Bear Cub Babies Born At San Diego Zoo Explore Their New Habitat

SAN DIEGO, CA — Zoo babies are always a delight, but when it's a first birth of a species in over 30 years, it's thrilling, according to the San Diego Zoo's lead wildlife care specialist, Tammy Batson.

"We couldn't be more thrilled about the birth of Alba's twin cubs," said Batson.

This is the second successful pregnancy for Alba, an Andean mamma bear, who last gave birth to her son Agapito in 2020. But twin baby bear cubs? That's a rarity, according to Batson.

"We witnessed Alba transition beautifully into motherhood with Agapito a few years ago and now as a second-time mother with twins, she continues to impress us with her attentiveness," Batson said. "She's a proven mom who now has both hands full."

Andean bear cubs, like most bears, are born helpless and entirely dependent on their mothers, according to a news release from the zoo. Alba cared for and bonded with her cubs outside of public view. Now, at three months old, the twins will venture a little farther from mom, though they remain dependent on her for their first year of life.

The birth of these two cubs is significant for conservation research, according to the zoo spokesperson. The bears are native to Andes mountain countries from Venezuela to Bolivia, typically living in dense and rugged forests, as well as grasslands and scrublands, according to Batson. In the zoo, Alba and the twins will be monitored as the cubs begin to explore their world.

"Alba cared for and bonded with her cubs in their den for the first few months, behind their guest-facing habitat and off public view," Batson said. "In their native South American forests, Andean bear cubs typically leave their dens at around 3 months of age and are believed to remain close to their mothers for at least the first year. Wildlife care specialists continue to monitor Alba and her cubs, who have access to both their den and outdoor habitat.

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance was first able to learn about how a mama bear selected a den for giving birth and now has yet another opportunity to learn more about the interactions between a mother and her cubs, as well as cub development.

There have been 11 successful Andean bear births at the San Diego Zoo since 1938, according to the release. The Andean bear is listed as "Vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. "The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance now has yet another opportunity to learn more about the interactions between a mother and her cubs, as well as cub development."