Scent reaction in sun bears

Recently, Zoo Atlanta undertook a research project in collaboration with colleagues to understand how sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) react to scents. This research was one of the recommended projects from the Research Prospectus: Priority topics for ex situ sun bear conservation research published by the Ouwehands Zoo, IUCN, SSC, the Bear Specialist Group, and Free the Bears.  

While some bear species have been the subject of much research, sun bears, along with other tropical species, have not. In fact, sun bears are the least studied species, but one of the most threatened. Both habitat loss and hunting are affecting the population, with a 30% decline in the last 30 years. In 2019, the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group developed a 10-year conservation action plan that highlighted a role for ex situ as well as in situ organizations.  

Scents are often used in field conservation to improve detection of wild bears, since smell is one of the most salient senses for ursids. Variation in how bears react to scents, and their habituation to them, are hard to study in the wild, but much more achievable ex situ. 

We looked at an olfactory attractant—fish paste—to determine if our sun bears Sabah and Xander would be attracted to it, how they would approach and interact with it, and how long it would take them to habituate to it. We were curious if there would be a difference in behavior between our male and female as well.  

Our results were interesting! There were no differences between Sabah and Xander, and it seemed that while there was a small habituation effect, it wasn’t significant. What this may mean is that the scent remains salient for the bears for a long time, which could be useful for in situ researchers to know. If a scent continues to attract the bears, researchers won’t have to replace the scent as much, which is important because placing scents in the wild may involve traversing difficult terrain, and limitations due to staff and/or other time constraints, or other issues. However, because we only have two bears, these results cannot be extrapolated to the species. As a result, the next step is replication at another ex situ facility.  Stay tuned for more news on this study!   

See this study in action here.

Marieke G.
Director of Animal Welfare