Bear Hybrids

Since the 1800's there have been many bear hybrids created, both on accident and on purpose, in captivity. Brown bears, black bears, Grizzly bears, Polar bears, and some specialty bears such as the sun bear and the sloth bear have successfully bred and produced offspring, most of which has pr oven to be fertile. The only member of the bear family that has not reproduced with another type of bear is the Giant Panda.

Brown Bear/Black Bear

In 1859 the London Zoological Gardens purposely bred a brown bear and a black bear. There were three offspring, none of which reached maturity. Since then brown bears and black bears have been bred and produced healthy fertile offspring.

Brown Bear/Polar Bear

In 1874 a brown bear and a polar bear were bred at Halle. The offspring were white at birth and later changed to yellow or blue-brown. There is some DNA evidence that says some brown bear subspecies are actually closer genetically to polar bears then to other brown bears.

Kodiak Bear/Polar Bear

In 1936 a male polar bear accidentally got into a female Kodiak Bear's enclosure at the US National Zoo. Three offspring result which were later found to be fertile when the bred with each other. Since that time the Kodiak bear has been reclassified as a subspecies of brown bear.

Brown Bear/Grizzly Bear

The European Brown Bear and the Grizzly Bear have been bred for several years in Cologne, Germany. They have produced many healthy, and fertile offspring. These offspring have been bred with each other, brown bears and grizzly bears. Since the start of this breeding program Grizzly bears have been reclassified to be a subspecies of brown bear.

Sloth Bear Hybrids

There have been a few cases of Sloth Bears producing hybrids with other types of bears. These reports have included the Malayan Sun Bear and the Asiatic Black Bear. There is also one case of such a hybrid supposedly being created after a Sloth bear escaped from a circus in the 60's and bred with a native bear in Florida. These accounts have never been verified.

Grizzly Bear/Polar Bear

Recently there has been a lot of information come forward about the Grizzly bear and polar bear hybrid. This hybrid has been known to happen in captivity for years. There were several reports of people believing it to happen in the wild, but no proof had come forward. In April 2006 a hunter shot a "polar bear". The bear was seized because it had Grizzly like characteristics and would have been a $1000 fine had it indeed been a Grizzly. DNA research proved this creature to be a Grizzly bear Polar bear hybrid. It's father was a Grizzly and its mother was a Polar bear.

There is a theory behind such hybrids. Brown bears of all types (Grizzly, Kodiak, and others) breed on land, while the Polar bear is usually far out on the ice during its breeding season. The belief is that these hybrids are happening in the wild because of global warming and melting ice.

Others think that these hybrids have always happened on occasion. In 1864 a man brought forth a hide and skull he had purchased from a Inuit man. The hide was yellow/tan in color and very different then any other seen before. The skull was odd shaped and led researchers to name this the MacFarlane's Bear after the man who brought it forward. Many people believe that it is a Grizzly bear Polar bear hybrid. It's characteristics fit the one that was shot in 2006 and the shape of the skull is very similar to other hybrids that are known today. If this is the case then these hybrids would have been happening, at least occasionally, back in the 1800's, if not long before that.

These hybrids lead to questions on the morality of breeding hybrids. Additionally the Grizzly Polar Bear Hybrid brings up questions of history, conservation, and global warming. Each animal that is on this earth may very well bring up questions and answers, for now and for the past.