Daily News | Two sloth bears are born at the Philadelphia Zoo, but - shush! - they’re still in their den
The Philadelphia Zoo's sloth bears Kayla and Bhalu are the new mom and dad of two sloth bear cubs. The cubs, born Jan. 2, 2023, are still in their den and being cared for by mom Kayla. They are likely to emerge sometime in April. The births were good news for wildlife conservationists; sloth bears are a threatened species.
So far, mom and her cubs are doing well, with Kayla displaying stellar maternal behavior. She has been in constant physical contact with her babies since their birth. The zoo’s animal team has been monitoring them via camera in their behind-the-scenes den, but the sex of the cubs has not yet been determined. So, they haven’t been named yet.
Sloth bear cubs are pretty tiny at birth, weighing only about a pound and are basically helpless, relying on their mother for care. They begin walking at about one month. At three to four months, mother and cubs emerge from their den, and unlike any other bear species, the babies ride on their mother’s back for about six months. They nurse about a year, and remain with their mom for two to three years.The zoo is pleased about its newest residents.
Maggie Morse, curator of carnivores and ungulates, said the births were a collaborative effort of the zoo’s expert keepers, veterinary team, and Kayla herself.
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