Why is BIAZA running Fat Bear Week?

Fat Bear Week, conceived to highlight the seasonal changes of bears in Alaska's Katmai National Park, has run for ten years and in that time become well known to animal-lovers worldwide. It is possible more people are aware of Fat Bear Week than can name Alaska’s capital (it’s Juneau).

Fat Bear Week is prolific because it creates individualism, levity, connectedness and awareness for some of the world’s most fearsome predators. It helps everyone recognise their seasonal cycles and physiological changes pre-hibernation.

BIAZA zoos with brown bears (Ursus arctos) must also cater for seasonal cycles, allowing bears to put on weight and create their den before slowing down to hibernate. Keepers closely monitor weight, diet and behaviour as bears wind down before winter.

Understanding seasonal cycles is a crucial part of animal husbandry – and bears have one of the most profound annual weight gains of the mammals. We wanted to offer a glimpse into the lives of zoo bears, and the work of the keepers who facilitate those changes.

Sarah McGregor, Section manager of Predators at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, has collaborated on the campaign on behalf of the BIAZA Bear Focus Group:

“It’s fantastic to dedicate some time to highlight the importance of brown bear husbandry in zoos and share what an incredible species they are! Brown bears undergo drastic changes in their physiology and biology every year.”

“Well established aspects of hibernation we know include a decrease in temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate and metabolism during this time all whilst still being able to respond instantly to a potential threat.”

This week, we’re highlighting individual bears currently getting ready for, or just starting, torpor. Like Eso from Five Sisters Zoo, who has bulked up to a hefty 172kg – a far cry from when she was rescued from a roadside restaurant in Eastern Europe at just 40kg. Or four-year-old Mana, who weighs an incredible 217kg, living alongside her posse of female bears at Whipsnade Zoo, who you can also get acquainted with this week.

Brown bears in the wild are faced with habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-bear conflict. Among the bear species, only brown bears and American black bears are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, there are several smaller populations of brown bear (e.g. the Atlas bear of Northern Africa) which are already extinct. Conservationists are hard at work to help extant bear populations that are at risk, to prevent their extinction.

Ecologically, bears play a crucial role such as by spreading seeds, cleaning up carcasses, and controlling herbivore populations, which in turn keep protects vegetation from too much damage.

Sarah added: “Brown bears are complex and incredibly intelligent animals. The care we offer changes frequently and is led by behavioural cues from our bears during each seasonal change. Brown bears are truly a fascinating species and it is a privilege to be able to care for them.”

As well as raising awareness and inspiring a generation to be in awe of bears, through research zoos deepen our understanding in bear ecology, genetics, behaviour and welfare. This helps inform field conservation and the best protection measures for wild bears.

There is another element which makes the Alaskan Fat Bear Week so renowned – the competition. After reading about the seven bears (link to our Facebook post containing their profiles) in the running please vote for your favourite bear here. Voting runs until Nov 1!