Our cub with the broken metacarpals, Turnip Bear, let the curators know that he REALLY wanted to be outside again!
He could smell the other cubs through the vents, even though they were sealed. He actually started to try and dig his way out!
The curators realized that they couldn’t confine him any longer. They had hoped for another week or two, but Turnip had other ideas. So the gate was raised.
Turnip was smart. He hesitated at the opening, perhaps suspecting another trap.
But after hesitating, he finally stepped out.
In the Acclimation Pen, he sniffed around a bit. . .
Then out he went!
He is back in Enclosure #1, and we can see where the vents are that allowed him to smell the cubs outside.
Sprout gave him the traditional cubby welcome – Chomp!
He slept with his friends on the platform. Only Caramel was not a part of the group. She was in a tree nearby.
We think he was happy to be back outside!
In the morning he found some pool peanuts. We know they are the best kind of peanuts, to a cub.
So things are back to normal at ABR, with all of the cubs outside in their enclosures again. The curators will keep a close eye on Turnip, who seems to still have a limp. But favoring that paw as he walks will really help with the healing, and that is what he would do if he were back in the wild.