A pair of sloth bear cubs were born at the Philadelphia Zoo last month, and zookeepers say theyre developing well behind the scenes.
The cubs were born to 10-year-old mom Kayla and 10-year-old dad Bhalu on Jan. 2, and zookeepers say they recently opened their eyes for the first time and began exploring their den. The cubs sexes have not yet been determined, and they do not yet have names.
The cubs are being monitored by the den camera while they bond with their mother behind the scenes. They will not be on view to the public until Kayla decides its safe for them to leave the den, which zookeepers say will likely be in April.
After emerging from their den, the cubs will cling to their mothers long fur to ride on her back, zookeepers say. They will nurse for about a year while learning to use their flexible snouts to eat termites and ants.
Sloth bears, native to the forests of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
“Philadelphia Zoo is proud to participate in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the threatened sloth bear,” Vice President of Animal Well-Being Rachel Metz said in a statement. “We are looking forward to sharing the developmental milestones of these amazing bear cubs with our guests.”
