Happiness in the Duisburg Zoo: Brillen bear youngsters celebrate the first trip!

Happiness in the Duisburg Zoo: Brillen bear youngsters celebrate the first trip!

In the Duisburg Zoo, a small glasses were born, which saw the light of day on December 24, 2024. This joyful news caused the zoo's zookeepers when they first heard a soft footing from the throwing cave of the 18-year-old glasses bear Huanca. However, it was weeks later that the offspring dared bravely from his nest and explored the surroundings in his protected stable. This birth marks the third successful rearing of glasses bears in the Duisburg Zoo, which is a special event for district managers Maik Kirschner.

Currently, visitors to the zoo are not yet allowed to see the small bear because the outdoor area has to be prepared for him. The decision as to when the young animal leaves the stable area is entirely in the hands of his mother, Huanca, who, as an experienced bear mother, gave birth to four other young animals. The zookeepers act carefully and currently only send a few familiar people to the animals so as not to disturb the sensitive mother-child bond in the first few months.

a hidden boy

The birth initially remained unnoticed because the young animal remained hidden in the throwing cave for several weeks. Only the quiet cowled drew attention to his presence. A few days ago, the little glasses bear, accompanied by Huanca, dared to take his first steps outside, which was an emotional moment for the zookeepers.

The veterinarians plan a first check-up of the young animal, which is to take place around the age of five months. The gender of the small bear is also determined. Brillen bears, which are considered endangered in the Andes in their homeland, are characterized by unique facial drawings that enable individual identification. In the wild, their existence is threatened by loss of habitat and hunting.

commitment to nature conservation

The Zoo Duisburg is actively involved in protecting the glasses bears and supports nature conservation projects in Ecuador in order to obtain the habitat of this special bear species. According to reports from Wundaba, there will usually be one or two young animals per birth, but up to four young animals are also possible in exceptional cases. The little ones are born blindly and only open their eyes after about four weeks.

With every new growth of bears in the Duisburg Zoo, the facility not only makes a contribution to zoology, but also to preserve an endangered way.