Two orphaned brown bear cubs, rescued in Alaska, are the newest residents at Brookfield Zoo. The mother of the two bears began going through neighborhood trash cans in Anchorage and was killed when she came in close contact with humans, said Tim Snyder, vice president of animal care and programs in Brookfield Zoo.
Although tragic, it is a common situation when bears live in proximity to people. The bears are attracted to garbage and food left out for pets and wildlife such as birds, and this often leads to the bears being euthanized to remove them from densely populated areas.
According to Brookfield Zoo, approximately 30,000 bears live in Alaska and face threats from habitat loss due to development, mining, logging, and hunting.
The cubs, a brother and sister approximately 10 months old and 150 pounds each, were safely retrieved by Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Anchorage officials. After the rescue, the cubs were temporarily housed at the Alaska Zoo. They were able to find their new home in Brookfield through a collaborative effort with the Alaska Zoo and the ADF&G.
This is not the first time Brookfield Zoo has collaborated with ADF&G. Back in 1995 the current adult brown bear Axhi and the now-passed Jim were also obtained that way.
When the cubs were rescued, ADF&G knew that Brookfield Zoo was looking for new brown bears after brown bear Jim died last year at the age of 27. On Nov. 3, the cubs were transported to Chicago by animal care specialists from Brookfield Zoo who traveled to Alaska to see the bears in person. The transportation was facilitated through the donated assistance of FedEx.
“They’re the biggest little roly-poly things you’ve ever seen,” Snyder said. “It saddens us how they came to be with us, but we’re happy that they’re here, that we’re able to be ambassadors for them.”
Snyder said that since the bears are young and curious, the zoo made cub-safe modifications to the Great Bear Wilderness enclosure. Last week, the cubs underwent physical examinations to ensure they were meeting their growth milestones. The zoo’s veterinary staff collected blood work, examined the cubs’ extremities and oral cavities, and administered routine vaccinations. Snyder said they are still awaiting results, but the cubs appear to be healthy and currently are in routine quarantine for four weeks.
When cubs are ready to see the public, they will stay together and create a separate enclosure from the brown bear Axhi. Snyder said they are hoping to have the cubs meet the public within a couple of weeks, but it depends on bears’ adaptation to their new environment and how comfortable they feel.