Just in time for spring break, two male Andean bear cubs named Sean and Ian are now on view at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Washington, D.C. Over the past few weeks, the animal care team has worked with the brothers to prepare them for the transition. Cubs Ian and Sean began exploring the yard in mid-March alongside their mother, 4-year-old Brienne. For the past four months, members of the public have joined animal care staff in observing the cubs play and explore via a live Andean Bear Cub Cam and follow along with their growth through online “cubdates.”

After an eight-year hiatus, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Washington, D.C., is celebrating the birth of two Andean bears. The cubs were born Nov. 15 to first-time parents, 3-year-old mother Brienne and 9-year-old father Quito. The first cub was born around 4 p.m. and the second around 8:30 p.m. Animal care staff is closely monitoring the mother and cubs via the Andean Bear Cub Cam on the Zoo’s website, allowing Brienne to care for her offspring without interference. Virtual visitors can also observe the Andean bear family on this temporary platform until the cubs leave the den.

Extremely ill and suffering from life-threatening health issues, the bear cub is now undergoing rehabilitation efforts at Oakland Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital

Oakland, CA – November 14, 2022…An orphaned black bear cub, estimated to be eight months old and weighing 28 pounds, was brought to Oakland Zoo last Friday night by wildlife biologists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).  The cub is very sick and suffering from multiple health issues, including a severe skin infection that has caused extreme hair loss, pneumonia, a viral infection, internal parasites, and a deeply infected bone in his left front foot, causing lameness in walking. 

Last month, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in England, placed a hidden rock camera among the Andean Bear family (including two cubs born January 11 of this year).

The footage of the romping Andean bear twins is “spectacular”!

The cubs previously on ZooBorns:

https://youtu.be/UD54HVqpzEc

SEATTLE—Woodland Park Zoo’s new brown bear cub is beating the heat with an ice treat in a kiddie pool! The female cub was recently rescued from Anchorage, Alaska where she was found without her mom. The zoo, who has the expertise and facility, is providing a permanent home for her.

The cub, who remains nameless and is 6 months old, is temporarily living off public view while she settles in. She’s learning her new routine well and learning the cues from the bear keepers. She’s currently eating protein, kibble, greens, an assortment of fruits and veggies and formula from a bowl. As she grows, she’ll be transitioned off formula and to a seasonal diet. She currently weighs approximately 100 pounds.

Stay tuned for more updates on the cub at: www.zoo.org/brownbear

Credit for video and photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

Kent, July 2022 – Port Lympne Reserve in Kent has welcomed a cuddly new addition to its 800-plus animals: an adorable European brown bear cub!

The delightful little newborn arrived on 21st January in the park’s custom-built, three-acre enclosure. Unfortunately, the bear cub was rejected by his mother not long after birth, weighing less than 9kg.

Port Lympne’s dedicated carnivore care team stepped in and collectively became the baby’s new family, naming him Boki.

Zoo takes in orphaned brown bear cub from Alaska “Sassy” cub temporarily living in non-public area

SEATTLE—Woodland Park Zoo is beary excited to welcome an orphaned brown bear cub to its home and family. The female cub, who currently weighs 89 pounds, was found roaming alone on an air force base near Anchorage, Alaska. She traveled via Alaska Air Cargo and arrived at the zoo July 13.

The UK’s second-ever Andean twin bear cubs recently took their very first steps out into their expanded nursery.

The 4-month-old cubs have been pictured exploring their outside habitat under the watchful eye of mum Madidi. The ‘nursery’ area has recently been extended to accommodate the twin bears with plenty of space for these playful cubs to explore, climb and grow. Although these small bears were wary at first, they were soon bounding around this exciting new area. 

Four-month-old Woodland Park Zoo sloth bear siblings, Mudhu (muh-DOO) and Lila (LEE-lah) sleep snuggled together in the spring sunshine under the protective gaze of their mom, Kushali.

In honor of #GiveBIG, enjoy this footage of Kushali and her cubs napping in springtime bliss!

In the wild, sloth bears live in forested grasslands, where they use their superior sense of smell to find ant and termite colonies beneath the ground. Once found, they wield their three-inch long claws to break them open before slurping up the delicious insects with the powerful suction force of their mouths.

Your GiveBIG gift helps create habitats that engage all of these natural behaviors—from digging, to slurping, to climbing on Woodland Park Zoo'ss newly updated tree structure, so that mom, Kushali, can teach her cubs everything they need to know to be a well-rounded member of the sloth bear community.

If you are able, please consider making a gift today to help ensure this kind of world-class care for all the animals who call Woodland Park Zoo home! https://www.wagives.org/organization/woodland-park-zoo

A Brother and Sister Bear Cub pair was found orphaned by North Carolina Wildlife Resources and brought to The NC Zoo for care. NC Wildlife resources partners with NC Zoo for orphaned black bear rehabilitation and wildlife release. The fate of the cubs mother is not known. They are estimated to be about 6-7 weeks old. They are in good health and will likely remain in Zoo care learning to be a “bear” throughout the Fall.

Please consider a gift to the cubs and other injured wildlife via the Zoo’s Baby Bear Cub Registry Wishlist at Amazon: https://amzn.to/36YZZZk

MORE PHOTOS BELOW!