PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Zoo recently announced a new, $20 million renovation project to greatly expand its Bear Country exhibit, where it currently houses its Andean and Sloth bears.
It is the first renovation at the zoo in more than 20 years and Rachel Metz, the zoo’s vice president of animal well-being and conservation, said the new-and-improved Bear Country will have more space for the bears along with a host of other improvements.
“We are improving the habitats to have enrichment offerings such as climbing structures, heated pools,” said Metz. “We are also building a new cub and friendly yard that would allow new baby bears to learn how to be bears in a safe and comfortable way with their mother.”
Philadelphia Zoo President and CEO Jo-Elle Mogerman said the expanded space of Bear Country will also allow the bears to act more like they do in the wild.
“Bear Country is designed with contemporary natural spaces that would allow the bears to thrive and engage in a greater range of natural behaviors just like they would in the wild,” she said.
The Zoo360 animal trail system, designed to give the animals more places to roam, will also be incorporated into the new Bear Country.
Work on the renovations will start in about a month and is expected to be completed by 2026 in time for the Semiquincentennial celebrations in the city.
While the work gets done, the zoo’s two sloth bears and single Andean bear will be relocated to other zoos. The latter will be paired with a mate and remain at its next home. The zoo’s nearby colony of Humboldt Penguins will also be relocated during construction.