AssetID: 54790133
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Rescuers Dress Up As Bears To Look After Tiny Abandoned Cub
Caption: San Diego Humane Society staff have been donning bear costumes to care for the youngest cub they have ever taken in. The approximately two-month-old male cub was found weak, underweight, and alone by campers in Los Padres National Forest on 12 April. Biologists from California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) attempted to reunite the cub with his mother by returning him to the wild overnight, but she did not return. With no further signs of the mother, the cub was brought to the society’s Ramona Wildlife Centre two days later. “He was extremely fragile when he arrived,” said Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations Manager. “After going several days without nutrition, it was touch-and-go at first. But now, he’s active, eating well and gaining weight steadily.” To minimise human interaction and prevent the cub from imprinting on people, staff members have been wearing bear suits during enrichment and feeding sessions. These sessions mimic maternal behaviours and are crucial to preparing the cub for eventual release back into the wild. The cub is now thriving under round-the-clock care, receiving four daily feeding and enrichment sessions. Overnight feeds were initially required to stabilise his condition. Due to his young age, the cub will likely remain in care for up to a year. Officials say they hope to eventually pair him with another orphaned cub to better prepare both for a return to the wild. According to the CDFW, only three other bear cubs this young have entered rehabilitation in California over the past five years. Raising such a young wild animal demands a significant investment of time, skill and resources. “This is a very unusual case,” Welch said. “We don’t often see bears this young without their mother. It’s an honour to care for him, but it’s also a significant commitment.”
Keywords: bear,animals,feature,nature,natural world,photo,video
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