The world is full of bad or difficult news these days. A little good news balance can go a long ways for parents and kids. Which is why we bring you some great (and cute) news from Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ). The zoo’s newest sloth bear cub has taken her first steps! The cub’s name is Bowie, since she shares her January 8 birthday with legend performer David Bowie.
Bowie is not yet ready for the pubic gaze. For now she is living in a maternity den with mom Kushali (kuu-SHAA-lee) as a zoo monitors mom and cub on den cams. But as long as Bowie continues to stay on track for important developments, she and Kushali are likely to make an appearance outside the den sometime in April. WPZ’s other sloth bears, Bhutan (Bowie’s dad) and Tasha, are currently spending a lot of time in their dens as well, but zookeepers say they’ll be more active and visible in their habitat in Banyan Wilds as the weather warms up.
An important moment for parents (bear and human alike)
Zoo cam’s captured the cubs first steps this week.
“Kushali continues to be a very attentive and protective mom and rarely leaves Bowie’s side. However, through the den cams we were able to witness Bowie taking her first steps under the watchful care of her mom,” said Kim Szawan, an Animal Care Manager at Woodland Park Zoo. “This is a very important developmental milestone. Bowie is on track for sloth bear cubs her age and she’s also starting to play and wrestle with mom Kushali. This is a precious time watching her grow and explore!”
A rarity
Sloth bears in zoos are rare, with 48 currently living in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. According to WPZ officials, every birth of sloth bears is significant for the Sloth Bear Species Survival Plan. Species Survival Plans are cooperative breeding programs across accredited zoos to help ensure healthy, genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations of select species or subspecies.
Baby Bowie and mom Kushali at Woodland Park Zoo. (Image: Woodland Park Zoo)
About Sloth Bears
Woodland Park Zoo offered the following information about sloth bears. The list is a great entry for conversations about sloth bears, explorations of different parts of the planet, and brainstorming about how we can all help protect vulnerable animal species.
- Sloth bears live in forests and grasslands in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
- Adult sloth bears are missing their top two front teeth (incisors), which lets them suck ants and termites right out of their underground tunnels, like a vacuum cleaner. Their shaggy, dusty, black coats deflect sunlight, protecting them from the extremes of tropical heat. No wonder they’re fondly described as shaggy slurpers.
- Sloth bears forage for termites, grubs and other insects; they also eat grass, flowers, fruit, and honey plus occasional eggs and cultivated crops. At the zoo, they eat insects, honey, fruits and vegetables, eggs and omnivore chow.
- A vulnerable species, sloth bears’ survival is challenged by conflicts with humans and animals for space and food caused by deforestation, the bear parts trade for use in traditional Asian medicines and fragmented population.
- Woodland Park Zoo supports Wildlife SOS, a conservation organization in India that runs wildlife rescue centers and helps communities coexist with sloth bears and other native species. You can support this work too. Just. isit zoo.org/donate to support Wildlife SOS.
- Buy wisely. Choose Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper and wood products to protect forest habitat and wildlife. By purchasing FSC-certified forest products, consumers help to protect sloth bear habitat by encouraging sustainable forestry and limiting overharvest of forest products (timber, fuelwood, fruits and honey). Without the FSC label, timber may come from illegal logging and forests that are not responsibly managed.
Read more:
WPZ-born baby gorilla accepted by foster mom at Louisville Zoo
