My first day observing Chinook and Kalluk came chock-full with several moments of awe. The first was upon getting a good look at Kalluk. He’s a young male, less than half of giant panda Gao Gao’s age, and yet the size difference between them is astonishing. Kalluk, as a representative of the largest bear species on the planet, is a towering hulk. Despite his lean frame, I am told he weighs in excess of 850 pounds, or 380 kilograms (compare that to Gao Gao’s mere 160-pound, or 70-kilogram, weight). Resting on his backside in an erect seated posture, he is taller than I am. And when he stands on his rear legs to get a look at something placed up high…well, even NBA stars would have a run for their money looking big next to Kalluk.

I have spent most of my time over the last few years working with the (not so?) giant panda and the sun bear, the two smallest living bears. What factors might account for the great difference in size that we see in the spectrum from these smallish bears to the massive polar and brown bear species? One major contributing factor is the different environmental niches that these species inhabit.

The largest bears are cold weather animals, living in harsh, extreme climates much of the year. Coping mechanisms to deal with cold and its resultant food shortages include hibernation periods, insulating fat deposits to keep the heat in, and (in the case of the polar bear) translucent hairs which aid in conducting sunlight down to the skin to increase heat absorption. But increased size is also a fundamental way of coping with coldness, as the basic principle of surface-to-volume ratios indicates: the larger the body, the smaller the surface area relative to body volume. This reduced surface area ratio allows for a lower rate of heat loss.

Compared to the harsh, cold climates polar bears inhabit, sun bears enjoy warm, tropical habitats. The steamy rain forests from Borneo to Thailand and India were the birthing grounds of this species, and the bear benefited from a smaller size to aid in rapid dissipation of heat to avoid thermostress. But what about pandas? Don’t they typically inhabit snowy, cold mountain passes more closely resembling the habitat of a larger brown bear? Why aren’t they so large?

One answer to this question lies in the evolutionary history of the panda. Long before man came to be so populous in China, pandas could readily be found in the lowlands of southeastern China, at about 1,600 feet (500 meters) above sea level. The panda populations probably expanded and contracted in range many times as the temperature alternately warmed and cooled, with warm weather allowing expansion due to the increasingly favorable conditions for bamboo growth in warm seasons. Thus, at some points in the panda’s evolutionary history, this ancient bear species enjoyed warmer climates and survived well with a smaller size.

Of course, the question of size differences among bears is more complicated than the surface-to-volume picture I have sketched here, but it does provide a partial answer to the wide variety of sizes achieved across the eight living bear species. It even explains some of the differences seen between subspecies, such as the discrepancy between the warm summering grizzly populations relative to their colder cousins, the big Kodiak brown bear. Next time you have a chance to visit your local zoo and observe the bears housed there, maybe you will see their body sizes in a whole new light!

Suzanne Hall is a senior research technician with the San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda Unit.

Now some of you may be wondering how on earth this was even considered in the first place; it was a novel idea tried years ago. Originally ia kiddie pool was placed in the bedrooms and filled with water. I must say that it didn’t last too long. From there it received the usual testing of folding, pouncing, and biting. It wasn’t long before the bears discovered the pool made a good polar bear taco (with your choice of bear inside, of course!) or a nice comfy bed in which to take a nap; Kalluk even tried giving Tatqiq rides on it through the bedrooms. Unfortunately, due to the narrower tunnel, that proved to be a bit challenging. Overall, since the pools seemed to be a hit, we went ahead and allowed the bears to have them on exhibit. Again, they delighted themselves with various and creative uses.

Of course this is a “specialty” item because the pools only come out seasonally, and it’s not something they get often. So I figured I couldn’t miss with this enrichment activity. Well, I won’t say it was a complete dud, but it definitely didn’t make the splash I was hoping for. Kalluk (pictured) and Chinook were first up. They both investigated the pools and, as usual, put them in the water (that’s where everything goes). But Chinook seemed to be having one of her lazy mornings and decided to settle down for a nap. Kalluk did eventually end up in the water and did play some, but not specifically with the pools.

I went ahead and did an afternoon switch and put Kalluk back out but this time with his sister, Tatqiq. I knew she wouldn’t let me down. Kalluk apparently decided to take his cue from Chinook earlier, and he settled down for a nap. Tatqiq was intrigued, though, and it wasn’t long before she decided to go for a swim. But do you think it was all about the kiddie pools? Of course not! She played with her small Boomer balls, especially the pink and red ones. Tatqiq at least entertained the guests, but I was beginning to feel deflated from my earlier enthusiasm. (Maybe if I can find a pink pool it would turn out differently!)

At the end of the day, I did the final switch and it was Chinook’s turn again. Maybe her earlier napping left her with more energy, because after she finished exploring the exhibit she decided to have some fun. Now granted, it wasn’t all about the pools, but she definitely put on a show. She wore one like a hat, swam on her back as if she were a turtle in its shell, and—the favorite—got to a higher vantage point and pounced right in the center. So maybe my reinforcement wasn’t immediate, but Chinook did allow me to leave that day not feeling like a total failure.

Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
Read Kelly’s previous blog, Polar Bear Update.

While all the bears continue to get along and do well, we seem to have hit a lull in our breeding season. In years past, Kalluk has usually reached a point by now where he’s gone off his food, spends most of his day pining for the female he can’t have, and overall is just very difficult to manage. There’s a part of me that is happy to say we’re not experiencing this just yet. Don’t get me wrong: he does have some moments when he prefers to be with Chinook or is choosy about what’s being offered on the menu, but nowhere near as bad as before.

Of course, we do have to keep in mind that this is the first time he’s actually been allowed to have access to a female during the breeding period. Yes, he’s always been with Tatqiq (pictured above), but we have used contraceptives in order to keep her from experiencing her estrous cycle and therefore not get pregnant. Chinook, too, is not showing all the behavior changes that we associate with this process. It may be possible that the actions of the past year have had some type of effect or maybe we’ll experience a later breeding season this year than usual.

Either way, we still allow Kalluk and Chinook time together every day and will continue to do so until their behavior tells us something different. They still have their boxing matches and sometimes curl up and take naps together. We’re pleased, too, that Tatqiq and Kalluk continue to get along and have some good sibling bonding time.

By no means have we given up on Chinook having a successful pregnancy and are still working toward achieving that goal. Plans for a den have been submitted, and now we are just waiting for a start date for the addition to take place. I’m also pleased to announce that it would appear that the Polar Cam is up and running again (at least I’ve had success when I’ve logged on). So, while we wait patiently for things to progress, please continue to watch the days unfold via the Web cam.

Tune in! As many of you know, we celebrate enrichment here at the Zoo during the second weekend of every month. This Saturday I plan on giving the bears a special surprise that I hope (and anticipate) will get some action going!

Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.

Here’s a schedule of enrichment activities for March 8 and 9…

Every day we place enrichment on the exhibit for the bears, and today was no exception. We had a few “arctic” palms and several small ice blocks, filled with food items, which were released into the main pool to symbolize the melting ice in the North. As inspiring as the speakers’ words were, no press conference would be complete if there wasn’t any video footage of the polar bears. I’m happy to report, they didn’t disappoint! See video…

Upon release, Chinook did a few laps around the exhibit. This is fairly typical. She likes to check everything out and take it all in before she decides which activity to do first. Kalluk, however, just couldn’t resist all those tasty treats floating in the pool. Then, after he picked through his favorites, he decided it was time to bring the palms in as well. Of course, it so happened that Chinook was laying on them at the time!

It wasn’t long before Kalluk was trying to entice Chinook in for a swim. She seemed to refuse at first, as if she didn’t want to get wet. But her coy maneuvering said otherwise. She would fend Kalluk off, turn around, and walk away. But yet she always chose the path that led right along the edge of the pool, almost daring him to try to push her in. Finally he was successful, or at least that’s what she let him think!

The play continued between them for a while: tug-of-war with the palm or the occasional leap through the air towards the temporary speaker that was placed near the glass window. As late morning approached, the two settled down in the newly filled mulch pit for a short nap. All in all, it was a good day for the Zoo, for the bears, and for the visitors!

Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous bear blog, Love is all around the Plunge.
Listen to an iZoofari podcast chat with Kelly…

Here’s information about our collaboration with Polar Bears International…

Why is it necessary to understand this stage of bear life? On the practical side, it is important because we know so little about how a female, tucked in a den, cares for and nurtures her young. Since six of the eight species of living bear are currently classified as either endangered or vulnerable to extinction, it is imperative for their survival that conservation managers take an interest in their situation. Learning as much as we can about their biology and natural history is a first step toward understanding the needs of each species so that conservation action plans can be tailored to serve the best interests of each bear.

Efforts at reproduction in zoos and other facilities can be more effective if the natural behavior of the species is supported. Bears in zoo settings have often been known to neglect to care for their young, sometimes killing or abandoning their young inexplicably, obviously defeating the purpose of any goals of increased reproduction. Knowing more about the normal course of healthy maternal relationships will aid managers in identifying bears that are in need of assistance in caring for their young and in providing an environment which promotes good maternal care in the first place.

Adding individual bears to our study has proved to be a bit daunting. First, the San Diego Zoo has a limited number of bears on site, since bears require large amounts of resources and cannot be maintained in large populations in any one place. Nonetheless, we are utilizing the animals we have on site to the best of our ability. As you know, our pandas have been studied intensively, and our sun bears have contributed to their own maternal care data set. We are thrilled to be expecting a few pairs of sloth bears in the future, which we hope will enable us to study many aspects of their biology. But most of our work with this project has depended upon collaborations with other zoos and institutions.

Our American black and brown bear data have come from collaborators inside the U.S. Andean (or spectacled) and sloth bear collaborations are in development, working with facilities ranging from coast to coast. However, we can’t get at all of those vulnerable species by sticking solely with collaborators in the U.S.

To that end, we have partnered with bear researchers as far away as China and Japan to study species such as the panda and, most recently, the Asiatic black bear. This species is classified as vulnerable but is currently not being bred by any AZA-accredited (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) facilities in the U.S., so we have had to look farther afield to include them in our research. As of this writing, I am pleased to report we have cameras currently installed in the dens of our first two Asiatic blacks. We are awaiting news that they may give birth to their cubs, and a new chapter in our research, sometime in the next month.

I look forward to sharing more updates about this aspect of our work with you as it develops.

Suzanne Hall is a senior research technician with the San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda Unit.
Here’s information about the study, Mother-infant Relationships in Bear Species…

It was a subtle start, with Kalluk slowing down on his food consumption and preferring to eat next to Chinook. Kalluk and his sister, Tatqiq, are still getting along but not sharing as many play encounters. Chinook and Tatqiq stopped playing like they used to. And finally, as of last week, Tatqiq expressed little to no desire to interact with Chinook at all. This is only the beginning of what is to come. We don’t anticipate being in peak breeding season until at least another month or so!

For now, we are minimizing the time that Tatqiq and Chinook are together but still encouraging the relationship between Kalluk and Chinook as well as his time with his sister. This has become a bit of a challenge: we need to accommodate all of the bears’ needs for well-being and not foster separation or angst of any individual. Observation, of course, is critical.

In the meantime, staff continues to meet, draw up plans, and move forward with the hopes that Chinook will actually be successful this year with a pregnancy. There is always the chance that, as this is a new pair and the first attempt for both, we may not see offspring from her. But we have our fingers crossed. Kalluk continues to attempt his wooing of Chinook and she continues to respond favorably. It’s actually quite cute to watch the interactions between the two. Kind of reminds me of a new couple dating.

Every day brings new changes and challenges. It’s safe to say there won’t be any “normal” days ahead. I will do my best to keep everyone updated on events, but that in itself may be a challenge with how quick things can change!

Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous blog, A Polar Bear Keeper’s Day.

Our day starts at 6 a.m. The very first thing we do is a preliminary check of all the exhibits and animals in our care making sure they seem okay, no obvious problems that may have occurred overnight. We look through our daily journal for any notes to help us map out the day ahead. Then we start the morning routine with the polar bears.

Whoever has been in the exhibit overnight is called off into the holding area that we call the “bedrooms.” All three bears are separated and shifted accordingly. Then breakfast is served. This is also a good time for training sessions to occur. Once breakfast is done, veggies and enrichment are provided while the exhibit is readied.

The exhibit is picked up and hosed down every day. Every other day our 130,000-gallon pool is vacuumed to maintain proper water quality. Twice a week, equipment is brought in to clean the inside of our glass panels; the outside glass is cleaned daily. When the exhibit is ready, more veggies and enrichment are placed and the bears are released by 9 a.m., for that is when the San Diego Zoo opens.

Once bears are out it’s time to clean the bedrooms. There are six individual rooms, including a smaller dump-and-fill pool. Again, things are picked up, and rooms and alleyways are hosed down every day. Food is prepared a day in advance. This means weighing out individual diets, keeping food stocked, and then cleaning up the dishes and kitchen area.

Then there’s what we call our “outers.” These are the other exhibits/animals we care for. Currently this includes three female caracals and one female Pallas’ cat (see Kelly’s blog, Pallas’ Cat: Crate Training 101). Each exhibit is a little different but the usual occurs: shifting the animals to a holding area, servicing exhibits, and then cleaning the bedrooms. Again, enrichment and training may be involved.

Before we know it, it’s time for the afternoon switch of bears, sometime around 1 p.m. The bears are shifted off into bedrooms, separated, and fed the second portion of their diet. Again, this is another good time for training. The exhibit is given quick enrichment set up, and then either our brother and sister pair, Kalluk and Tatqiq, go out, or Chinook by herself. Whoever is left in the bedrooms is set up with enrichment and bedding for overnight.

We wrap up our day by doing our paper work. This includes a daily journal, enrichment and training logs, a daily keeper’s report, and any other miscellaneous notes. Remember, this is a very basic day and does not include meetings, giving behind-the-scenes tours or educational programs, medical procedures, projects, and any other thing that may get thrown our way. This also does not account for the variety we may want to incorporate in our day such as different combinations of bears, double pull offs and shifts, etc.

Every day is a new day and is definitely not boring. I hope this helps to answer some of your questions and keep you watching Polar Cam for polar bear activity. Be sure to tune in for what changes are to come.

Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous blog, Patchwork Polar Bear.

I noticed that Tatqiq just didn’t seem herself and was isolating herself more from the other bears. It became very apparent a few days later that we had a sick bear on our hands. An exam was immediately done and several tests taken to determine the situation at hand. What some of the radiographs revealed was that Tatqiq had come down with pretty severe pneumonia.

After a few days of rest, fluids, medications, and lots of TLC, she started to respond favorably. Tatqiq gained some of her appetite back, was moving around more, and all the bears were ready to be reunited once again. In order for anesthesia to be administered and samples to be collected (blood, spinal fluid, etc) the vets had shaved off the fur to expose the skin underneath. After lots of sniffing and investigating of Tatqiq’s bare spots, it was time to engage in a day of play and napping in the dirt pits.

While the bears’ routine is more normal, we still have to medicate Tatqiq twice a day with about 20 pills each time. She’s much larger than your average dog, and those of you who have had to medicate your pets know how challenging that can be! And speaking from experience, it takes time to completely come around from having pneumonia. That means Tatqiq still needs some extra time and attention to make sure she’s comfortable and not overdoing it. I figure that’s right up her alley though, as she IS the princess.

Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.

Every morning our valiant leader, Robert Buchanan, woke us with a rousing round of “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning” from the musical, Oklahoma. This morning, however, we (the student ambassadors) decided we were going to turn the tables on the man we have grown to love despite his wake-up duties. At five this morning, I aroused all the girls in the bunkhouse and we silently traipsed into the boys’ bunks to wake them. Together we huddled around Robert’s bunk and bellowed to his infamous tune: “I hate to get up in the morning/ I hate to get out of bed/ I hate to get up in the morning/ I’d rather just sleep instead!—Good morning Robert!” He laughed and complimented our leadership in executing our prank, before all of us headed back to bed to catch a few more zzzzzzz’s before the seven o’clock rendition of “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning.”

Once again, we awoke to the sound of rain on the tundra, but by nine o’clock the temperature had dropped significantly and the droplets had changed to fluffy white snowflakes that blanketed the ground. We all were very excited to finally capture the coveted picture of a white polar bear in the first snow of winter. Although the snow was a definite distraction, we managed to focus on our morning’s task. Because each of us (students) came to Polar Bears International Leadership Camp to prepare for our return home as Arctic ambassadors, we each created an action plan for our communities back home.

My action plan includes activities that I hope to facilitate in schools and other organizations in San Diego. I also hope to initiate new programs in my city. The activities I want to lead include an Eco-Day at local elementary/middle schools that will engage students and their families in a carnival including food, fun, and eco-friendly, educational activities that demonstrate the benefits of an eco-friendly lifestyle. This is a program I hope to organize by the end of the school year. I plan to engage my high school’s Eco-Club to assist me in this endeavor.

Additionally, other ambassadors suggested several programs that I hope will create future tradition in my community, including:
· “Green Line” fashion show that promotes the style of eco-friendly clothes
· “Power Down for Polar Bears”—a day where my school/community would turn off all electricity to conserve energy
· Climate Change Leadership Summit to inspire, inform, and empower concerned teenagers on global climate issues

Finally, throughout this trip I have toted Aurora, a stuffed penguin. I have snapped pictures of Aurora doing everything I have done on this trip. I am planning to write a children’s story about Aurora’s travels in the Arctic to inform youngsters about what they can do to help the cause, using Aurora, the “traveling penguin,” as my emissary to their age group. I also hope to visit Antarctica someday, so that will be Aurora’s “homecoming.” Maybe there is a whole line of children’s books in the works….

Through my experiences over the past two weeks, I have acquired so many leadership skills from my fellow ambassadors and from the scientists and teachers who have facilitated the camp. Everyone brought a different skill to the camp. Tomorrow, when we depart the tundra, we will retain and bring home a part of each other that will contribute to our work as Arctic Ambassadors. I realize, more than ever, the power and obligation I have to INSPIRE, INFORM, and EMPOWER my peers, my community, and my world toward the goal of acknowledging and addressing the issues of global climate change.

From the last day on the tundra,
Ronit

On a few occasions we did try to intervene when she was in the holding facility, but didn’t have much success. The outcome of that also included getting Tatqiq upset and causing her to be mistrustful of us. So we decided not to continue to bother her. On the first day after, there was a good play session with all three. Kalluk almost had it off but bodies turned opposite ways and play seemed to peter out. On several other occasions either Kalluk or Chinook would grab hold of the trash lid but used it more as leverage rather than trying to pull it over Tatqiq’s head. But with each day that passed, the lid had more rips and tears, so we were still optimistic that it would come off on its own.

On the fourth day, Sunday afternoon, I received a call from my co-worker letting me know that the trash lid was off Tatqiq’s neck and floating in the water. And of course in usual polar bear fashion, Kalluk was doing his best to now try it on himself! So a pull off quickly followed and all three bears happily came off exhibit. The trash lid was retrieved and paired with its perfectly removed center circle piece.

I don’t really know what we’re going to do with the memorabilia but, pardon the pun, I just can’t bear to trash it. I appreciate all of you who understood the situation and helped to pass on that Tatqiq was fine and there was nothing to be concerned about. From now on, I will always be taking a moment to consider what type of enrichment I might actually be offering the bears.

Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.

Watch the bears daily on Polar Cam.