After three months at ABR, our yearling bear, #282 Hartley, went back home to Kentucky on May 24th. His recovery, from being a malnourished, depleted thirteen-month-old to his current healthy state as a sixteen-month-old has been nothing if not miraculous.
Here was Hartley Bear before he was rescued. He was on the verge of starvation and death. The vets at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine worked to save him. He weighed just 12 pounds, about one-fourth of what he should have weighed.
He started out in the Cub Nursery, and then moved to the Red Roof Recovery Center, where he spent several weeks.
Hartley’s fur started to grow back sooner than expected! He was a happy bear when he was released into Wild Enclosure #3. Hartley was quite the swimmer. Hartley met Sweetie Bear and took a great interest in her. It was apparent that Hartley Bear needed to go back into the wild. Officer Tristan Curry from Kentucky came to take Hartley home. Curator Tom and Tristan Curry carry Hartley to the staging area. Hartley Bear weighed 73.6 pounds, a gain of 61 pounds in three months! Healthy teeth and gums! Beautiful, big, furry paws. Hartley’s eyes are covered during the workup. Curator Janet takes a sample of that wonderful fur. Curator Tom, Airn, Curator David, Curator Janet, Officer Tristan Curry, with Hartley Bear. Officer Curry places Hartley in the transport carrier for his ride home. Hartley is awake and it’s time to go. At the release site, Hartley jumps down from the truck. Hartley took off running, immediately – he was home at last!
And so our first yearling of 2019, Bear #282 – Hartley Bear – is back in Kentucky, in his “Old Kentucky Home.” We wish him a long and happy life in the wild, where he belongs. Goodbye and Good Luck, Hartley Bear!
