Lately, observing sun bear cubs Pagi and Palu can come with certain challenges associated with their current life stage. Like a growing human child, the sun bear twins have begun asserting themselves with regard to their daily lives (see previous post, Sun Bear Enrichment). We saw this same behavior with previous cubs Danum and Bulan. Mother Marcella has probably gotten used to this, but now their keepers are experiencing a bit of the twins’ “toddler behavior.”
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I’ve left the field and spent some time on vacation around Cusco, Peru, before returning to the U.S. This was a short trip to southern Peru, but it was as productive as I could expect, and I believe it will prove beneficial later this year (see previous post, Andean Bears: Back to Peru). With the help of Pedro Centeno, a colleague from the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, I left some camera traps for 10 days at the same sites we monitored last October through December (see post, Andean Bears: Ready for Their Closeup?)
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It has been a while since I updated you on the progress of Palu and Pagi, our sweet sun bear cubs (see post, Sun Bears: Adieu to the Den). Now nearly eight months old, the cubs can be seen taking the exhibit by storm each afternoon, climbing high, getting dirty in the mulch, and splashing about in their water features. They are very active at this age, and it is hard to believe they were so recently blind, immobile creatures in the birthing den.
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Quincemil, District of Camanti, southeast Peru
I’ve returned to the cloud forest of southeast Peru, on the east slope of the Andes, between the cities of Cusco and Puerto Maldonado to continue my research on Andean bears. It’s good to be back. Things have changed in the area due to the construction of the interoceanic highway, but they haven’t changed as much yet as I imagined they would have, or as they will. I’ve encountered many familiar faces, but other people have moved on, looking for opportunities elsewhere. (Read previous post, Andean Bear Collaboration.)
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Long ago my dad would take me early in the morning to the donut shop to get the freshest donuts. I remember how beautiful the donuts were when right out of the fryer the baker rolled them in granulated sugar and they just sparkled in the lights of the donut shop! Last Tuesday, May 12, we put over 100 bags of playground sand on the beach for the San Diego Zoo’s polar bears. And by Tuesday afternoon I had three beautiful “sugar donuts” sleeping on exhibit!
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If you’ve read my previous posts (see Andean Bear Country), and writings by other people studying Andean bears, you’ll undoubtedly have noticed that we almost never see the bears themselves. However, the Spectacled Bear Conservation Society (SBC) and its director, Robyn Appleton, didn’t read the rulebook. They’ve discovered a study site in the dry forest where the bears are much more visible than at any other site described to date. In fact, Robyn and her field team have identified over 30 individual bears by their facial markings!
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A second breeding occurred this morning, April 15, between the beautiful Bai Yun and Gao Gao the Great at the Giant Panda Research Station. [The first happened last night at 5:16.] The main viewing area was, of course, closed to the public to allow the pandas and researchers the quiet and time they needed, as it has been since yesterday’ s mating bout. Zhen Zhen has been in the alternate “classroom” exhibit for visitors, but the excitement has been all about the adults.
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You have all done great with your ideas for reducing your carbon footprints! (See comments posted in Polar Bear Anniversary and The Polar Bear World.) And you’ve posed so many questions, I’ll try to answer some of them here.

First, let’s talk about polar bear fur. Polar bears are very clean bears! Even in the wild they use snow, kelp, and brush to clean their fur. Here in San Diego they do jump in the pools and then use the mulch to dry off. They also lick their paws and legs to clean them. Often you will see them rubbing their faces and rubbing against the sides of the pool for cleaning. Their fur is a bit coarse and long on the outer, or guard hair, layer. The fur underneath is soft and wooly.
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Eight years ago, on March 30, 2001, 22 pounds of polar bear arrived at the San Diego Zoo. The little male was 12 pounds and the little girl was 10. At this size it was difficult to tell them apart, so we shaved a spot on the head of the male. We affectionately called them “Bubba” and “Sissy.” They clung to each other in the strange new world, so we quickly reassured them with warm formula, soft bedding, and a quiet room.
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Whew! It’s been a whirlwind of activity for the bear staff at the San Diego Zoo! Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to take stock and admire our handiwork.

I suppose the list of activities must start with the breeding of our polar bears. JoAnne has already written several detailed blogs about that activity, and perhaps we will be hearing the pitter-patter of little bear feet up at The Plunge. Kudos to those of you taking JoAnne up on her challenge to write about your carbon footprint reductions; there is no better way to help the polar bear! (Read JoAnne’s blog, The Polar Bear World.)
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