How to Build a Bear Zoo
People love bears. These big, furry creatures are often as lazy and lovable as they are intimidating and ferocious. Spotting a bear in the wild can be a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, but observing them in zoos is a much safer and more reliable alternative. A special bear zoo can showcase various species of bears (grizzly, polar, black, etc.) in one location. To build a bear zoo, you must apply for requisite permits and design the zoo to accommodate the needs of the animals and their human visitors.
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Instructions
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Apply for building and zoning permits. Different states and localities require specific building permits, so consult the building or zoning department where you live.
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Apply for a zoo permit. All fifty states have certain prerequisites for maintaining a zoo and housing wild animals. Some states have requirements specific to bears; Oklahoma, for example, requires a permit for anyone housing a bear that is or will grow to over 50 pounds.
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Build auxiliary facilities necessary for the administration of a zoo. Among others, these include rest rooms, office space, employee and guest parking lots, information kiosks, loading docks and storage facilities (to receive and hold supplies).
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Construct living areas for the bears. Each bear species needs unique conditions to mimic the natural habitat. Polar bears require frigid temperatures and a water tank of sufficient size for diving and swimming. Black bears and grizzlies reside naturally in mountainous terrain and deciduous forest, so their zoo habitat will need to approximate these conditions. The living areas must include an external site (for benefit of both animal health and human observation) as well as an adjacent internal site where zookeepers can access the bears to administer medicine, nutrition and other necessities.
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Construct proper safety structures. This is imperative for a zoo housing potentially dangerous creatures like bears. Moreover, most states legally mandate adequate safety features in zoos. The bear-viewing areas must be sufficiently protected by tall, durable fencing and other man-made or natural barriers that prevent both animal egress and human entry.
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References
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