It is evidently malnourished and repeats up and down the same movements: the images that come from the Aquarium zoo of Madrid that resume a Malay bear (HelarcTos Malayanus) with a rather deteriorated physical appearance and that clearly shows a stereotype.
To report everything is Faada, a Spanish foundation in defense of wild and pets, which collected the images of some guests of the park.
The stereotypie These are repetitive movements, postures or voices, generally coordinated and rhythmic, which are always performed in the same way (in a stereotyped way) and without a clear purpose. In this particular case, a stereotyped movement model is observed, known as “pacing”, which consists in the fact that the animal always moves along the same path, which repeats over and over again without stopping.
And, as is obvious, the stereotypies are one of the most widely used indicators of lack of well -being, since they are often a clear symptom of stress, boredom and/or frustration.
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Malaysian bears, the smaller bear species, are classified as vulnerable by IUCN due to the hunting and loss of the habitat. They are agile and climbers, they can reach 8 meters in height and rest between branches and leaves. However, in the zoo, they rarely provide them with an environment suitable for the development of these natural behaviors.
Through the #infozoos coalition (@Faadadorg and @andaSocciDondefensaNimales), we will contact the Aquarium zoo of Madrid to find out the conditions of the animal and if the center is adopting measures to improve its conditions and, consequently, its physical and mental health, make it known by the Foundation.
Meanwhile, we know that, unfortunately, These images are not exceptional or unique. On the contrary. In any zoo in the world it is all too common to see animals that, due to the unnatural living conditions in which they are forced, develop repetitive and compulsive behaviors. Behaviors that are nothing more than the result of a deep frustration, a silent cry for the freedom that human beings often cannot feel.
Animals are living beings that deserve to live in environments that respect their nature, without having to give up their dignity for a little entertainment. Every time we look at those eyes, we know that behind that sadness is hidden a humanity that we do not want to ignore.
