Click here to see a curator-filmed sequence of the two cubs in their new, large, outdoor pen. They are strengthening their muscles as they practice climbing. You will see one cub start to climb on the pen side. She doesn’t get very far, but just wait a week or so, and you’ll see both cubs climbing the sides of the pen like monkeys! One of the cubs is tearing bark off the log in the pen – that is very good, natural behavior. It is one way that bears obtain the insects and grubs that are their primary protein source.
Dr. Ramsey, from the UT Vet School, came to check Sugar and Sweet Pea before they were released into the Acclimation Pen. He said that both of the cubs are doing very well, and their increased weights testify to that fact.
Curator Coy and Curator Janet are very happy to see that the cubs are interacting so well with each other, and are actually showing dislike for their human caretakers. This is the goal, of course, to reinforce wild behavior and avoidance of people.