Introductions Are in Order

On a chilly morning in late October a small group of onlookers gathered in front of one of the zoo’s bear grottos. They had come to play chaperone, and to witness an important day in the lives of two young bears. Haley and Payton Polar Bear were scheduled to meet face-to-face for the first time, and like any first date there was an air of tense excitement around the event.

Keepers were posted throughout the area to make sure both bears behaved. As staff watched closely, each bear went out into their normal grotto like any other day. Their spaces were festooned with plenty of toys and food, which immediately drew the bears’ attention. Soon the keepers opened some off-exhibit doors so that only a barred and chained barrier separated Haley and Payton. The bears were called over so they could see and sniff each other...

…and nothing happened…

To their chaperones’ chagrin, the polar bears were far more interested in their snacks than meeting each other…

Eventually, keepers caught their attention and got the bears back together, watching Haley and Payton closely to see how they reacted to each other. When everything looked OK, the barrier separating them was opened and they were allowed to interact, unobstructed, for the first time. From outside, the onlookers could not see anything, but they could hear the bears making a lot of noise---banging and roaring. Soon Haley came darting out into a grotto with Payton following her closely, “chuffing.” This sound was a very encouraging sign to keepers who describe it as a way for bears to say “I mean you no harm.”

Over the next few minutes, as the bears chased each other between grottos, it became clear to everyone watching that this was purely play behavior, lacking any aggression. This was cemented the first time that Haley plopped into the pool and enthusiastically swatted at Payton. Though he is over 100 pounds heavier than his new gal pal, Payton was clearly a bit intimidated by Haley’s swats and bites. But it did not seem to put a damper on the rest of the day, which was full of joyous nipping, chasing, growling, pawing, and splashing.

Long Courtship
Since that first day, keepers have been thrilled to watch how wonderfully the two bears are getting along. This happy outcome was not left to chance---the introduction was months in the making. Keepers were concerned because polar bears are not the most social animals and these meetings can occasionally turn ugly. To help ensure everything went well keepers have been preparing Payton and Haley since she arrived earlier this year. Haley had some tooth problems that delayed the introduction, but keepers have been getting the bears familiar with each other from afar for months. At first, they were in separate grottos close to one another. After about a week, their grottos were switched, giving the bears an opportunity to get used to each other’s scent and the habitats they would be sharing. Soon afterwards, visual introductions took place off exhibit. Finally, the polar bears met face to face separated by a barred door. After seeing Payton and Haley giving each other gifts of plastic toys and branches between the bars, keepers knew the bears were ready.

When the time came for the big meeting, staff held their breaths as the barriers were removed. Keepers were on-hand in front of the exhibit and behind-the-scenes to help separate the bears should any problems arise. Since both bears weigh over 300 pounds, keepers would rely on fire extinguishers and water hoses to distract them if anything went awry. Happily, no intervention was required and keepers spent the rest of the day laughing at the awkward “first date” and noting the times of key actions. These records will be compared with those from other polar bear introduction to help better understand the social aspects of these animals.

For now, Haley and Payton continue to frolic. But keepers are already preparing them for their first road trip---they are leaving for Memphis Zoo in 2006. Until then, make sure you stop by to watch the energetic bears cavorting!

Furry Films
The first meeting of Payton and Haley was a bit like an episode of "Elimidate." Cameras were everywhere! We will be posting video of their first days together soon.

Help Pay for Payton to Play
Purchase a Share the Care package online and help the zoo care for the Payton Polar Bear. Get a personalized certificate, photo of Payton, and more---just for showing you care.