Share

Ohio zoo getting orphaned grizzly bear cubs

Cleveland - Two female grizzly bear cubs orphaned after their mother was euthanased because she was linked to the fatal mauling of a hiker in Yellowstone National Park will be moved to a zoo in Toledo, Ohio, zoo officials said on Friday.

The cubs, both less than a year old, were orphaned when their 117kg mother was killed on Thursday after DNA testing proved she was involved in the death of hiker Lance Crosby, 63.

The 23-to-27 kg cubs cannot survive on their own in the wild and will be transferred to a captive facility first before arriving at the Toledo Zoo in the fall (Autumn), zoo officials said.

"Upon their arrival at the zoo, the cubs will undergo standard quarantine processes to ensure their health and wellness before going on exhibit for public viewing," the zoo said in a statement.

Yellowstone Park's announcement that it would kill the mother grizzly to ensure public safety unleashed a torrent of protests from wildlife advocates. Grizzly attacks are rare at the park, which last reported two separate deadly maulings in 2011 involving hikers, the first since 1986.

Randi Meyerson, assistant director of animal programs at the Toledo Zoo, said zoo workers will never share the same space as the bears. "Bears are dangerous animals and we don't go in with them," she said.

Crosby, a registered nurse from Billings, Montana, suffered wounds to his forearms and elsewhere in the attack by the mother bear and possibly her cubs. He had been reported missing by co-workers at a company that operates urgent care clinics in Yellowstone, which spans parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Crosby's body, which was found a week ago, had been covered with vegetation in a sign that the bears intended to return to recover it, park officials said on Thursday.

The Toledo Zoo has not had a grizzly bear exhibit for more than 30 years. When the cubs arrive, the zoo will then be home to grizzly, polar and sloth bear species.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
What is a non-negotiable when considering the election manifestos from various parties?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
A solid plan for load shedding
15% - 438 votes
Bold climate change objectives
1% - 30 votes
Roadmap for economic recovery
51% - 1505 votes
Solutions to SA's crime crisis
33% - 970 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.99
-0.5%
Rand - Pound
23.95
-0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.50
-0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.35
+0.0%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.4%
Platinum
896.95
-1.0%
Palladium
1,000.11
-0.2%
Gold
2,192.73
-0.1%
Silver
24.45
-0.8%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
67,991
+0.5%
All Share
74,199
+0.4%
Resource 10
56,296
+1.1%
Industrial 25
103,587
+0.3%
Financial 15
16,547
+0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE