Background
Aims
In the wild, brown bears have been shown to correlate their behavioural activity depending on the ambient temperature. This means that they are less active during low temperatures (especially pre-torpor in autumn) and more active during high temperatures.
Prior to torpor, the diet of wild brown bears contain up to 80% berries. Bears have been shown to even reject animal protein to consume berries instead.
In Sweden, blueberries contain a high concentraion of poly-unsaturated fatty acids, which is an important compound for a successful, healthy torpor in brown bears.
Since little is known about the pre-torpor behaviours of captive brown bears, the aim of this study was to observe whether the brown bears at Kolmården Zoo vary their behavioural activity depending on the ambient temperature, like their wild counterparts. Also, to investigate the food components of the bears zoo-diet through litterature research and compare it to the diet in the wild.