Bari-ba, the polar bear from Ehime prefecture's zoo, pays a visit to Zooasia.

Translated from the original article at: http://kohoku.keizai.biz/headline/449/

Polar Bear Bari-ba, zoo visitor

On November 29, The female polar bear Bari-ba will visit Yokohama's Zoo, Zoorasia (Yokohama City, Asahi ward, Kamishirane city).

With the trend of declining polar bear birthrates inside of the country, the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums encouraged a polar bear breeding project. The project has polar bears from all over the country individually moving among breeding zoos and forming new pairs, with the lone goal being to stimulate breeding activity.

In June, at the same park (Zoorasia), the female polar bear, Chiro, suddenly died. Since then, Janbui, a 19 year old male, has become the only one to be cared for. Meanwhile, Bari-ba (Age 20), the Ehime prefectural institution, as well as the zoo of Ehime prefecture, Iyo district, partnered together under the following condition: as part of a larger plan in this same project, Zoorasia will be the park decided for this visit.

In charge of the polar bears in that same park (Zoorasia) is Mr. Itou Sakura, who said the following: "Each breeding park collaborating in our system is aimed towards the breeding of polar bears. Before arriving at the breeding season, we wish to express our gratitude that the conditions of the pairing for both Janbui and Bari-ba have been decided upon straightaway. Also, with the objective being breeding, the age of both animals is considered, along with the remaining (breeding) time for both Janbui and Bari-ba, who are seemingly carefree and relaxed. We wish to spend this time supporting them.”

Original Text:

ズーラシアにホッキョクグマ「バリーバ」－愛媛の動物園から来園へ

来園するホッキョクグマの「バリーバ」

よこはま動物園ズーラシア（横浜市旭区上白根町）に11月29日、雌のホッキョクグマ「バリーバ」が来園する。

国内のホッキョクグマの飼育頭数は減少傾向にあり、日本動物園水族館協会は「ホッキョクグマ繁殖プロジェクト」を推進。同プロジェクトは、全国のホッキョクグマ飼育園間で個体移動をすることで新たなペア形成を行い、繁殖行動を活性化させることを目的の一つとしている。

同園では6月に雌のホッキョクグマ「チロ」が急死。以来雄のジャンブイ（19歳）1頭の飼育となっていた。一方バリーバ（20歳）も愛媛県立とべ動物園（愛媛県伊予郡）でパートナーがいない状態だったことから、同プロジェクトの一環で今回の来園が決まった。