Brother bears debut at Potawatomi Zoo

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Potawatomi Zoo has announced the public debut of its new Andean bear brothers, Ian and Sean, who are now living in the zoo’s recently opened Andean bear habitat.

The habitat is connected to The Lodge, the zoo’s concessions and dining facility.

Officials say nearly 2-year-old brothers arrived at the zoo from Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

The brother bears were moved to the zoo on the recommendation of the Andean Bear Species Survival Plan, a cooperative population management program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

“It’s so important to have this unusual, vulnerable species of bear at the Potawatomi Zoo,” said Josh Sisk, executive director of the Potawatomi Zoo. “It allows us to engage the public with their conservation story, and it will hopefully open the door to an opportunity to contribute to species preservation through a future breeding recommendation.”

Officials say although Andean bears are solitary in the wild by nature, Ian and Sean will stay together in the habitat and behind-the-scenes.

Zoo officials say the brothers will be kept separate from Muniri, the zoo’s first Andean bear.

Muniri will continue to live at the Zoo, and visitors can see any of the three bears when they visit.