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rookfield Zoo welcomed many animals during the past year that
Bare sure to captivate and delight our guests. Although all of our
animals are fascinating, some of them deserve your extra attention.
Many of these new arrivals were born or hatched at the Zoo—some
species reproduced here for the first time in Zoo history! Others came
from other accredited institutions, often on a breeding recommendation
from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan®
(SSP), cooperative population management and conservation programs
for select species in accredited North American zoos and aquariums.
Great Bear Wilderness Physical description
BRown Each cub weighed nearly 200 pounds when it arrived. An adult
brown bear weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds in the wild,
with some individuals weighing as much as 1,500 pounds. Tim is
BeAR CuBS a bit larger than his sister; males are typically larger than females.
Brown bears are covered in dense, shaggy fur ranging in color
from blond to dark brown. How can you tell the siblings apart?
Ursus arctos Tim’s fur is darker than his sister’s.
Social structure/behavior
Adults are usually solitary, except when breeding and raising
young. If they had not been orphaned, Tim and Jess would have
stayed with their mother until they are about 2 years old.
Arrival at Zoo The cubs are very bonded. When they are not asleep in a big nest
Last October, Brookfield Zoo was asked by the Alaska together, they are playing and roughhousing. According to their
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) if we could take care team, Tim is the calmer one and Jess is bolder.
in a pair of orphaned brown bear cubs. Brother Tim and Ecosystem role
sister Jess are now about 1 year old. They arrived here on Brown bears are omnivores and their diet depends on where
November 3 from Anchorage, thanks to the collaborative they live. In the wild, Alaskan coastal brown bears eat lots of fish.
efforts of Brookfield Zoo, Alaska Zoo, and the ADF&G. Brown bears also eat grasses, roots, berries, and nuts, as well as
Why you should visit insects, rodents, and larger mammals such as deer, elk, and moose.
Your visit and other support enable us to respond They may also feed on scavenged carcasses. They have an
to animals in crisis and provide them with a forever extremely strong sense of smell. They are apex predators,
home and a chance to live a full and healthy life. meaning they have no natural predators.
Geographic range Conservation status
Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America Least concern, according to the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of
Habitat type Threatened Species; threats include habitat loss and
Jess and Tim are Alaskan coastal brown bears. conflict with humans
Brown bears also live inland in subalpine mountain areas.
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