to melt away as the Earth warms up.

(B) In the Arctic, polar bears typically roam hundreds or even thousands of

miles.Climate change is leaving the bears with less room to wander.

(C) Koda, a 10-year-old male polar bear, shares an exhibit with 14-year-old Kobe

at the Pittsburgh Zoo. He comes out of a cubbyhole and steps out to a

nearby ledge, swinging his head from side to side.

(D) Most polar bears in North American zoos do repetitive things. Experts call

them "stereotypic behaviors" and say they don't seem to have any purpose.

4 Which sentence from the section "The Good And The Bad" MOST supports the main idea of

the article?

(A) He thinks zoos can help the polar bears.

(B) But many animal rights groups disagree.

(C) Even the biggest zoo exhibits are only an acre.

(D) Polar bears travel up to 60 miles in a day.