Syrian Brown Bear cub #13-0335

Species Name (EN): 
Species Name (LA): 
Admission Date: 
April 6, 2013
Location of Rescue: 
Maryland
Cause of Admission / Condition: 
Confiscated
Prognosis: 
Outcome: 
Placed at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Texas
Patient Status: 
Patient Archive

On April 6, the Wildlife Center admitted a very unusual patient – a young bear cub. The Wildlife Center does treat Black Bears, but this cub is suspected to be a Syrian Brown Bear cub, which was confiscated from a person in Maryland. The case is under investigation.

Syrian Brown Bears are a subspecies of the Brown Bear and are native to Eurasia. Habitat loss and poaching have caused the Syrian Brown Bear population to decline; this species can no longer be found in many countries that were once within its range. These threatened bears can grow to be 550 pounds. Brown bears are omnivorous and eat a variety of plant matter, insects, small mammals, and carrion.

The Wildlife Center will be sending a DNA test to an outside laboratory to confirm that the cub is a Syrian bear, if possible. Once more information is known, the Center will seek placement at a reputable zoo that is well-equipped to handle this particular species. All arrangements for placement will be made by the Wildlife Center, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and/or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. VDGIF and the Wildlife Center asks that Center supporters not contact zoos in an effort to find placement for the cub.

While DNA tests and the investigation is occurring, the female cub is being housed in the Center’s bear pen. She appears to be healthy; the rehabilitation staff is bottle-feeding her four times a day.
 

Updates

May 24, 2013

Great news – friends of Wildlife Center President Ed Clark will be flying the Syrian Brown Bear cub to her new home on Saturday, May 25!

Dr. Larry and Mrs. Jessica Patterson, of Eye Centers of Tennessee, will be flying from Tennessee to Virginia  to pick up the bear. They’ll fly out early on Saturday morning, with a quick stop in Tennessee to re-fuel, before they continue flying to Texas. We’re extremely thankful and appreciative to Dr. and Mrs. Patterson for their donation.

You can track the bear cub’s flight through Flight Aware. Simply enter in the tail number of Dr. Patterson's plane [N891DM], and you can follow along on the cub’s journey!

Saturday update:

The Syrian Brown Bear cub successfully departed the Wildlife Center this morning!

Early morning loading crew:

The bear cub arrived safely in Texas on Saturday evening and was transported to her new home at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary. According to a recent blog post, the IEAS team named the cub Misha!

May 17, 2013

The DTM ringworm results came in today for the Syrian Brown Bear cub – and the cub is negative for ringworm!

The bear cub will be placed at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Boyd, Texas. This AZA-accredited facility has two ten-acre enclosure dedicated for Black and Brown bears. The Wildlife Center staff will be coordinating transport with the sanctuary staff to ship the bear cub to Texas soon.
 

May 7, 2013

Syrian Brown Bear #13-0335 continues to live in Bear Pen 2. The cub currently weighs 7.10 kgs and is eating a “mush bowl”, which consists of soaked dry dog food, thickened formula, and baby food.

After several topical treatments for ringworm, an additional “DTM”-- a dermatophyte test medium – was set up by Dr. Dana. This diagnostic test specifically cultures for the ringworm fungus. On Saturday, May 4, results revealed that the bear is still positive for ringworm. The bear will be anesthetized on May 9 for a lime sulfur dip to treat the fungus.

April 16, 2013

When the Syrian Brown Bear cub was admitted to the Wildlife Center, Dr. Dana noted two small areas of crusting on the bear’s back. In addition to a skin scraping [which was negative], Dr. Dana set up a dermatophyte test medium (DTM). This diagnostic test specifically cultures for the ringworm fungus. On the weekend of April 13, the DTM showed a positive result for ringworm.

The team applied an antifungal cream to the affected area for three days, and on April 17 the bear cub will begin an oral anti-fungal medication. Because ringworm is contagious to both humans and other bears, the staff will need to take care not to spread the fungus. At some point in the weeks to come, when the ringworm is resolved, the Syrian bear cub might be able to be housed with a Black Bear yearling of the same size, despite the difference in species.

The rehabilitation staff are bottle feeding the bear three times a day.
 

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