We are happy to report that the four sick cubs from Enclosure #4 are holding their own.
Thumper was NOT happy in the Acclimation Pen and was pacing so continuously that the curators were afraid he would damage his claws and his teeth, trying to get out. So they decided to let him out into Wild Enclosure #3. His food, however, would only be placed in the pen, so it was hoped (and assumed, due to his love of eating) that he would enter to eat, at which time he would receive his meds in the food.
Thumper went out into the enclosure.
He searched the enclosure, and since he wasn’t foraging, we have to assume he was searching for his friends.
But fortunately, he did as expected, entering the Acclimation Pen to eat. His tummy is very demanding!
Martha and Betsy, together after their meds were taken, look like a couple of wooly worms or fuzzy caterpillars in this photo!
Tamale, who was the sickest of all, isn’t coughing as much, and seems to be holding his own. Luckily, he, too, is eating.
Meanwhile, in the Enclosures, where the cubs are being watched very carefully:
Doodlebug, Tater, and Nugget are trying their hand (er, paw) at plumbing. They are trying to dismantle the water pipe by which the curators fill their pool!
The boys in Enclosure #2 (Cricket, Sprout, and Turnip) sleep together on their platform, as usual, while Caramel chooses a tree for her bed.
During the day, they all get together and mix it up in various rowdy activities.
It seems that the cubs in the other two enclosures have escaped whatever this deadly illness is. We hope so! But we are still keeping our fingers crossed, and saying prayers that they stay well.