Minnesota zoos welcome three orphaned bear cubs, two antelope calves
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Two Minnesota zoos are celebrating new arrivals this month — with three orphaned brown bear cubs from Alaska arriving at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley and two nyala calves born at the Como Park Zoo in St. Paul.
The three cubs are siblings — brothers Brooks and Dillingham, and sister Bristol — and are about nine months old. They were found in July near King Salmon, Alaska, with no sign of their mother for nearly a week.
“Unable to survive on their own, the cubs were rescued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and transferred to the Alaska Zoo in August. Although their mother was never located, one cub was treated for minor injuries consistent with a bear attack, suggesting the family may have encountered an adult male bear,” Minnesota Zoo officials said Monday.
The cubs arrived in Minnesota earlier this month. Their names are nods to the region where they were found. They’ll be kept behind the scenes to acclimate, before making their public debut next spring.
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“The cubs are currently adjusting well to their new surroundings and caregivers at the Minnesota Zoo's Animal Hospital. They are enthusiastic eaters, enjoying fruits, vegetables and fish — including a pallet of salmon sent as a parting gift from the Alaska Zoo,” zoo officials reported.
The bear cubs’ arrival brings back memories of another trio of bears — Sadie, Haines and Kenai — that arrived at the Minnesota Zoo in 2008, becoming the first residents of the zoo’s Russia’s Grizzly Coast habitat. They also were found as orphaned cubs.
“It’s incredibly special to begin that journey again,” Diana Weinhardt, curator of the zoo’s Northern Trail, said in a news release. “These cubs have a bright future ahead of them, and we look forward to watching them grow while inspiring a new generation of guests to appreciate and protect bears in the wild.”
The zoo said that once the cubs make their public debut, they’ll alternate time in the habitat with Sadie, who’s now 21 years old.
Nyala calves at Como Park Zoo
The first of Como Park Zoo’s new nyala calves is Hubert, born to mom Stevie on Oct. 3. He was joined by a yet-to-be-named female calf, born to first-time mom Meadow on Friday.
“Nyala calves are absolutely adorable, with their big ears and beautiful striped coats, and having two arrive so close together makes this an especially exciting time,” senior zookeeper Jill Erzar said in a news release. “Visitors may now catch a glimpse of Stevie and Hubert in their indoor habitat, while we’re giving Meadow and her little one more time to bond behind the scenes.”
Hubert was named by guests at a Como Friends event last week. It was one of three options, each honoring the grandfather of a zookeeper. The other calf will be named by zoo volunteers at an event next month.
Nyala are spiral-horned antelope that are native to southern Africa.
