Four endangered moon bears arrive at wildlife park

Four critically endangered Asian black bears, also called moon bears, have arrived at Manor Wildlife Park in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The bears, named Martha, Irene, Gigi, and Coco, came from a zoo in France that is part of the same breeding program. They arrived on June 27 and are now living in a special new habitat made just for them. This new home has pools for swimming, climbing frames for exercise, and a hammock for relaxing. The arrival of these bears is important because it shows how people around the world are working together to save animals that are in danger. The park and a charity that helps bears have already rescued more than 1,000 black bears from bad situations in Asia.

Anna Ryder Richardson, who owns Manor Wildlife Park, said she is very happy to welcome the moon bears. She hopes that visitors will come to see the bears and learn about why it is important to protect them. The bears are easy to recognize because they have a white V-shaped mark on their chest and a white patch on their chin. Female moon bears usually weigh between 65 and 90 kilograms and can live up to 25 years. Even though there are no plans to breed the bears right now, the park might do so in the future if the breeding program says it is a good idea.

Moon bears are in danger because their homes are being destroyed, they are hunted, and they are sold illegally. More than 10,000 moon bears are still kept in bad conditions. These bears are native to 18 countries. Anna Ryder Richardson said the park is very excited to have the moon bears and that they have already become favorites among the staff. She also said that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for the park, with more animals like tigers and red pandas coming soon. The park is building two tunnels that will connect the moon bear and tiger enclosures, so the animals can switch places for enrichment. Matt Hunt, the chief executive of the charity, said they work all over Asia to teach people about the illegal wildlife trade and to help stop it. He said they are committed to protecting and improving the lives of bears everywhere, with help from partners like Manor Wildlife Park.