Polar bear exhibits were innovated by Carl Hagenbeck, who replaced cages and pits with settings that mimicked the animal's natural environment. In 1907, he revealed a complex panoramic structure at the Tierpark Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg consisting of exhibits made of artificial snow and ice separated by moats. Different polar animals were displayed on each platform, giving the illusion of them living together. Starting in 1975, Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich housed its polar bears in an exhibit which consisted of a glass barrier, a house, concrete platforms mimicking ice floes and a large pool. Inside the house were maternity dens, and rooms for the staff to prepare and store the food. The exhibit was connected to an outdoor yard for extra room. Similar naturalistic and "immersive" exhibits were opened in the early 21st century, such as the "Arctic Ring of Life" at the Detroit Zoo and Ontario's Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat. Many zoos in Europe and North America have stopped keeping polar bears because of the size and costs of their complex exhibits. In North America, the population of polar bears in zoos reached its zenith in 1975 with 229 animals and declined in the 21st century. thumb|left|Performing polar bear at the 1973 Nationaal Songfestival in the Netherlands Polar bears have been trained to perform in circuses. Bears in general, being large, powerful, easy to train and human-like in form, were widespread in circuses, and the white coat of polar bears made them particularly attractive. Circuses helped change the polar bear's image from a fearsome monster to something more comical. Performing polar bears were used in 1888 by Circus Krone in Germany and later in 1904 by the Bostock and Wombwell Menagerie in England. Circus director Wilhelm Hagenbeck trained up to 75 polar bears to slide into a large tank through a chute. He began performing with them in 1908 and they had a particularly well-received show at the Hippodrome in London. Other circus tricks performed by polar bears involved tightropes, balls, roller skates and motorcycles. One of the most famous polar bear trainers in the second half of the twentieth century was the East German Ursula Böttcher, whose small stature contrasted with that of the large bears. Starting in the late 20th century, most polar bear acts were retired and the use of these bears for the circus is now prohibited in the US.
polar bear exhibits were innovated by carl hagenbeck who replaced cages and pits with settings that mimicked the animal's natural environment in 1907 he revealed a complex panoramic structure at the tierpark hagenbeck zoo in hamburg consisting of exhibits made of artificial snow and ice separated by moats different polar animals were displayed on each platform giving the illusion of them living together starting in 1975 hellabrunn zoo in munich housed its polar bears in an exhibit which consisted of a glass barrier a house concrete platforms mimicking ice floes and a large pool inside the house were maternity dens and rooms for the staff to prepare and store the food the exhibit was connected to an outdoor yard for extra room similar naturalistic and "immersive" exhibits were opened in the early 21st century such as the "arctic ring of life" at the detroit zoo and ontario's cochrane polar bear habitat many zoos in europe and north america have stopped keeping polar bears because of the size and costs of their complex exhibits in north america the population of polar bears in zoos reached its zenith in 1975 with 229 animals and declined in the 21st century thumb|left|performing polar bear at the 1973 nationaal songfestival in the netherlands polar bears have been trained to perform in circuses bears in general being large powerful easy to train and human-like in form were widespread in circuses and the white coat of polar bears made them particularly attractive circuses helped change the polar bear's image from a fearsome monster to something more comical performing polar bears were used in 1888 by circus krone in germany and later in 1904 by the bostock and wombwell menagerie in england circus director wilhelm hagenbeck trained up to 75 polar bears to slide into a large tank through a chute he began performing with them in 1908 and they had a particularly well-received show at the hippodrome in london other circus tricks performed by polar bears involved tightropes balls roller skates and motorcycles one of the most famous polar bear trainers in the second half of the twentieth century was the east german ursula böttcher whose small stature contrasted with that of the large bears starting in the late 20th century most polar bear acts were retired and the use of these bears for the circus is now prohibited in the us