Once the maternal enclosure at Libearty was completed and tested, Terra and Pluto, the rescued bears from the Resita Zoo, were resettled. This event was a first in the life of the sanctuary – we’ve never moved a mother and her cub before. First, the transportation cage was attached to the gate of the quarantine zone. Tranquilization was avoided, and instead, baits like apple, bread, and honey were used. In 10 minutes, the cub and his mother were lured into the cage. Instinctively, the mother covered her cub with her arms to protect him from any danger. The cage was lifted in the cup of an excavator, and the bears went on a ”trip” through the sanctuary. To reduce the animals’ stress levels, the entire operation ended in less than 30 minutes.
Once the hatch was raised, Terra and Pluto ran off into the enclosure. They suddenly stopped in the middle of the hazel bushes, where they realized they had no idea where they were! Completely confused, Terra went towards the fence, obviously trying to escape and followed closely by Pluto. Like other enclosures, the maternal enclosure is equipped with an electric fence, which discourages any attempts to climb it. After testing all sides of the enclosure, the two residents finally overcame their fear as their curiosity won out. The withered leaves, the rain soaked earth, and the bare bushes were very “different” from the bars, the concrete, and the straw at the zoo. Pluto was born in captivity in Reșița and will celebrate his first birthday in February 2015. Terra probably has already forgotten the three months of freedom when she lived in the woods, before her mother was hunted.
Shyly, the two bears made their first tour of the place: a large den, a deep pool, tall trees, and dense thickets. Premium enclosure! It was built in the autumn to help integrate mothers bears, their cubs, and orphaned cubs into the wild.
Terra and Pluto will stay in this enclosure until 2016, when the cub will turn two. At this age, wild bears separate from their mothers, so Terra and Pluto will be moved into the third enclosure, where they’ll have the chance to meet other bears and learn to live together with them.
