PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is celebrating National Bear Day at the Detroit Zoo on Thursday, April 4, 2019. The event will include zookeeper talks, hands-on activities and educational experiences that showcase these charismatic megavertebrates and the risks they face in the wild.

Zookeeper talks will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the grizzly bear habitat, home to rescued bears Mike, Thor, Boo and Kintla. A third zookeeper talk will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the award-winning Arctic Ring of Life, home to polar bears Nuka and Suka.

Polar bears and grizzly bears are among the world’s largest carnivores. Visitors will be able to compare and contrast the two species and others by using hand-held Zoomy microscopes and magnifying glasses. They will also be able to take part in simulated polar bear conservation work by conducting population assessments. Young guests can use their imagination to construct a small-scale habitat for bears using various building materials.

“We will shed light on the threats to bears’ survival, as well as the important work we’ve done around the world – from Armenia to Alaska – to protect bears,” said Scott Carter, DZS chief life sciences officer.

As the human population and land development increases, people are coming into conflict with wildlife more and more due to factors such as predators eating livestock, wildlife raiding crops and direct threats to human lives. The DZS collaborates with international wildlife organizations to conduct scientific research and work toward creating safe places for bears to live.

Education on bear populations during the National Bear Day event will help visitors learn what they can do to help preserve bear populations and their habitats by making simple changes in their daily lives that contribute to a more sustainable future.