#Sunbearmonday: Secret footage of sun bear cub foraging

16 February 2015

Happy #Sunbearmonday everyone!

When we saw this secretly-filmed footage of sun bear cub Layla foraging in her enclosure, we couldn’t help but take a break from the usual #moonbearmonday.

Layla arrived at our sanctuary in June 2014, a tiny cub poached from the wild.

Since then she’s grown to nearly 38kg and long outgrown her first enclosure.

She’s now happily housed in the spacious cub enclosure of which she has explored every nook and cranny.

After we’d set up our secret camera, it took Layla no time at all to notice that something was different and to investigate the tiny object.

Of course, seeing that the mystery box posed no harm, she then happily set off on her mid-afternoon forage.

Animals Asia Bear and Vet Team Director Annemarie Weegenaar said:

“Seeing Layla explore her enclosure is an absolute pleasure. She’s clearly very comfortable with her surroundings and in the speeded up 20 minute video, plays with just about every object in the enclosure.

“As Layla is too young and small to be safely integrated with the main sun bear population at the sanctuary, it’s important to keep her stimulated. Her twice-daily forages are a very important part of that, as is the constant rotation of new enrichment items and the upkeep of play structures in her enclosure. It’s a lot of work for the team, but more than worth it to see such a healthy, happy cub.

“Our great hope is that Layla can be integrated with neighbouring sun bear Sassy in the next few months. The two interact daily in their dens and we’re watching their interactions very closely. It’s very important that Sassy is ready to meet this energetic juvenile and that Layla is ready to be with an older, larger female. There are no guarantees, but ideally Layla will soon been sharing her enclosure – and showing Sassy everything she’s found there!”

Happy #sunbearmonday everyone!

Layla loves her comfortable swing 7


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