Woman fed bears 180 eggs a week — and now she’ll pay for it, Canadian officials say

Every week during the summer of 2018, a woman bought 10 cases of apples, 50 pounds of carrots and dozens of eggs.

The food was for bears, Canada authorities said.

A woman from Whistler was ordered to pay $60,000 after officials said she violated the Wildlife Act in British Columbia.

In July 2018, the Conservation Officer Service, a public safety agency that focuses on human-wildlife conflict prevention, received a complaint that someone was feeding black bears in the neighborhood.

To read more on this story, click here: Woman fed bears 180 eggs a week — and now she’ll pay for it, Canadian officials say

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Bear Cub Seen Peeping Through Windows At Canadian Border Was Apprehended For Not Having Documentation

Vancouver,  BC -This little cutie was seen peeping through the windows of a border crossing office at the U.S.-Canada border in northern British Columbia.

The Canada Border Service Agency jokes on Facebook that, "A traveller sought entry for essential reasons, but had no travel documents."

Of course, the officers on site apprehended the cub immediately.

"After a forceful attempt on its part to cross the border, our officers moved quickly to apprehend and transfer it to the Smithers' Northern Lights Wildlife Society for the winter," the agency said.

The baby bear was reportedly looking for food. A nearby animal rescue center tells Canadian news source CTV News that they have been tracking the bear for a month, hoping to help it survive the winter.

The little explorer lost her mom, earning her the name Annie after "Little Orphan Annie."

Luckily, the shelter was able to bring little Annie to Northern Lights Wildlife Society. They plan to help her through the winter and release her back to the wild in the summer.

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Japanese Town Deploys Growling "Monster Wolf" Robots to Scare Away Wild Bears

A town in northern Japan has recently been plagued by a plethora of wild bears, roaming around neighborhoods and petrifying residents. In an attempt to prevent attacks, the town of Takikawa has now installed terrifying robotic wolves to howl at the bears and scare them off, Reuters reports.

The residents of Takikawa, located on the northernmost island of Hokkaido, have been increasingly concerned by the potential of bear attacks, as sightings in the country hit a five-year high, according to national broadcaster NHK. There have been dozens of reported attacks this year, two of them fatal, leading to an emergency government meeting last month to address the issue. 

To read more on this story, click here: Japanese Town Deploys Growling "Monster Wolf" Robots to Scare Away Wild Bears

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PLUMP AND FEISTY: Baby Panda at National Zoo adds 2 Inches to Waist, Turns 8 Weeks Old

When mama bear Mei Xiang left the den yesterday to eat a fruitsicle (frozen treat made from diluted apple juice), zookeepers were able to retrieve the cub for a quick exam.

To read more on this story, click here: PLUMP AND FEISTY: Baby Panda at National Zoo adds 2 Inches to Waist, Turns 8 Weeks Old

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New Jersey Prepares to Open a Gruesome Black Bear Trophy Hunt

New Jersey is poised to allow trophy hunters to kill the state’s beloved black bears starting next month using barbaric methods like baiting the animals with piles of rotting sugary food. The plan would also allow hunters to chase bears off state lands, where bear hunting is not allowed, and onto private lands, just so they can be killed. Worse, it would allow the killing of baby bear cubs—a cruelty now allowed in only one other state, Alaska.

This unethical policy from the state’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is highly unpopular within the state, and a Humane Society of the United States poll last year showed that a supermajority of New Jersey residents oppose it. An even stronger majority is opposed to bear baiting. But unfortunately, attempts in the state legislature to prohibit baiting bears or bear trophy hunting have not been brought up for full floor votes.

To read more on this story, click here: New Jersey Prepares to Open a Gruesome Black Bear Trophy Hunt

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Rescue Bear, Lion, And Tiger Were Best Friends For Almost 16 Years

We sometimes hear about “strange bedfellows” and there may be times when this occurs between different animals. The following story will convince you of the possibilities that exist in nature. It is about the bond that was formed between an American black bear, a Bengal tiger, and an African lion.

Bored Panda reported that Baloo the bear, Leo the lion, and Shere Khan have been living happily together at Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Georgia for almost 16 years. The trio of unlikely friends is usually known as BLT. They were rescued from the same basement of a house in Atlanta during a drug raid in 2001.

To read more on this story, click here: Rescue Bear, Lion, And Tiger Were Best Friends For Almost 16 Years

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Last Night Around 5:40 p.m., Mei Xiang Placed the Cub on the Floor of Her Den for Just a Few Seconds

From the Smithsonian’s National Zoo:

“Giant panda Mei Xiang continues to exhibit excellent maternal care and is attentive to her cub. Regular, loud cub vocalizations are signs of good health and music to the panda team’s ears!

Last night around 5:40 p.m., Mei Xiang placed the cub on the floor of her den for just a few seconds, giving all of those watching the Panda Cam a fantastic view of her growing cub. It let out a few hearty squeals, and Mei Xiang immediately picked the cub up, cradled it and gave a few comforting licks.”

To read more on this story, click here: Last Night Around 5:40 p.m., Mei Xiang Placed the Cub on the Floor of Her Den for Just a Few Seconds

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Florida Black Bear Cub Poaching Incident is a Reminder of the Need to Coexist with Wildlife

Last month, so many Floridians were shocked when the decaying body of a yearling bear cub, fondly nicknamed Bailey by members of the sprawling community that he sometimes visited, was discovered. This was an unlawful killing on its face, one that violated Florida regulations, but what was even more shocking was the manner in which Bailey had died: he had been killed with bird shot and left to bleed to a slow, agonizing death.

Bailey’s shooter, it turns out, was an experienced hunter who should have known that killing Bailey was illegal. At the very least he should have notified authorities right away after shooting the animal, which he didn’t. Among other things, his act made him a poacher.

To read more on this story, click here: Florida Black Bear Cub Poaching Incident is a Reminder of the Need to Coexist with Wildlife

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Large Bear Spotted Roaming in Monrovia Second Day in a Row

MONROVIA, Calif. - A large bear was spotted early Friday morning in Monrovia, only a day after a bear was reported roaming around the nearby campus of Mayflower Elementary School.

It was first spotted around 2:30 a.m. digging through trash cans in the neighborhood of North Mayflower Avenue.

SkyFOX first spotted the bear around 4:30 a.m. in the area of Hillcrest Boulevard, near Mayflower Avenue.

To read more on this story, click here: Large Bear Spotted Roaming in Monrovia Second Day in a Row



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Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan: The Only Giant Pandas in the World Not Owned by China

Mexico City, Mexico -  The Chapultepec zoo in Mexico City says that Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan are the only giant pandas in the world not owned by China.

They were born in captivity in Mexico and although they have Chinese names, "they belong to Mexico," said Rafael Tinajero, a manager at the zoo.

They are the main attractions at the Chapultepec zoo in Mexico City, and what makes them unique is that they are not owned by China.

Many young pandas born abroad in captivity are later repatriated to China, where the species originates.

But Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan, with their plump bodies and tender expressions, will be staying put.

They are the last in the line of a panda couple -- Ying Ying and Pe Pe -- loaned to Mexico by the Chinese government in 1975.

Since 1980, China has operated a different policy in which it only lends pandas for a short time and in return for a payment towards wild panda conservation efforts.

The panda is considered a vulnerable species.

As Ying Ying and Pe Pe arrived in Mexico before China changed its policy, Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan will stay in Mexico.

"With that, Mexico became the first country outside of China to have had a successful natural reproduction of pandas outside their natural habitat, in captivity conditions," said Tinajero.

He said eight more pandas were born in Mexico between 1980 and 1990 but only four of those survived.

Giant pandas typically live until about 20 in the wild and 30 in captivity.

They average around 100-115 kilograms (220-250 pounds) and adults stand between 1.2 to 1.9 meters (4-6 feet) tall. Males can weigh as much as 160 kilograms.

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The Goodbye Celebration Continues for Bei Bei the Giant Panda

WASHINGTON — The giant panda Bei Bei was born at the National Zoo in 2015, and he's been captivating minds and capturing hearts ever since.

"When he first got here he was so excited to come here. And I'm just going to miss him so much," Caris Counts said.

Counts drove two hours on Sunday morning with her mother to catch Bei Bei before he heads on a 16 hour non-stop flight to China Tuesday.

To read more on this story, click here: The Goodbye Celebration Continues for Bei Bei the Giant Panda


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Here's How The National Zoo Will FedEex Bei Bei The Giant Panda

Say goodbye to Bei Bei as he heads to Chengdu, China as part of the panda diplomacy program between the US and China.


WASHINGTON — Bei Bei, the District's beloved giant panda, will play in his outdoor habitat for the last time Tuesday before he heads to China. The Smithsonian National Zoo is sending the four-year-old panda to China as part of the panda diplomacy program. This program between the U.S. and China requires all pandas born at the Zoo be sent to China when they turn four.

Bei Bei will make his way to Dulles Airport on Tuesday, and will be transported to Chengdu, China on a specially chartered FedEx cargo plane. He'll ride on a direct 16-hour flight with the National Zoo's animal care team, a panda keeper and a veterinarian.

To read more on this story, click here: Here's How The National Zoo Will FedEex Bei Bei The Giant Panda

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Jimbo The 9-Foot Kodiak Bear Passes Away After 20 Years Of Family Life

What do you do when your 1,400-pound (approx. 635-kilogram) bear just needs a warm hug? Well, of course you give him cuddles! Most wild animals could never be tamed—but this lovable hunk was one of a kind.

Jimbo the huge Kodiak brown bear was born in captivity. He was injured, and Jim Kowalczik knew he could never be returned to the wild when he decided to take him under his wing as a cub.

When Jim and Susan Kowalczik founded the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, upstate New York, in 2015, Jimbo would spend the rest of his life there with them.

He kept company with another 11 bears at the sanctuary. They would all be released into the wild once they were healed of their injuries. Some had survived collisions with cars; others had become orphans when their mothers were killed.

The couple treated Jimbo as part of the family, and Jim was often photographed playing with the affectionate bear, or perhaps the two would just sit relaxed together as friends sometimes do.

When Jimbo began to feel out of sorts, last February, a visit from the vet did little to help him, and the cause of his discomfort was unknown, though it was later found to be cancer of the liver.

To read more on this story, click here: Jimbo The 9-Foot Kodiak Bear Passes Away After 20 Years Of Family Life

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These Incredible Animal Photos Show Why Steve Irwin’s Son Is An Award Winning Photographer

Being part of the legacy that Steve Irwin left behind must be no easy task, but Robert Irwin, his 13-year-old son makes it seem smooth and oh-so-easy. Robert and his family have always been involved with nature, and even as a baby, his love for it was obvious. Now as a young teenager, he has actually traveled around the world with his family, capturing nature while at it and becoming an award-winning photographer – yes, at just 13-years-old!

Regardless of his age, there is no question why his work has been recognized in several contests: the images he captures are raw and pretty up-close, giving people a more intimate glance at nature and wildlife through his images.

To read more on this story, click here: These Incredible Animal Photos Show Why Steve Irwin’s Son Is An Award Winning Photographer



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8 Secrets Zoos Keep Under Wraps

Zoos exist to display exotic animals for all the world to see. But what's going on at zoos away from the public's view?

Few destinations conjure up as idyllic an image as an afternoon at the zoo. Strolling about on a nice day with some lighthearted animal-themed ice cream treat and checking out monkeys, bears, and a few sleeping reptiles is as wholesome as apple pie on the Fourth of July.

But certainly, some secrets must be hidden in the shadows of those cages and fake rock formations. For those who have ever wondered about what’s really going on at your local zoo behind the locked gates and after closing time, allow us to drops some zoo truths on you.

To read more on this story, click here: 8 Secrets Zoos Keep Under Wraps


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Bei Bei The Giant Panda, At Smithsonian's National Zoo, Turned 3-Years-Old Today

Washington, DC - Bei Bei turned 3 years old today! In celebration of his big day, Bei Bei enjoyed an ice-cake, participated in an enrichment painting session and received a new panda-friendly toy.

His cake was specially made by the Zoo’s department of nutrition sciences and included all of his favorite foods. The tiers were made of diluted apple, cranberry and grape juice with leaf-eater biscuit puree. It was decorated and filled with apples, pears, bananas, shredded carrots and cooked sweet potatoes. The number 3 that topped the cake was made of diluted apple juice with a leaf-eater biscuit puree center.

Now weighing in at almost 215 pounds, Bei Bei has been taking full advantage of his summer—splashing around in his big green tub, and napping in trees and on his new hammock.

Tian Tian is the next giant panda to celebrate a birthday. He turns 21 on Monday, Aug. 27 and will also receive a special cake at 11 a.m.

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Childless Russian Couple Adopted An Orphaned Bear When He Was Only Three Months Old And 25 Years Later, He Still Lives With Them

The most feasible option for childless couples is to turn to adoption. However, one Russian couple took a completely different approach when it comes to adoption.

For starters, the thought of sharing your house with a 300-pound grizzly bear seems less than accommodating.

The setting may sound uncustomary plus dangerous, but for Yuriy and Svetlana, they couldn’t process their life without Stepan, their 25-year-old grizzly.

Standing tall at 7-feet, dwarfing both Yuriy and Svetlana, the bear is tall enough to be a center in the NBA starting lineup. But regardless of Stepan’s imposing figure and the threat he possesses, he is just as domesticated and behaved as your normal pet.

He is well-behaved to the extent that he sit with Yuriy and Svetlana to watch television in the evenings.

Moreover, he occasionally helps around the house by watering the plants and helping Yuriy with his chores.

However, taking care of a 300-pound 7-foot grizzly is no cakewalk. It requires a lot of money, effort and time. For meals only, the couple feeds Stepan 25-30 kg of fish, eggs, and vegetables on a daily basis.


To read more on this story, click here: Childless Russian Couple Adopted An Orphaned Bear When He Was Only Three Months Old And 25 Years Later, He Still Lives With Them


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Watch: Police Free Bear Locked Inside A Car

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Notorious Gangster Known as Nutzu the Pawnbroker, Used Lions and Bears to Intimidate Victims

Bucharest, Romania - A notorious gangster known as Nutzu the Pawnbroker has been indicted for heading a gang charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, blackmail and illegally possessing weapons, but the public seems to be more interested in his pets: four lions and two bears.

Press reports, not confirmed by authorities have claimed that Ion Balint - his real name - use the lions to intimidate rivals and victims.

When he rode away from prison on a black stallion in 2010, Balint played up that fearsome image.

"You said I fed men to the lions?" Balint can be heard saying on a tape heard by The Associated Press. "Why don't you come over and I'll give you some lions!"

Authorities won't speculate about why Balint kept lions and bears, as well as thoroughbred horses and canaries, at his high-walled and heavily guarded estate in the poorest part of Bucharest.

"Many untruths are being reported," Balint's son-in-law Marius Vlad told The Associated Press on Wednesday, referring to other rumors of a torture chamber.

Bystanders and relatives who gathered near the gates of the estate described Balint, 48, as a good neighbor and an animal lover, and said they weren't bothered by roaring lions.

"We can hear them every day but only when they're hungry or the female is in heat," said Gabriela Ionescu, 36, robed in a dressing gown and clutching her toddler daughter's hand. "They don't disturb us at all."

Authorities allege that Balint and his brother Vasile headed a criminal network which controlled much of the underworld activity in Bucharest, a city of 2 million. Some 400 police and detectives were involved in the investigation which led to the arrest last week of 67 suspects, including the Balint brothers.

In 2009, Balint was convicted of human trafficking, violence and pimping, and sentenced to 13 years in prison. That was reduced to six years but Balint was free after a year.

On Wednesday, the four lions and two bears were sedated, put in cages and removed Wednesday by environmental authorities and the Vier Pfoten animal welfare charity. The animals, which generally appeared in good condition, will be temporarily housed in a zoo and may be eventually relocated in South Africa, animal welfare officers said.

Mircea Pupaza, commissioner of the National Environment Guard, told The Associated Press that Balint had no documentation or health records for the animals, which he's kept illegally for 10 years. He could face a year in prison and a hefty fine for illegally keeping wild animals.

"The lions are a status symbol for him," said Livia Cimpoeru, a Vier Pfoten spokeswoman. She declined to speculate whether they had a more sinister purpose.

Lions sit in a cage on the estate of Ion Balint in Bucharest. The animal welfare charity Vier Pfoten removed four lions and two bears that were illegally kept on the estate.

A bear chews on the bars of a cage at the estate of Ion Balint. He was convicted in 2009 for human trafficking, violence and pimping and sentenced to 13 years in prison. The sentence was later reduced to six years, but Balint was freed after serving one year.

A sedated lioness is removed from the estate of Ion Balint. He had no documentation for the animals, which police say he's kept illegally for 10 years.

                                        A bear reaches out from a cage.

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A Bear Had to Have His 7 Pound Tongue Removed After it Became Swollen from an Unknown Disease

A bear had to have his tongue removed after it became swollen and weighed almost 7 pounds and dragged along the ground.

Nyan htoo and his brother were rescued as cubs by monks in Myanmar after being taken from their mother so they could be sold illegally.

However after their rescue, it soon became clear the bear was suffering from an unknown disease, which caused his tongue to become enlarged.

Vets operated on Nyan htoo in 2016 in an attempt to save his tongue by removing the excess tissue, but the swelling returned and worsened over time.

By June the disease was badly affecting Nyan htoo's quality of life, so vets reluctantly decided to amputate.

Veterinary surgeon Heather Bacon, from the University of Edinburgh's Royal School of Veterinary Studies, worked with Caroline Nelson, a veterinary nurse at the Animals Asia Bear Rescue Centre in Vietnam to perform the procedure in Myanmar.

They were joined by another vet, Romain Pizzi, from Wildlife Surgery International, and removed almost 7lbs of tissue in an operation that lasted four hours.

Ms Bacon said: “This was an opportunity for us to use our veterinary and animal welfare expertise to make a significant difference for a bear and the people who care for him.”

The veterinary team now believe the swelling may have been caused by a mosquito-transmitted infection called elephantiasis, a condition that is common in people in Myanmar but has never been reported in bears.

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