Bears: Health and Management

ISBN: 978-0-9551628-2-4

Editors:
Debra C Bourne MA VetMB PhD MRCVS
Gracia Vila-Garcia, DVM MSc MRCVS

Published by Wildlife Information Network. Copyright © March 2007

Bears are majestic wild animals - for some people the very embodiment of wilderness. Unfortunately they are also farmed for their bile, which is prized in some traditional medicines, and kept to raise money as "dancing" bears or for bear baiting. In recent years there have been great improvements in standards for bear husbandry. Responsible zoos and forward-thinking animal welfare organisations are helping to improve the conditions of bears worldwide.

This volume provides information to improve the health and management of bears, particularly those in captivity, whether long term, or for rearing and/or rehabilitation prior to release. Natural history information is provided on the seven bear species – brown, polar, North American black, Asiatic black, sloth, sun and spectacled bears - including size and appearance, anatomy, physiology, reproduction, natural diet and feeding behaviour, social and sexual behaviour, activity patterns, habitat, range and conservation.

The core flowchart gives access to all aspects of bear husbandry and management: identification of individuals and species, handling and movement, accommodation design, behavioural requirements, feeding, reproductive management, rearing (both management of females with cubs, and hand-rearing), and preventative medicine. Release of hand-reared cubs is described. Particular emphasis is given to ensuring that the physiological as well as physical needs of bears in human care are fulfilled, whether they are rescued, in zoos, or being rehabilitated.

Diseases of bears - viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, toxic, micronutrient, physical (traumatic) and other (miscellaneous) - of bears are described, together with their diagnosis and treatments. The diseases are categorised by disease agent type as well as by signs/system affected, with particular reference made to common and important diseases of bears in zoos, in rescued bears, and in hand-reared cubs. Diseases are also linked from the bear-specific sections of the Physical Examination of Mammals and Necropsy of Mammals pages.

Veterinary techniques discussed include bear-specific information for History, Physical Examination of Mammals, Necropsy of Mammals and Environmental Assessment, anaesthetic techniques, injection techniques, dental treatment and operations to repair damage in bears which have been kept for bile collection. Suggested dosages for many medications used in bears are provided. The information in the Electronic Encyclopaedia is complemented by a directory of relevant organisations and contacts. In the Electronic Library, important publications on bears are provided, which are hyper-linked from the main Encyclopaedia for easy access.

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