Maeghan Brass
The Effects of a "Sealsicle" as Enrichment in Captive Polar Bears .
BSES Senior Research 2007

The Problem

Natural History & Status
of the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

1. Evolved from grizzly or brown bears (Ursus arctos) about 250,000 years ago

2. 20,000 to 25,000 worldwide estimate

3. In 2007, FWS - "threatened by ongoing and projected changes in their sea ice habitat"

4. Classification as "threatened" under the ESA has yet to be determined