Turbo, an Andean bear at the San Diego Zoo, was spared the indignity of Winnie the Pooh.
The energetic and curious bear entered his habitat Thursday morning to find several pieces of honeycombs filled with delicious honey. No getting trapped in a honey tree.
“Each piece was strategically placed around his enclosure, so Turbo had to do a little bit of work to get to them,” the zoo said. “Crowds watched as he climbed, crawled and pulled to get a taste of the sweet treats.”
After a few minutes of eating, he took a break to walk around and explore his enclosure.
Animal care staff says he’ll continue to go back and eat the honey throughout the day.
“We strive to match our animals’ natural ability to an appropriate challenge,” said Jessica Sheftel, animal care supervisor for enrichment. “We don’t want it to be too easy or too frustrating, but sometimes it can take multiple days for an animal to problem solve a situation.
“If, however, it does prove to be a little difficult, we can take a step back and then begin to approximate and increase the challenge.”
The honey is used as an enrichment option, which is important for zoo bears. The honey, as well as the process of getting to each honeycomb piece, keeps him stimulated and active, and allows him to show natural behaviors.
The honeycomb pieces were harvested from a 12-foot hive found inside a sound barrier on the edge of the zoo grounds.
The zoo’s entomology team spent a day removing the extensive hive and preparing the bees for their new home with a local beekeeper.
“Pollinators are in decline globally, and we are committed to their conservation here at the San Diego Zoo,” said Paige Howorth, animal care canager for invertebrates. “We have a pollinator garden to attract native bees and butterflies, and a monarch butterfly habitat to encourage monarch reproduction. Honey bees are important pollinators too, so whenever we encounter a swarm or colony in a questionable place on grounds, we do our best to relocate it.”
Andean bears, whose populations are vulnerable to extinction due to poaching and habitat loss, come from the Andean countries of South America.
They are commonly known as spectacle bears because of the rings of white or light fur around their eyes.
