Polar Bear Cub, Knut
Ambassador for his Species or Victim of Human Interference?
Were the animal rights activists wrong to say that hand-rearing by humans was not the best choice for this polar bear cub?
The polar bear cub, Knut, has been the center of much controversy after his mother rejected him. Animal rights activists stated that he should have also been left to die or been euthanatized because it went against the ‘instincts of nature’ to keep him alive.
Baby animals, including baby polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have been hand reared by zoo staff for many years in many countries. It is not unusual for animal mothers, even wild ones, to be inept at rearing young. This is especially true for first time mothers. It may not be ‘instincts of nature’ at work here but lack of experience.
Animals born to inexperienced mothers would die if not reared by humans. While the animal rights activists would argue that this is normal, zoos do not have the luxury of letting this happen. The very same activists quote statistics regarding the number of animals that die in zoos when they state that zoos shouldn’t be allowed to exist.
The zoo-visiting public also plays a role. People go to zoos expecting to see baby animals. That means there is constant pressure on zoos to have baby animals to view, as the public response to Knut has clearly shown. Letting babies die is not generally acceptable to the public.
That same public can learn about the threats facing wildlife while at the zoo. In Knut’s case, the photo session with Annie Leibowitz was the start of his career as an ambassador for his species. The ensuing uproar has kept Knut, and polar bears, in the spotlight, allowing conservationists to get the word out about loss of habitat and declining food in the arctic.
But zoos also have a responsibility. They must provide adequate housing, food and mental stimulation for their animals. It is not enough to claim that they are helping a species unless the animals in their care enjoy the five freedoms of animal welfare. Originally developed for assessing quality of care on farms, the five freedoms are now used to determine quality of care for all animals. The most difficult of those to ensure for wildlife is the freedom to express normal behavior.
As long as Knut is gradually weaned from his care-giver, allowed to develop as a bear and is provided with an appropriate environment, he can contribute more to public awareness of the threats faced by polar bears than hundreds of wildlife conservation campaigners could.
