Zoo director Kanchai Sanwong told reporters over the weekend that Nan allowing her offspring to venture outside the cave for those first steps of freedom was a significant milestone in the youngster’s life. He explained by saying sow bears were extremely protective of their young.
The director added that sun bears are a protected species and that hunters and deforestation had endangered their existence. He finished off by saying sun bears did not procreate easily and the fact a cub had been born at Chiang Mai Zoo was all the more remarkable.
The sun bear cub has not been christened yet. Zoo staffers say they will hold a contest to give members of the general public a chance to choose a lucky moniker for the youngster.
Mother Nan is a 10-year-old sun bear and the father is 12-year-old Balu. Zoo keepers say the sun bear enclosure is currently one of the main attractions and draws as many visitors as the giant panda dome.
Chiang Mai Zoo bear cub makes public debut
News in Asia
A sun bear cub born recently at Chiang Mai Zoo has made its public debut. Officials at the northern Thai zoo said the three-month-old cub was spotted taking its first steps outside its den under the watchful eyes of mother Nan.