Lincoln Park Zoo welcomes brown bears for the first time in nearly 50 years

Chicago's beloved Lincoln Park Zoo has welcomed two new residents, Ash and Lexi, - two adult female brown bears that are set to make their home in Chicago for the first time in nearly five decades. The ursine duo arrived at the zoo on Monday after being transferred from Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin.

The pair's past is one of hardship and dependence on human food, as they were once wild cubs who had been taken from their natural habitat. However, during their time in captivity, they became too accustomed to raiding trash cans and ultimately earned the label "unreleasable" by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials.

According to zoo curator Cassy Kutilek, the arrival of Ash and Lexi at Lincoln Park Zoo is a welcome reminder of the crucial role that accredited zoos play in rehabilitating animals that are unable to survive on their own. With their unique personalities already starting to shine through, it will be fascinating to observe how these two bears interact with each other as they adjust to their new surroundings.

One interesting dynamic between Ash and Lexi is their differing approaches to training sessions. Ash is more food-motivated, making her quicker to participate in the zoo's educational programs. On the other hand, Lexi has been described by Henry Vilas Zoo staff as the braver of the two bears, with a greater willingness to try new things.

As winter approaches, Ash and Lexi will be gearing up for their natural process of hibernation-like torpor. During this time, their heart rates, metabolism, and breathing will slow significantly in an effort to conserve energy. With their needs met by the zoo's feeding schedule, it remains to be seen how this phase of their lives will play out.

The arrival of these two brown bears marks a significant milestone for Lincoln Park Zoo, as they are now set to become the first of their kind to call the zoo home since 1979.

I'm so stoked to hear that Ash and Lexi have finally found a forever home at the Lincoln Park Zoo! It's amazing how far these two bears have come from being wild cubs who relied on human food to survive. They're definitely going to bring some excitement (and maybe a few laughs) with their unique personalities . I'm curious to see how they interact with each other as they adjust to the zoo, and it's awesome that we can learn more about them through educational programs .

I think what's really cool is that these two bears are going to help highlight the importance of accredited zoos in rehabilitating animals who need extra care . It's not always easy being a zoo animal, but Ash and Lexi are proof that with love, care, and the right environment, they can thrive .

Winter is coming, so I'm eager to see how these two adapt to their hibernation-like torpor phase . Will they snooze the winter away or get into some mischief? Either way, I'm here for it!

I don’t usually comment but I was thinking, it's kinda sad that Ash and Lexi had to be taken from the wild because humans didn't do a better job protecting their habitats . Now they're in this zoo, trying to live out their lives with some human care, but still have to deal with being food-motivated and stuff . I mean, I guess it's great that they get fed and all, but what about the wild spaces they'd be living if not for humans?

omg, can you even imagine living in the city w/ bear neighbors? like i get it, these two were orphaned & had nothin' but trash cans 2 rely on, but still, they're gonna be chillin in chicago! ash & lexi already got their own vibes goin on, ash is all about the treats, while lexi is like "hey, i can handle anything" lol gotta love how the zoo crew's gonna be workin w/ them 2 rehab 'em. wonder if they'll even try 2 find some berries in the backyard

just saw this thread and gotta chime in lol i'm surprised they got new bears like that tho i mean its cool that the zoo is giving them a second chance but also kinda sad that they were taken from the wild like what was going on over there? anyway im hyped to see how ash and lexis dynamic plays out

so what's next? just 'cause zoos can help rehab bad habits don't mean we should be bringing bears into our city i mean ash and lexi are lucky to have a place to live, but do we really need two more creatures causing trouble in lincoln park?

So I'm thinking about these new bears at the Lincoln Park Zoo and it's crazy how much their past experiences have shaped them. Like, Ash is super motivated by food, which is awesome for learning stuff, but also means she might get a bit too fixated on snacks. On the other hand, Lexi seems like more of a wild child – I love that she's not afraid to try new things! But at the same time, it's sad they had to end up in zoos after being taken from their natural habitat. It's like, they're still recovering from all the trauma and hardship they went through.

But on a positive note, it's amazing that Lincoln Park Zoo is stepping up to help these bears thrive. I mean, it's not just about keeping them safe – it's also about teaching people how to care for animals and respecting wildlife. And let's be real, who doesn't love watching bears? It's going to be so cool to see Ash and Lexi grow and interact with each other as they adjust to their new home. Fingers crossed they have a paw-some time!