Hollywild Animal Park Photo
The baby cubs pile on keeper Jennifer De Carranza as they are getting adapted to humans.
Hollywild Animal Park Photo
It's nap time for a cub on the shoulder of David Meeks, Hollywild Director.
The huggable cubs' names are Arabic, the language spoken in Syria. Like all Syrian bears, they have gray-brown fur with white collars of fur. Their parents, mother Giza and father Ramses, are pure Syrians, but with their added size, fur and skin rolls, their collars are not as visible. The cubs own distinct personality traits.
Triplet Syrian brown bears, all female, were born at the park on Jan. 7.
“Right now, these girls are not ready to be out in a regular habitat full time, but it won’t be long. The babies are an exciting new addition to the park as will be the new bear habitat currently under construction,” David Meeks, Hollywild Director, said.
The cubs have begun their journey as hand-raised members of the Hollywild family, receiving feedings every two hours, around the clock.
“Many babies born in captivity require hand-raising for their own protection,” said carnivore "keeper" Jennifer De Carranza. “They’re going to be in captivity their whole life so it’s essential that they acclimate to humans early so that they can be cared for properly.”
Until their features and personalities and became distinct, animal staffers painted their toenails to tell them apart to maintain a strict care and feeding schedule for them.
Hollywild will serve as a focus for the park's effort to bring attention to worldwide conservation efforts on International Earth Day March 24. "We’ll have special activities and displays that day. If attention to conservation and preservation of these amazing animals had been made earlier, Hollywild wouldn’t be one of the only places you could meet one, but of course we’re thrilled to have them here” Linda M. Poole, the park's program director, said.
The park opens weekends only in March, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and weekdays for groups by appointment. On Saturday visitors can see the new babies at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in a special area set up by the park waterfall.
Admission is $10 adults, $8 children (2-12), $8 handicapped, $8 senior citizens (65+) and children under 2 admitted free.
Visit hollywild.com for more information.