He eats every three hours, sleeps a lot and loves to play. A bear cub is settling in at the Mogilev Zoo

Topic news A little bear cub appeared in the Mogilev Zoo: the orphan, to whom her mother did not return, was taken by foresters and handed over to specialists. Since the new tenant arrived unexpectedly, the proper conditions for him are created along the way. The forest fool is not at all afraid of people and willingly goes to the hands. A BELTA correspondent came to meet the baby and find out how he is settling into a new place.  
While we are talking with the HEAD of the Zoo educational laboratory, Ivan Nizhnikov, the baby, who is only a month old, is sitting in a carrier. Judging by the unabating noise and fuss inside, it is clear that the bear cub is busy with something very serious. From time to time, a small piece of thick fur, a wet black nose, a pink naughty tongue, and even a long sharp claw pokes through the bars. In a small carrying space, it is difficult to see where the shaggy brown bun has ears and where the tail is. To get to know the restless forest child better, he is let out.

The little bear does not immediately decide to go out - he sniffs for a long time and shakes his head. Finally, the paws cross the threshold - and immediately move away in different directions: the baby is just learning to walk and does not yet know how to stand firmly on her four feet. With the owner’s permission, I pick her up in my arms and literally drown in the furry embrace of this infinitely sweet creature. The baby grabs the neck with her paws, gently presses her to the shoulder and begins to smack her lips, on which the remains of MILK have dried after a recent feeding. There is no fear in the little brown eyes of the fool - only curiosity, and this is captivating.
“Seven kilograms of happiness,” smiles Ivan Nizhnikov, head of the educational laboratory “Zoo” of the Mogilev Agroforestry College named after K.P. Orlovsky. “In just a week you won’t be able to hold this beauty in your arms - the teeth and claws are growing quickly. Our baby appeared just the other day - she was brought from the Vitebsk zoo. The situation that determined the future fate of the bear cub and her brother was truly extraordinary: the mother bear was afraid of people and never returned to the den. So that the animals did not die, they were urgently found shelter: one foundling remained in Vitebsk, the second arrived for permanent residence in Mogilev."

According to Ivan Nizhnikov, such cases happen once every ten years. They rescued birds and various animals - roe deer and even wolf cubs, but this is the first time for bear cubs. “Every zoo has a rehabilitation center, and we are constantly contacted to help wild animals,” he notes. “For example, three years ago there was a situation when we had to shelter and feed three lynx cubs, whose mother died in a fire. The babies also received burns, but, fortunately, they survived and turned into beautiful and well-groomed adults. Today they feel great and even gave birth to offspring last year, this year we are also counting on replenishment. Using such examples of rescue, we teach children and adults to treat with care and respect nature and the animal world, to take care of our little brothers."

Now the funny baby, like any small child, sleeps a lot and eats every three hours - she happily drinks cream through a regular baby bottle. Under no circumstances should a bear cub be left unattended, so during the day he stays in the zoo, and at night he is taken home by a veterinarian or livestock specialist. The foster child’s daily routine even includes night feedings, and if you take away a bottle from a sleepy baby, she begins to cry and be capricious. The cub actively explores the world, including taste, trying to lick everything that is in its access zone, and also loves to play with others - also an integral part of development.
“We found a common language and common ground with her,” says Ivan Nizhnikov. “Our girl is trying to walk and even run, and by her habits we have already begun to understand what she wants and sometimes demands. Bears are very smart and remember everything well ", this animal can even be trained to go to the toilet in a specially designated place. We treat her like a child, and even if she is naughty, we never shout or scold her - we patiently explain that this is not possible. We communicate only with affection and kind words." .

By the way, Mogilev residents and guests of the city will be able to see the new resident of the zoo starting March 1: short excursions will be organized to meet the baby several times a day. The cub's adaptation period will last until it gains strength and is ready for life in an enclosure. Also, experts will focus on favorable weather conditions - the young bear will move into spacious apartments no earlier than April.

“A wild animal must live in good enclosure conditions,” emphasized Ivan Nizhnikov. “We will place it next to our favorite bear Fedor. We plan to build for it a large, spacious enclosure with a swimming pool and a play area. The kitchen will be shared between relatives, but the bedrooms will be - different until the girl turns into an adult in two years. Until then, the bears will be separated by a blank wall - they will smell each other only by smell. By the way, Fedor has lived in the zoo since 2006,
They haven’t yet come up with a name for the baby: according to established tradition, the zoo workers will ask Mogilev residents for help in this matter and launch an online voting.

Yulia EVMENKOVA,
photo by the author,
BELTA.