A two-month-old black bear cub has melted hearts online with his cute antics at a wildlife centre – and fans are calling it “un-bear-ably” cute.
The tiny cub was discovered all alone by campers with no sign of his mum.
Wildlife officers tried to reunite the pair by leaving the cub overnight, but she never returned.
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With the cub still alone the next morning, the little one was taken from Los Padres National Forest to the San Diego Humane Society in California, as reported by Need To Know.
Staff then launched a full-scale rescue effort to give the baby bear a second shot at life.
He arrived weak and underweight, but thanks to round-the-clock feedings, expert medical attention and plenty of TLC, the cub is now healthy and thriving.
Because of his young age, carers expect he’ll remain at the centre for up to a year before he can be released back into the wild.
He’s thought to be the youngest cub the Humane Society has ever cared for, and one of only four this young to enter rehab in California in the last five years.
The cub receives four enrichment and feeding sessions a day – and staff even don bear suits to mimic maternal behaviours and prevent him from bonding with humans.
If another orphaned cub is rescued in California, the two might be paired up to help each other stay wild.
Staff said looking after him is a big job – but it’s an even bigger honour to help him get back where he belongs.
Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, said: “He was extremely fragile when he arrived.
“After going several days without nutrition, it was touch-and-go at first. But now, he’s active, eating well and gaining weight steadily.
“This is a very unusual case.
“We don’t often see bears this young without their mother.
“It’s an honour to care for him, but it’s also a significant commitment.
“We rely entirely on donations to make this kind of specialised care possible.”
The cub was rescued on 12 April and his journey was shared by the Humane Society on Thursday (15 May).
Jilly said: “Unbearably cute.”
“I’d gladly dress up in that bear suit,” another person said.
Carol wrote: “I’m in love with this baby!”
And another viewer added: “This is so cute!”
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