This is a complete footage of a ~10 minute-long episode of sun bear aggression, displayed by a ~20 year old female sun bear "Ting Ting" toward a ~2 year 4 mo. old female bear "Pagi".
(I started the video before Ting made the initial contact with Pagi, as I could see "what was coming.")
Remarkably, in the first round of chase, notice "Bulan" (Pagi's older sister) appears to try to intervene, putting herself in front of Ting, as if to protect Pagi.
I have seen Ting acting aggressively toward Bulan too (though rarely), and Bulan was deferential toward Ting. So I would consider it unexpected and unusual if Bulan were to "stand up to" Ting Ting.
While the behaviors seen here may appear subtle, having watched them close to 80 hours at this point, I am convinced that Bulan was being protective of Pagi. (Otherwise I would have expected Bulan to have stayed away and out of the conflict, not run toward it and risk possible injury.)
Interesting, considering that adult sun bears are often described as solitary in the wild, aside from possibly mating pairs or mother rearing her cub(s). I don't believe they are particularly known for exhibiting complex social behaviors.
Would adult female bears help each other in this manner in the wild? How did this behavior develop? Do they "know" they are sisters? If so how? (Note that Pagi and Bulan are sisters, they did not grow up together - born 2 years apart.)
After Bulan walked away, you see that the second chase is initiated by Ting.
Once again, Bulan is seen running toward the growls and barks. But this time she is unable to catch up. Ting and Pagi soon end up on the metal platform structure, where Pagi escapes into the fire-hose hammock, at the end of the video.
*Some Background Info*
Pagi and Bulan were both born in captivity at San Diego Zoo. (They were born 2 years apart. Bulan is 2 years older than Pagi. Pagi and Bulan are sisters but had never "met" each other until Pagi was moved to Oakland Zoo last year.)
Ting Ting was born in the wild on the island of Borneo an estimated ~20 years ago. As a cub, she was captured by the illegal pet trade, and then rescued by authorities years later. Ting Ting is "temperamental"; she is known to exhibit various "stereotypic" behaviors that are attributed to her earlier years spent in a small cage.
After months of an integration period, starting at the beginning of this year (2011), all 3 bears have been placed together in the sun bear exhibit at the zoo.
In my weekly behavior observations, the 3 bears appeared to be getting along rather well - at least until today.
In particular, since all 3 bears were placed together, Ting's aggression against Pagi that I recorded had been all relatively brief, lasting less than 30 seconds to a minute. This has been an improvement over what were observed in the preceding months.
As for Pagi and Bulan, they appeared to get along very well. They are often seen foraging together, and would also play-wrestle or nap together. I have seen a few times Bulan grooming Pagi, "fussing" over her (as if to "mother" her). [On the other hand, I have not seen Pagi grooming Bulan. So I can't call it a "mutual" grooming.]
So, to a few of us among the many spectators today who have been following the progress over the previous months, this prolonged display of aggression by Ting against Pagi came as somewhat of a disappointment, if not a complete surprise.
12:16-12:27 p.m., Feb. 27, 2011, Oakland Zoo, California, USA
To visit these sun bears, check out: www.oaklandzoo.org
Негізгі бет Sun bear fight, chase and "intervention" (Oakland Zoo)
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