Brienne and Benny, a pair of Andean bear cubs (Tremarctos ornatus) born at the Queens Zoo, are ready to make their New York City debut! After spending several weeks in their den bonding with their mother, they are now finally ready to start venturing into the zoo’s outdoor habitat.
Born in January to mother Nicole (6) and father Bouba (8), one male and one female, the cubs are a delightful start to a new year for the Queens Zoo. The animal care staff have been happily closely monitoring their health and development. Since they are still very young, the time they spend in the outdoor habitat will vary until they become fully acclimated to it.
Bouba came to Queens from Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine in France to breed with Nicole. Nicole was born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC and came to the Queens Zoo in 2015. The pair has produced offspring at the Queens Zoo twice now. These two cubs of theirs are very special because they are two of only four Andean bears born in zoos worldwide in the past year.
Scott Silver, Queens Zoo director, said, “These little cubs are tremendous ambassadors for their species. Andean bears are rarely seen in the wild, so it’s extremely special to have an opportunity to watch cubs grow. Guests will also learn about our efforts to protect Andean bears in the wild.”
About Andean Bears
Andean bears are known as spectacled bears because of the markings on their faces that sometimes resemble eyeglasses. Another feature that sets them apart is their characteristically short face. Furthermore, they are relatively small in comparison to some other bear species. Once fully grown, males weigh between 250 and 350 pounds, while adult females rarely exceed 200 pounds.
Andean bears are the only bear species native to South America. They are classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with estimates indicating that there are fewer than 18,000 remaining in the wild. Bears have a unique ability to capture our hearts, few stories prove this better than the famous bear, tiger, and lion who formed an inseparable lifelong bond after being rescued together from a drug dealer’s basement in Atlanta.
Breeding For Survival
The Species Survival Plan (SSP) is a cooperative breeding program designed to enhance the genetic viability and demographic stability of animal populations in zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). There are currently only 39 Andean bears in AZA-accredited zoos. However, there are only six potentially viable breeding pairs in the SSP population. The Queens Zoo is a part of this program, which is why they are fortunate to have the privilege of breeding these rare Andean bears.
