Two Andean bear cubs were born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 15, the zoo announced. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Andean bear is a vulnerable species, with an estimated 2,000 left in the wild.
The cubs were born to first-time parents Brienne, a 3-year-old female, and Quito, a 9-year-old male. The cubs are the fourth litter born at the zoo.
Both bear cubs are making themselves comfortable, with zookeepers saying they are “active and vocal” while being “cautiously optimistic” they will thrive at the zoo.
For the next two to three months, Brienne will raise her babies on her own. Then, they will be given a veterinary exam to have their sexes determined.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums species survival plan includes just under 40 bears that are studied to determine which ones are able to breed and help replenish the species.
The Andean bear calls South America home and is the continent’s only species of bear. They live in the Andes mountain range from Venezuela to Bolivia. They can grow up to 6 feet long, standing up to 4 feet high.
When they are in the wild, the Andean bear eats fruits and plants known as bromeliads, as well as small animals like birds and rodents.
The average lifespan for the bears in captivity is 20 years, but some have hit their early 30s. In the wild, it is unknown how long they can live.
Due to a delayed reproduction in the species, zookeepers did not know Brienne had become pregnant until at least autumn, after the bears mated in the spring, the release said.
So far, Brienne has stayed with her babies in her den, and they will not leave until at least early spring 2023 to ensure they are healthy.
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