WRS not acquiring new polar bears

The Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) has released a statement on Thursday saying that it does not intend to acquire new polar bears, despite a press release issued to local media on Aug 21, 2013 claiming that the Singapore Zoo will receive a polar bear cub as part of a "corporate gifting scheme".

WRS told AsiaOne that it is "not aware of this (corporate gifting) arrangement, and has not been approached by any of the parties mentioned".

Following the open of the Frozen Tundra, WRS said that there have been several enquiries from various stakeholders on whether more polar bears will be added to the park's collection as companions to Inuka.

Inuka, the first polar bear born in the tropics, moved into the new 2,700 sq m Frozen Tundra exhibit at the Singapore Zoo on May 29, 2013.

WRS said that it is currently "not actively seeking to acquire new polar bear".

"Polar bears are solitary animals by nature. Inuka's new habitat features a spacious outdoor area with multiple substrate types for him to dig and play in, a large pool, and in addition our keepers engage the bear with enrichment activities to keep him suitably stimulated," WRS added.

Here is the earlier press release issued by Gazprom on Aug 21:

The City of Singapore will soon be getting a new polar bear cub for the Zoo, courtesy of Gazprom and Royal Dutch Shell.

"The polar bear is a symbol of strength and purity," said Timur Grigolyuk, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Gazprom, Russia's largest gas company. "Like Russian oil and gas, she is a precious resource that we can share with all the world."

Gazprom and Shell are relocating polar bears to ten cities around the world. They are doing this as part of a new business partnership which will see them drill for oil in the Russian Arctic, which is losing sea ice. The companies distributed a video news release on their website explaining the process after the first polar bear was gifted to the Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Moving polar bears also makes sense because polar bears have become a problem in the Arctic. Although "Arctic" means "near bear" in Greek, polar bears are today in conflict with the oil extraction industry.

"Singapore must be Arctic, not Antarctic," said Grigolyuk. "Children are very happy with bears, and we want Singapore to have maximum happiness."

Find a mate for remaining polar bear
Nov 19, 2012

I AM saddened by the death of 35-year-old Sheba, our much-beloved polar bear ("Zookeeper recalls Sheba's last days"; last Saturday).

The polar bear exhibit has been my favourite whenever I visit the zoo, and I usually spend a longer time there than at the other enclosures.

Viewing the polar bears at close range brought me much joy.

Where once there were three, there is now only one.

Sheba's son, Inuka, may be going to its new home at the River Safari, but a lone polar bear can present a forlorn sight.

I hope there are plans to find Inuka a mate to once again start the family cycle.

Bennie Cheok