Rare Sun Bear Moves to Moscow Zoo

The Moscow Zoo press service has announced that visitors will soon be able to see a rare Malayan sun bear. A small, seven-month-old female has moved to the zoo from Malaysia as part of a conservation program.

For now, the cub is in an indoor, non-exhibit enclosure. Visitors will be able to see her after she completes quarantine. The animal is currently adapting to its new environment and gradually getting used to the staff.

The Malayan sun bear is the smallest member of the bear family and the rarest of its kind. It is listed as vulnerable on the International Red List. No representatives of this species have appeared in any Russian zoo for over 30 years.

The cub has a good appetite. She eats puppy milk formula, baby cottage cheese, and fruit purees, as well as pieces of fresh vegetables and fruits. She is currently in a period of intensive growth and already weighs over 13 kg. Zoologists are carefully monitoring the young bear's development.

Malayan sun bears are very strong animals. In just a few months, the female who has arrived at the zoo may become dangerous to staff. Therefore, all veterinary procedures are carried out in a protected manner, as if it were an adult bear. The cub allows specialists to take blood from its paw for analysis, allows its blood pressure to be measured, and its abdomen to be palpated.

Malayan sun bears inhabit the tropical and subtropical forests of the foothills and mountains of Southeast Asia. They are well adapted to climbing trees. These animals are omnivorous: they enjoy eating insects and earthworms, as well as shoots, rhizomes, and fruits of plants.