Expert: Stephen Vantassel - 4/16/2005

Question
dear Stephen Vantassel
i couldn't find the right category where my question belongs to, so i chose the animal right category to ask the following concern:

is it possible if i keep a bear, more precisely a polar bear as a pet?
what would be needed in order to adopt a polar bear as a pet? (legal issues, conditions etc)

thank you very much,
polar bear lover

Answer
I would seriously doubt that the Canadian or U.S. government would grant you permission to have a polar bear as a pet. To even be considered for such a permit, you would need to demonstrate
1. Money.  namely that you have lots of it to pay for shelter, food, food and more food, veterinarian materials.
2. education on how to care for a polar bear.

Polar bears are very dangerous creatures. There are reasons why one doesn't see certain species ever getting tamed. Some animals are just too independent (translated dangerous) to be this close to humans.

If you care about polar bears, work on protecting their habitat so that we can preserve the species for years to come. That would be more beneficial than private ownership of a creature that should be kept wild.