More than a year after their plight first grabbed international attention, the six remaining polar bears held by Circo Hermanos Suarez (Suarez Brothers Circus) were seized by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) in Puerto Rico on November 5. The seizure followed months of pressure from animal advocates, humane organizations, and members of Congress. The FWS cited violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the circus' display permit provisions as the reasons for the seizure.

Unfortunately, on November 19, one of the male bears, Royal, died en route to Atlanta from Puerto Rico. Although the bears' transport was delayed by at least two weeks in an effort to improve their health before the stressful flight, Royal was apparently not strong enough after spending months in the circus's poor conditions. A necropsy will determine the exact cause of death. The other bears survived the flight well and have gone on to their final destinations (zoos in Detroit, Tacoma, Washington, and Asheboro, North Carolina) without incident.

Inhumane Conditions

Initially the FWS frustrated The HSUS and other groups by granting the Suarez Brothers Circus an import permit, allowing the circus to bring seven polar bears to Puerto Rico. Animal protectionists accused Suarez Brothers Circus of keeping the bears, dubbed the "Suarez Seven," in inhumane conditions and failing to provide adequate veterinary care. The polar bears were kept in tropical heat of as much as 112° F, often without air conditioning or access to pools of cold water. They were also confined to a transport vehicle for as long as 55 hours at a time.

Dr. Naomi Rose, HSUS marine mammal scientist, noted that the bears were "forced to live in the most unnatural conditions. In the Arctic, air temperatures rarely exceed 65° in the summer, and water temperatures always hover around freezing. In the winter temperatures dip well below zero. Even in this natural environment, overheating can be a serious concern for polar bears, especially if they exert themselves. Forcing these bears to perform tricks in tropical conditions places them at risk of overheating and suffering collapse."

In July 2001, a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspection reported that one bear, named Alaska, had patches of missing hair and that there was no record of the development or treatment of her condition. The following month, an animal protection organization inspector described Alaska as being in a deteriorated condition, with no hair remaining on her face, discharge from her right eye and nose, and having difficulty holding her head up. An earlier incident in which another bear died revealed that the animal had not received timely medical attention, and the circus failed to produce any medical records for him.

"Typical" Training

Concerns about the Suarez Brothers Circus' training methods also surfaced. Observers reported seeing trainers for the circus hitting the bears on the face, head, and hindquarters with whips and sticks.

"Unfortunately, the Suarez Brothers Circus is not the only traveling animal show with such a deplorable track record," said Richard Farinato, captive wildlife protection program director for The HSUS. "This is typical of such shows in the U.S. and abroad. These types of operations sometimes advertise themselves as educational, but they rarely are. In fact, too often what these circuses convey is a total lack of respect for the animals by ignoring their needs and disregarding the fact that they are intelligent, complex creatures."

In August 2001, Ponce, Puerto Rico, district attorney Benjamin Miranda filed charges against the Suarez Brothers Circus for violations of Puerto Rico's local animal cruelty laws. He wasn't the first to find fault with the circus' treatment of the polar bears. A number of agencies and organizations documented numerous alleged violations of the U.S. Animal Welfare Act by the Suarez Brothers Circus concerning the polar bears.

Alaska Seized

In March 2002, after The HSUS noted document irregularities in the import permit for Alaska, the FWS confiscated the bear after Suarez Brothers was found to have filed false documents. Alaska was relocated to The Baltimore Zoo and is now doing well. The remaining six polar bears were left to languish in the tropical heat of Puerto Rico.

On at least two occasions, Suarez Brothers announced its intention to take the bears to other Caribbean islands. In each case, the receiving island declined to accept the bears. The circus still traveled to these venues, but the polar bears were left behind and continued to deteriorate. They were sometimes still required to perform for the few Puerto Rican towns that hadn't yet seen the show.

Congress and the FWS Step In

A week after Alaska's rescue, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced The Polar Bear Protection Act, to bar the use of polar bears in traveling shows or circuses. The bill was introduced with about 40 original cosponsors. Previously, more than 70 members of Congress had signed letters urging the federal government to take action to ensure the humane treatment of polar bears.

When a U.S. zoo veterinarian visited the current holding location and found deplorable conditions, the FWS finally moved to seize the bears, citing violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the circus' display permit provisions. "Although it took a frustratingly long time for the FWS to do the right thing, it is done at last," said Rose. "Hopefully the bears will respond positively to their improved conditions."