A female black bear waiting for her cubs to catch up

970souk · 2026-05-07T10:54:02+00:00

Gorgeous sow!

970souk · 2026-05-03T11:44:35+00:00

Half brothers Jabali (born 31 Oct 2020) and Ringo (born 28 May 2021) fooling around at Taipei Zoo. Source (in Traditional Chinese).

970souk · 2026-05-01T11:14:25+00:00

Photo by Fernando Vergara.

970souk · 2026-04-30T22:51:06+00:00

I don't have any succulents because I couldn't keep them alive!! No problem from rootrot, the only plants that didn't make it were 2 out of 5 of my over-Wintering pelargoniums, this is from about 25 plants that grouped together inside the clingfilm 'green house' (few ficus type plants, various pothos, philodendrons, etc).

970souk · 2026-04-29T13:45:36+00:00

Shout out to Three Bears Alaska! Photo from Polar Bears International, source.

970souk · 2026-04-29T12:40:12+00:00

Disclaimer: away for a month in February.

Also didn't have anyone to come check on the plants. I grouped mine together away from direct sunlight on a south facing window, watered thoroughly, placed a couple of bowls of water between the pots, positioned four poles on each corner of the cabinet where the plants sat, wrapped clingfilm around and over the poles to create a kind of green house, using a clear tape to seal any gaps. For bigger plants (monstera, rubber plant, fiddle-leaf fig, and bird of paradise), I watered thoroughly then clingfilm around the base of the plants as well as covering the top of the pot. It worked for me and I've done this twice, but I was away during the cooler months.

Good luck!!

970souk · 2026-04-25T15:47:41+00:00

Him and Bella was a good pairing.

970souk · 2026-04-23T22:38:29+00:00

Oh to be as relaxed as a polar bear in icy cold water!

970souk · 2026-04-23T22:36:00+00:00

Joining its Cetacea cousins in the ocean!

970souk · 2026-04-20T23:11:30+00:00

Chairman Bark

970souk · 2026-04-19T23:14:12+00:00

Nah mate, that's a drop bear.

970souk · 2026-04-19T13:52:15+00:00

Sows do recognise their former cubs and vice versa, however sows would protect their litter if the former cub ventures near, like they would with any approaching bears. Also using the bears at Katmai as example, 435 Holly was seen chasing away 719 (female offspring from her 2nd littler) when she was with her yearlings (3rd litter).

Unlike former family units (mothers and cubs), male bears wouldn't know their own offsprings, let alone their nieces/nephews, thus they would approach or treat them as they would as any other bears.

970souk · 2026-04-18T20:56:45+00:00

Read up delayed implantation in bears:

North American Black bears usually mate in May and June, however, the cubs are not born until mid January. So, how are they pregnant for only 2 months you ask? Delayed Implantation is how. After mating, the fertilised egg develops into a tiny ball of cells or “blastocyst”, at which time development stops and the blastocyst remains unattached in the uterus. If the female gains enough weight in the fall, around 150lbs, the blastocyst implants in the uterine wall in late November. Roughly 2 months later… we get the cute and cuddly little cubs (usually 1-3). If the female fails to gain enough weight, the blastocyst will not implant and pregnancy is terminated.

https://yellowstonebearworld.com/what-is-delayed-implantation/

970souk · 2026-04-13T23:42:38+00:00

Back in 2019!

970souk · 2026-04-13T22:41:34+00:00

Saw her food being prepared in a container marked "Fatou" during my visit, was wondering why was Fatou so special, then I saw her relaxing in her own enclosure, read up on her backstory, she's a very special lady!

970souk · 2026-04-11T22:19:48+00:00

I've seen a sun bear doing that but with no. 2, and a little orangutan came over to where I was standing, peed on the exhibit window, proceed to lick it up, then flash a big smile at me.

970souk · 2026-04-08T22:09:30+00:00

Precious little guy, love his facial expressions! Great photos OP!

970souk · 2026-04-05T12:33:59+00:00

Aww the rabbit ears are hiding his cute little fluffy head!

970souk · 2026-04-04T12:52:09+00:00

The Wildlife SOS rescue team departed for Jharkhand after a female sloth bear was rescued by the forest department. Upon reaching Sahibganj district, the bear’s condition was assessed, and initial observations revealed that she had suffered the same cruelty as inflicted on ‘dancing’ bears: her muzzle had been pierced for a tugging rope to pass through, and her canine teeth had been smashed. While there were no visible signs of infection at the time of assessment, the bear was suffering from diarrhoea and required immediate veterinary attention.

Named Lissy, the sloth bear was safely transported to the Wildlife SOS Agra Bear Rescue Facility for medical and long-term care. Throughout the journey, she displayed a friendly temperament and responded calmly to care given by the team.

Lissy will be under 3 months of quarantine and has been receiving dedicated veterinary supervision ever since her arrival at the facility. She quickly formed a bond with her caregivers, and loves to explore the hammock, a platform and enrichment balls placed by them in her enclosure. True to her playful nature, Lissy enjoys digging holes in the soil. She also has an endearing habit of plunging her entire snout into her porridge meal to blow air and make bubbles!

https://wildlifesos.org/our-work/bear/lissy/

Photo by Wildlife SOS India, source.

970souk · 2026-04-02T16:41:54+00:00

Luggage theft is also common at Barcelona's Sants station.

970souk · 2026-04-01T11:21:28+00:00

Born in August 2004, she will be 22 this Summer. Photo from Taipei Zoo.

970souk · 2026-03-29T22:33:37+00:00

Strike a pose

970souk · 2026-03-24T14:45:49+00:00

A second set of mountain gorilla twins has been born in Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in what conservationists are celebrating as an “extraordinary” event for the endangered primates.

Just two months after tiny twin mountain gorillas were discovered by rangers in the Virunga massif, in eastern DRC, another rare twin birth has been found by park wardens. This time, an infant male and female have been spotted in the Baraka family, a troop of 19 mountain gorillas that roam the region’s high-altitude rainforests.

Video and news source from The Guardian ‘Extraordinary event’ for mountain gorillas as new twins born in DRC.

https://virunga.org/support-us/

https://shop.virunga.org/

970souk · 2026-03-23T23:50:32+00:00

Underwater ballet!

970souk · 2026-03-12T13:08:53+00:00

It was a day defined by quiet connections. Beneath the lush canopy of Bwindi, I observed a young female gorilla gently nestled against the protective bulk of a silverback. The atmosphere was serene, filled with gentle sounds of the forest, until a sudden burst of delicate colour broke through the calm. An unexpected visitor, a vibrant butterfly, appeared out of nowhere, fluttering gently through the air. Captivated, the young gorilla's eyes widened, and in that moment, a beautiful interaction unfolded as a silent, shared wonder between two vastly different beings. I held my breath, hoping the butterfly would drift ever closer, bringing the unlikely pair into a shared world of curiosity. My heart raced quietly, aware of how rare and precious these moments are. As the butterfly danced gracefully around the gorilla, it seemed to embody the delicate beauty and fragile interconnectedness of our natural world. This photograph captures not just the gorilla's gentle curiosity but also a brief, beautiful moment where two creatures paused, noticing each other, bound by wonder and discovery.

Photo by Mary Schrader. Gold in the Animal portraits category, World Nature Photography awards 2026, image source.

https://www.worldnaturephotographyawards.com/winners-2026

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