Bears
Grizzly Bear
Today, the Zoo is home to two grizzly bear sisters, Ann and Nona. They were born outside of Yellowstone Park, but their mother taught them to look for food in human-occupied areas, so the cubs were moved here in 1992.
The sisters enjoy each other’s company, even sleeping together in a tangled heap.
- You can recognize grizzly bears by the hump on their back. Hump is made of muscles.
- Grizzly bear is huge animal. Most bears weigh between 300 and 800 pounds, but some captured animals weighed up to 1400 pounds.
- A grizzly bear can sprint 30 to 35 miles an hour over short distances -- faster than many horses.
Once abundant, sloth bears have steadily lost ground due to habitat destruction and fragmentation, hunting and capture. Their world was very different 100 years ago; extensive habitat remained, human settlements were scattered and relatively few bears were hunted. Today, they inhabit one of the world's most crowded regions. Please join our efforts to secure a future for this species by donating to our conservation fund.
THREATENED
Sloth Bear
Khali is a female that loves to search for treats hidden by her keepers in her exhibit.
- Sloth bears' nostrils can close completely, protecting the animals from dust or insects when raiding termite nests or beehives.
- Sloth bears are the only bears to routinely carry their young on their backs.
- Sloth bears are noisy, busy animals. They grunt and snort as they pull down branches to get fruit, dig for termites and ants, or snuffle under debris for grubs and beetles.
Once abundant, sloth bears have steadily lost ground due to habitat destruction and fragmentation, hunting and capture. Their world was very different 100 years ago; extensive habitat remained, human settlements were scattered and relatively few bears were hunted. Today, they inhabit one of the world's most crowded regions. Please join our efforts to secure a future for this species by donating to our conservation fund.
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