ZooBorns

Little Bear Brothers Make Their Debut

Photo Credit: Jeanne DeBonis

Two orphaned Grizzly Bear cubs made their public debut on June 14, 2011 at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.The little bear brothers traveled to Cleveland from Montana, where they were being cared for in a wildlife rehabilitation facility.

The cubs, estimated to be about 4 months old, came to the Zoo on June 2 weighing about 20 pounds each. Currently they weigh about 40 pounds each. When fully grown, an adult male Grizzly Bear can weigh up to 900 pounds. After a routine stay in quarantine, the grizzly cubs are now ready to begin exploring their Northern Trek exhibit, which has been specially prepped for young bears.

The Zoo wants the public to help determine the cubs’ new names. Visit www.clemetzoo.com and help us “Dub the Cubs” by voting in the online poll. Results will be announced on August 1.

Photo Credit: Jeanne DuBonis/Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

A man looking for shed antlers in the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area near Helena, Montana startled the cubs’ mother. The man shot the mother Grizzly in self-defense and the cubs were taken in by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Baby Buckethead at Aalborg Zoo

The Aalborg Zoo's Polar Bear cub, Augo, is proving to be particularly playful and inventive, transforming a big blue bucket into his new favorite toy. Don't miss the video below. 

Photo and video credits: Sussi Køber

Filthy Baby Bear Goes to the Vet

Just last week, Aalborg Zoo keepers finally succeeded in separating a very muddy cub from mom Malik in the birth den for an overdue veterinary examination. Not surprisingly, mom and cub were not happy about this as evidenced by the cubs feisty resistance in these photos. However, the examination went swiftly taking only 4 minutes, during which time the cub was weighed (already 35lbs / 15kg!), the gender was determined (it's a boy!), and a DNA sample was obtained. The Aalborg Zoo explained "When the cub returned to mom, it didn't take long until it seemed as happy and adventorous as before the weird incident. Afterwards the zookeepers handfed the cub with a special treat: dried figs, and this offer wasn't refused."

Photo credits: Sussi Køber

More pictures and video of the cub playing outside below the fold, or see previous ZooBorns coverage of the little guy from March 1st and February.

It's Raining Little Penguins!

Apparently it's baby penguin season on ZooBorns with the latest adorable installment coming direct from the Cincinnati Zoo. This Little Penguin chick is just two-weeks old and is currently being cared for behind the scenes, inside the Zoo's Wings of Wonder exhibit.The chick weighs approximately 250 grams (or a quarter-pound), but is expected to weigh just over two pounds as an adult. Mom, “Oreo” (7-years-old) and dad, “Boomer” (8-years-old), were not properly incubating the egg, so staff at the Cincinnati Zoo made the decision to pull the egg and incubate it themselves. Little Penguins are the smallest species of penguin but that doesn't mean this chick doesn't like to eat. Zoo aviculture staff have to feed the demanding little bird six times a day, every three hours. At first it was fed a delicious fish milkshake but has since graduated to slices of fish (sashimi if you will).

Don't miss this great video

Romp Around the Clock

The National Zoo's Andean Bear cubs have emerged to romp about for delighted Zoo visitors. The weather is perfect for these native South American cubs, born back in January, to begin exploring. Also called spectacled bears, in the wild these bears are typically docile and cautious when approached by humans, but will fiercely protect their cubs if threatened. Their colorings can vary greatly and some Andean Bears' heads are entirely cream colored.

Little Sun Bear in Singapore

The oldest – and possibly ‘fiercest’ – sun bear at the Singapore Zoo is now the proud grandmother of a yet to be named male baby bear. This 33-year-old matriarch named Garang, which means ‘fierce’ in Malay, and her daughter Judy welcomed the new family member in February.

Photo credits: Wildlife Reserves Singapore

A species ‘vulnerable’ to extinction, Singapore Zoo, is doing its part to ensure the sun bear’s survival through its successful captive breeding programme, which has produced three sun bears since Garang’s arrival as a one-year-old cub in 1978. Mother and daughter duo Judy and Matahari were both born in Singapore Zoo, as was the latest three-month-old addition.

Mother Bear Rescues Cub Stuck in Tree

Dramatic video shot by visitors to the Berne Bear Parkin Switzerland shows mother bear Bjork rescuing her tiny cub. Nice save Mom!

National Zoo Cubs' Mom Barely has a Moment's Rest

National Zoo's proud Mama Bear Billie-Jean has her paws full. Her two new bouncing bundles of joy are keeping themselves and her very busy. Also known as Spectacled Bears, this species is threatened in the wild due to habitat loss, hunting, and poaching.

 

 

Photo Credits: Mehgan Murphy / National Zoo

Baby Bear Cubs Revealed!

After much anticipation, the Smithsonian National Zoo reveals the first pics of their two Andean bear cubs born mid-January. After months of seclusion in their den with Mom, zoo staff finally determined that one of the cubs is male and the other is female. The cubs remain off exhibit as they adjust to the presence of people. Also known as spectacled bears, this species is native to South America and vulnerable to extinction from poaching and habitat destruction.

 

Photo Credits: Mehgan Murphy / National Zoo

Follow the cubs' progress via the Zoo's bear cam!

Playing Polar Bear Cubs at Zoo Sauvage

Time to check back in on our favorite growing little polar bear cubs via the cub-cam at Quebec's Zoo Sauvage. Watch them "rough-house" in the comfort of mom's fluffy white fur.