Curious About the Andean Bear Cubs? Read All About Them
Physical Features
Bernardo has more color on his face. His markings almost fully encircle his eyes so they really do resemble spectacles (Andean bears are also known as spectacled bears), whereas Chaska’s are only over the top of her eyes, like eyebrows. Bernardo’s are wider at the top than his sister’s. One of the keepers likes to tell people that Bernardo’s the one with Andy Rooney eyebrows, and Chaska’s are a little more Marlene Dietrich!
Personality
Chaska is very much like her mother; she’s the bolder of the two and a real adventurer. Like his father, Bernardo is very sweet, and can be a bit timid, and he’s definitely a momma’s boy! Even during their mother’s prenatal ultrasounds it seemed that one cub was persistently more active than the other. Before the birth, keepers joked that the inactive one inherited more of its father’s genes and the active one more of its mother’s.
Life at the Zoo
The cubs can see their father, Nikki, in the next yard, and all three seem to enjoy sneaking peeks at each other over the yard walls. They also have recently discovered their water bowl, and so are often soaking wet from splashing around in it. Andean bear cubs are very active, and ours are no exception. With the exception of an occasional nap, usually during the hottest part of the day, Zoo visitors are likely to see lots of climbing, chasing, and wrestling. To the cubs, everything is a potential toy, and there’s no time like the present for a play session!
Favorite Activities
Very much like her mother, Chaska’s a climber. While Bernardo also likes to climb Chaska is the one we often find on top of the dens or dangling from the keeper door. Bernardo likes to play with objects—a piece of bark, a stick, and a little bit of hay all become toys once Bernardo gets his paws on them. Both love attention, but Bernardo will sit at the den door all day if the keepers continue to pay attention to him, whereas Chaska will come over to say hello, but before long has run off to climb something else!
