In January of 2004 at the International Polar Bear Husbandry Conference in San Diego California, it became apparent that polar bear nutrition guidelines were needed. While many gaps in our knowledge base on polar bear nutrition exist, this document includes a review of the literature as well as documented feeding experience to date. At that time PBI offered to help the Bear Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and the Polar Bear Species Survival Plan (SSP) with whatever means were needed to allow polar bear guidelines be produced. A group of nutritionists, managers, keepers, and veterinarians met four times over a period of a year to outline all questions and areas of concern. The five nutritionists on this group then were able to compile the following guidelines. PBI supported and facilitated these meetings as well as publication of this document.

Click here to download the guidelines in PDF format. (604 kb)