Hmm... Bears?

[ImagineerToBeZB]

I have a quick question. Does Disney's Animal Kingdom have bears/ a bear enclosure in the park? I have researched it, and I have yet to find a definite answer of my question. If in fact, DAK does NOT have bears, why? Is there some kind of animal law in Florida that has caused Disney to not put bears in DAK?

I was wondering because I watched "Brother Bear" recently, and I just wondered why Disney has not taken advantage of the 2 film (with a collector's edition coming soon, I hear?) world of brother bear. It seems that that would have been a great addition to DAK, bringing bears and a north america section of the park.

EDIT---> Ok, after reading many of your replies, I now know that my suspicions were correct. There are no Bears in DAK. So, my challenge to you is to imagine the addition of a bear-containing area of DAK. A North-American land? A current land addition? Let us all know what your idea may be!

 

[luv]

Never saw that movie. Never saw a bear at WDW, either, I don't think.

Maybe bears don't like the Florida heat and requested not to live at WDW? Would you refuse a bear's request?

 

[rufio]

No, I've never seen a bear at AK. If you think about it, animals on safaris and treks at DAK consist of Asia and Africa. Where would Brother Bear fit in?

 

[ImagineerToBeZB]

No, I've never seen a bear at AK. If you think about it, animals on safaris and treks at DAK consist of Asia and Africa. Where would Brother Bear fit in?

But, also if you think about it, why not have a north america area? Yeah, it is not a zoo, but some people may have not seen some of the north american animals. I don't necessarily think that they need them, and it really don't fit in to Killamanjaro Safaris (sp?), but those rides are in the Asia and Africa areas of the park. There ia a "Himalayan" section, a Dinoland U.S.A. section, and the Camp Minnie Mickey sections of the park, so why not add a North American area. It would be better than adding another planet... But I really just wondered why there is no presence of bears in DAK! Maybe someone at Disney just don't like bears...

 

[HouCuseChickie]

It depends on what kind of bears we're talking about. There is an Asian black bear - so clearly that could fit into Asia.

If we want to get more technical and Disney-ish, I believe Baloo is supposed to be a sloth bear...which has Indian origins. That could also fit in as India is a part of Asia.

However, it does bring up an interesting thought...i.e. how many animals and areas of the world not represented at AK. It would be interesting to see something like the safari done in north american form. I think back to our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton as well as a trip I've tabled for Alaska and it would be kind of neat to see something like that represented in the park. With that, they could try and incorporate grizzlies/brown/Kodiak, black, and polar. Alternately, if they wanted to stay away from North America, if they were to incorporate more of South America...the Andean/Spectacle Bear would be an option.

 

[Goofyernmost]

But I really just wondered why there is no presence of bears in DAK! Maybe someone at Disney just don't like bears...

I'd guess mostly that they cannot handle the Florida heat. Climate is the reason that you never see Alligators in Maine.

 

[ImagineerToBeZB]

@houcusechickie
EXACTLY! That is what ultimately meant in what I was questioning. Where are the bears?

I'd guess mostly that they cannot handle the Florida heat. Climate is the reason that you never see Alligators in Maine.

Yeah, you are correct, but can't you always make a climate controlled enclosure? I believe you might can in most cases.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I'd guess mostly that they cannot handle the Florida heat. Climate is the reason that you never see Alligators in Maine.

I don't know...many of the southern zoos that rank in the top 10 have nice natural exhibits with cold weather bears. I live currently live in Houston- which gets hot as heck over the summer and the Houston Zoo has grizzly bears and Andean bears. You also have to look at the broad habitat of the American black bear. They are known to exist naturally as far south as central Mexico and southern FL, so they'd work in WDW.

(EDIT- I meant to say that the Houston Zoo often ranks in top 10 and has bears...I can't type!)

 

[Goofyernmost]

@houcusechickie
EXACTLY! That is what ultimately meant in what I was questioning. Where are the bears?



Yeah, you are correct, but can't you always make a climate controlled enclosure? I believe you might can in most cases.

I suppose you could but then you would not be allowing the animal to roam free. It would, in fact, be caged, to stay within the climate control. Remember this is Notazoo!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I suppose you could but then you would not be allowing the animal to roam free. It would, in fact, be caged, to stay within the climate control. Remember this is Notazoo!

I get that, but the top zoos function on the same concept...habitats- not cages. While these exhibits I speak of may have some technology underneath to cool them, they are open air habitats with rock formations, water features, appropriate foliage, etc. It's the same concept Disney uses for some of the more dangerous animals such as the tigers.

 

[ImagineerToBeZB]

I suppose you could but then you would not be allowing the animal to roam free. It would, in fact, be caged, to stay within the climate control. Remember this is Notazoo!

True, but isn't DAK still a zoo in a certain way? I mean, Disney has their ways of making it look 'free roaming' when it is actually not really that, but contained. Disney uses many illusions to the average guest in order to make it look unlike a zoo.

 

[Nemo14]

Florida has native black bears, and, although somewhat rare, there have been sightings on Disney property.

 

[ImagineerToBeZB]

Florida has native black bears, and, although somewhat rare, there have been sightings on Disney property.

The bears you speak of may be native, though. What I wonder is of a tamed by Disney bear. I do have to say that I have spotted a few unknown animals on Disney property during my visits, so I see what you mean by the unknown!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

This map shows where you can find American black bears in the wild.

EDIT-I know there are some other areas as well that may be added back to this map as bear populations grow. Ex. A few areas north of where I live have shown signs over the last few years of bears. No spottings, but markings and scat...so they can handle a pretty broad climate range and go beyond even this map.

 

[Nemo14]

We actually have one on the loose right now in RI. He's been spotted in several areas, and apparently fared OK through Sandy.

 

[ImagineerToBeZB]

This map shows where you can find American black bears in the wild.

EDIT-I know there are some other areas as well that may be added back to this map as bear populations grow. Ex. A few areas north of where I live have shown signs over the last few years of bears. No spottings, but markings and scat...so they can handle a pretty broad climate range and go beyond even this map.

Thanks for that map! It really shows us all what climates bears can handle (plus more since a few can be found in other places), and it shows us that they CAN be found in Florida, naturally, but not necessarily near Orlando. If African animals from the savanas can be found in Disney's borders, why not add a bear? The questions keep on coming...

 

[steamboat wil]

DA BEARS!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I always thought it would be cool to have a North American section by camp Minnie Mickey. As someone pointed out people in cities and foreign countries might not of ever seen animals that are native to our country.

 

[GeneralKnowledge]

There are basically two schools of thought....

 

[ImagineerToBeZB]

I have often thought about North American area, and how it would truly fit into DAK. The type of bear... that is a pretty big question...