PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday announced the arrival of a pair of sloth bear cubs. The twins were born on Jan. 2 to 10-year-old mom Kayla and 10-year-old dad Bhalu.
This is the second successful birth for this species at the Zoo in the last four years, officials said. And it is the Zoo's first successful birth of a pair of sloth bear cubs in more than 30 years.
Experts at the Zoo are keeping tabs on the family — from a safe distance — with cameras set up in their behind-the-scenes enclosure.
The sloth bear, native to the lowland forests of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, is also known as the Indian bear. Sloth bears feed on ants and termites as well as fruits, flowers and honey.
The species, which shares ancestry with the modern brown bear, is distinguished with a long lower lip and palate, and powerful lungs that allow them to suck up insects from deep underground. They have long, dark, shaggy fur, a mane around the face, and a distinctive, cream-colored "U" or "Y" shape on their chests, as well as long, sickle-shaped claws, similar to those of a sloth.
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Sloth bear populations have dropped dramatically in recent decades. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has named the species vulnerable to extinction because of the encroachment of humans on its natural habitat.
The Philadelphia Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan breeding program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, according to Vice President of Animal Well-Being Rachel Metz. The goal of the program is to protect populations of threatened and endangered species from extinction.
Thanks to the work of zookeepers and our veterinary staff, the Philadelphia Zoo is now home to four sloth bears.
Officials say Kayla is showing great maternal behavior and has been in constant physical contact with her cubs since their birth.
“We are looking forward to sharing the developmental milestones of these amazing bear cubs with our guests,” Metz said.
Zoo officials anticipate that the public will be able to get their first glimpses of the cubs in April, after Kayla decides it is safe for them to venture out of their den.
Sloth bear cubs are very small at birth, and they need their mother’s help with everything for about four months. When they do emerge from their den, it will be riding on their mother’s back, clinging to her long fur. After about six months of that, they’ll go around on their own, staying close to mom for two, maybe three years.
It is not known if the 6-week-old cubs are male or female. Zoo officials have not given the animals names yet.