News: SFGAdv to take part in scientific study

Posted at 6:09 PM EDT (2209 GMT)

Oct. 8th, 2004 -- Six Flags Great Adventure, known primarily for the park's thrill rides, will soon be the site of a experiment to control New Jersey's exploding bear population.

Last year, in an effort to control the number of bears, 328 bears were shot in the state. Scientists will use black bears at the park's Wild Safari as guinea pigs to test new birth control methods on the animals, hoping the results will get rid of the need to shoot bears when a population boom occurs.

Two methods, one involving chemical castration, and the other using an organic serum, will be tested on the bears. Researchers hope that, if the tests are successful, the same techniques can be used on wild bears. Environmentalists approve of the study, but want to make sure the methods will cause no long-term effects.

For much more see The Star-Ledger.