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Zoo's New Orphaned Bear Cubs On Display

K'Etnu, Kiak Greet Indianapolis Zoo Visitors

POSTED: 1:10 pm EST December 3, 2008
UPDATED: 1:18 pm EST December 3, 2008

Two of the newest residents of the Indianapolis Zoo, orphaned brown bear cubs from Alaska, are now on display.

The baby bears are still a little skittish, because they are used to being in the wild, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

"They are actually trying to din up for the winter, which is something our other bears never did," said Cheryl Lent, forest biome manager.

The bears are about 10 months old. Alaska fish and wildlife officials euthanized their mother because she attacked a jogger.

When zoo officials heard about the cubs' plight, they called FedEx for help to get them to their new home.

"We made arrangements with our group in Anchorage and got them loaded on a plane and got them delivered to Indianapolis," said Paula Bosle, of FedEx.

The male is named K'Etnu, which means river, and his sister is named, Kiak, which means summer.

Zoo staff said the bears are becoming more familiar and comfortable with their surroundings with each passing day, and they are spending an increasing amount of time in the public viewing area.

The cubs spent several months in the zoo's hospital after they arrived in September, but they've since been given a clean bill of health.

Cooper Urick, 2, and his mother, Stacey, were among the first zoo visitors to see the baby bears.

"They're pretty cool. We didn't know they were even here," Stacey Urick said.

The zoo said the bears will serve an educational purpose as ambassadors for their species and as examples of growing problems related to conflicts between humans and animals.
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