Bears: Health and Management

05mei2011
Source: wildlifeinformation.org
This CD-ROM contains a great deal of information about bears, their appearance, anatomy and behaviour as well as feeding and keeping bears and diseases to which they are susceptible.
Bears are impressive animals; for many people they are the embodiment of the wilderness. Unfortunately, bears are also kept for their bile (used in traditional medicine) and held in captivity as ‘dancing bears’ in the tourist industry.

In recent years there has been progress in raising the standards of care for bears in shelters and zoos. The Wildlife Information Network has put together a CD-ROM with information about keeping bears in captivity and preparing bears for release into the wild.

Seven bear species are discussed: polar, brown, North American black, Asiatic black, sloth, sun and spectacle bears. Besides general knowledge about the bears (anatomy, behaviour, nutrition, etc.), a great deal of information is presented on bear husbandry and management. Topics included are enclosure design, individual identification, handling, hand-rearing young, and reproductive management. The emphasis is on the psychological and physiological wellbeing of the bears, whether they are in a zoo, have been rescued or are being rehabilitated. Additionally, there is information on various bear diseases, their diagnosis and treatment.

The CD-ROM includes addresses of relevant organisations and contacts.

Bears: Health and Management
Debra C Bourne en Gracia Vila-Garcia (editors)
Wildlife Information Network, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-9551628-2-4