Missouri
Escape-artist Missouri bear heads to Texas zoo with moat
This 2021 photograph supplied by the St. Louis Zoo exhibits the zoo’s Andean bear named Ben. The St. Louis Zoo introduced Tuesday that the escape-artist bear from Missouri is headed to a Texas zoo with a moat in hopes it would put an finish to his wandering. (JoEllen Toler, St. Louis Zoo through AP)
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ST. LOUIS — An escape-artist bear from Missouri is headed to a Texas zoo with a moat in hopes that it’ll put an finish to his wandering.
The St. Louis Zoo cited the “particular and distinctive persona” of the Andean bear named Ben in saying the transfer Tuesday. His soon-to-be house on the Gladys Porter Zoo close to South Padre Island in Brownsville, Texas, has a protracted historical past of working with Andean bears. But it surely’s nonetheless including some additional safety measures.
“We’re assured it should be good for Ben,” stated Walter Dupree, the Texas zoo’s curator of mammals.
Ben gained notoriety in February by busting out of his habitat twice.
The primary time, the 4-year-old, 280-pound bear tore aside clips that hooked up chrome steel mesh to the body of a door. However he was recaptured earlier than the zoo opened for the day.
Zoo employees then added zip tie-like attachments manufactured from chrome steel that had 450 kilos of tensile power. However Ben managed to flee by these about two weeks later. The zoo was open this time, however he was captured lower than an hour in a while a public path.
Ben now lives in a nonpublic space of the St. Louis Zoo, the place he can transfer indoors and out — and even splash in a pool — whereas he awaits his transfer.
“He is so enjoyable, he is so playful — we’d love to have the ability to hold him right here,” stated Regina Mossotti, the St. Louis Zoo’s vp of animal care.