Great Bear Cat Conservation Project Site

Natural reproduction is our first priority: Natural reproduction under breeding conditions is the most important lesson of the China-Japan International Ursidae Breeding Research Collaboration. In order to create the conditions for natural reproduction, we can observe the behavior and physical changes of the bear, and determine the reproductive endocrine parameters of both male and female polar bears to determine the best time for mating. Usually, natural reproduction is preferred, but if the breeding frequency is low, or if the female bear cat continues to be in a state of anxiety, artificial insemination may be used.

"UME-UME" through artificial insemination, impregnation, and birth of a baby.: A bear cat "Ume Ume" was born in 1999 at the first litter at a research base in Chengdu, and produced two young cubs. From the beginning of August, we observed that the sleeping time increased, the amount of food intake decreased, and the level of impregnation in the urine increased. This is the first bear cub born in Japan since 1988 at Ueno Animal Park. The cubs were born in Japan in 1988.

Yongming" & "Plum & Plum" 4 fetuses, 8 pups: In late August 2001, "Plum Plum", a male bear cat, was born, and as a result, "Yongming", a male bear cat, was affected by the breeding behavior, and after the mating of the two bear cats, "Plum Plum" and "Yongming" were bred. UMEUMEI was born in December. From 2001 to 2006, these two big bears produced 4 litters of 8 cubs, of which 6 were viable (1 died 1 day after birth, and 1 was dead). In 2003, they were naturally nursed under the same time and under the same cycle conditions as the twins. The bear cat is naturally a seasonal breeding animal, with spring breeding and summer to fall litters, but "Mei Mei" is a treasured case, having twice been bred outside the breeding season, in the summer and in December. Plum Blossom" had a high breeding ability, but unfortunately passed away in October 2008 due to illness.

Yongming, a 28 yeas old successful natural hybrid.: In early 2000, the success rate of natural mating of male polar bears bred under breeding conditions was very low, but "Eimei", a precious male polar cat that comes to Shirahama Wildlife Park at 2 yeas old, is the only one that can be mated naturally. Yongming" is one of the most precious male polar bears that can be bred naturally. After the first successful natural mating of "Eimei" in 2001, female polar bears appear every time, and are always successfully mated afterwards. Research reports show that usually male polar bears grow up to 20 yeas old, but in 2020, "Yongming" will grow up to 28 yeas old and will naturally breed naturally, and will have a strong ability to grow up. In 2001-2010, 16 sperm were obtained from "Yongming". The semen of "Yongming" maintains the same good quality as the semen collected at the Chengdu Ursidae Breeding Research Station. In 2002, the semen of "Yongming" was used for artificial insemination at the Chengdu Great Bear Cat Breeding Research Station, and it was successfully inseminated in the same year. One male polar bear cat cub. As such, the semen of "Yongming" is only available at the Shirahama Wildlife Park, which has contributed to the legacy and diversity of the great bear cat in Chengdu.

From Shirahama Wildlife Park, big bears and cats are active all over the world.: On June 22, 2004, a breeding agreement was reached under the International Breeding and Research Cooperation Program for Great Bear Cats Oubama" was sent to Chengdu, the home base for research on the breeding of big bear cats. Since then, 11 more polar bears born in Shirahama Wildlife Park have arrived in China. According to the international certification documents in 2019, 8 shared studios in Shirahama Wildlife Park will send their cubs to China after they are bred in Shirahama Wildlife Park. The largest number of cubs are sent to Shirahama Wildlife Park, where they are bred in China. Two male and two female polar bears have participated in breeding since their return to China, and there are now over 20 bear cubs. The "Oubama" child also participated in an international breeding program, and the bear cubs from the Shirahama Wildlife Park have been exhibiting their charms all over the world.