STATUS OF BEAR WELFARE

Status of Bear Welfare in Cherokee, North Carolina
VETERINARY CARE
A complete veterinary care program must include measures to prevent, not just treat, disease,
injury, illness, pain, and suffering, and it must encompass all aspects of an animal’s physical,
mental, and emotional health. The facilities in Cherokee had not established a complete
veterinary care program.
In addition to numerous physical health concerns caused by the improper caging and inadequate
husbandry, the bears endured chronic stress and great psychological suffering. The needs of the
bears were supplanted by the human agenda of running a profitable business in which the
priorities are minimizing overhead (i.e., large numbers of bears in small spaces, low staff costs,
low-maintenance cement enclosures, minimal cage furnishings, and a foodstuff that is
convenient, relatively inexpensive, and easily stored), and providing entertainment value for their
customers (i.e., charismatic wild animals, unobstructed public viewing, and public feedings).
CONCRETE AND RELATED PHYSICAL TRAUMA
Concrete is uniform, abrasive, and unyielding. As such, it contributes to damage to the skeletal
system as well as to muscle strain, circulatory compromise, footpad lesions, callus formation, and
pressure sores.
Although not outwardly obvious, excessive pressure on limbs and tissue leads to bruising,
discomfort, and circulatory compromise. A bear would normally construct a day bed or den by
digging into dirt. Naturally, therefore, a bear’s tissue suffers excessive pressure when the animal
is forced to rest his or her considerable mass on rock-hard surfaces. Similarly, there is the
potential for considerable injury should a bear fall onto a concrete floor, as could occur in the
instance of the cubs at CSBP, who were suspended several feet above the floor when climbing
on the metal door.
Concrete absorbs heat and can cause burns on very hot days. As there was insufficient provision
of shade, save for a shadow occasionally cast by a wall, bears could incur thermal burns when
locked in their outdoor enclosures during the day.
In addition, during hot weather, the heated concrete draws out moisture and oils from the
footpads, encouraging cracks.
Concrete is cleaned with detergents or bleach. Captive animals can suffer chemical burns to their
feet when bleach is under-diluted or left to dry on the concrete before it is rinsed off.
As drainage of the concrete floors of the pits was poor, standing water was a problem. When feet
are not allowed to dry out, they are prone to overhydration and subsequent peeling of the pads.
Standing water is also a breeding ground for infectious agents, which are often antibioticresistant,
and once infections are established, foot problems typically become a chronic issue.
Calluses may build up on the footpads when they are subjected to hard, uniformly unforgiving
artificial surfaces. Heavily callused pads lose their flexibility and their ability to absorb shock.
Consequently, the joints undergo more wear and tear, leading to gradual deterioration and
AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF CHIEF SAUNOOKE BEAR PARK, CHEROKEE BEAR ZOO, AND SANTA’S LAND | 30