MANHATTAN, Kan. (WIBW) – The Sunset Zoo in Manhattan has welcomed a new resident to Expedition Asia!
According to Sunset Zoo officers, they welcomed Kartick, a male sloth bear, arrived on Dec. 10, 2025, from the San Diego Zoo as a new mate for Sunset Zoo’s resident feminine, Tess.
Sunset Zoo’s pairing with Kartick and Tess was really useful for the Sloth Bear Species Survival Plan (SSP). Officials mentioned that the SSP, in cooperation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), evaluates the populations of a selected species in human care at choose establishments and makes breeding suggestions based mostly on genetic variability. The Sunset Zoo acknowledged that this transfer is vital for weak species such because the sloth bear, whose inhabitants has decreased by almost 50% within the final 30 years.
Kartick was born on the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington, on Dec. 27, 2017, and is presently eight years previous. He was transferred to the San Diego Zoo in 2019, then got here to Kansas final December. All animals that arrive at Sunset Zoo should bear a quarantine interval to make sure they don’t carry any contagious ailments. During this time, they’re separated from all different animals till they cross a rigorous veterinary examination.
Following Kartick’s quarantine, the keepers slowly launched him to Tess. Officials mentioned that this started with easy strikes similar to swapping the bedding between the bears so they might get used to one another’s scent. Then they let the bears scent one another by way of the shift doorways. The Sunset Zoo says that they’re presently letting one bear into the opposite’s vacant den, to allow them to turn out to be much more accustomed to one another. Taking the method slowly is vital for doubtlessly harmful animals, who’ve a larger risk of injuring one another if an introduction goes poorly. Sunset Zoo says the keepers are doing the whole lot they’ll to make sure the method goes in addition to attainable.
Officials mentioned the hope is that Kartick and Tess will breed and produce cubs, like Tess’ sister Molly did on the Smithsonian Zoo final December. Sloth bears have an outlined breeding season, which normally happens from about May to July, with cubs born round December or January.
At the second, Kartick is given entry to the out of doors habitat within the mornings, then swaps with Tess for the afternoons. Kartick is distinguishable from Tess by his massive, spherical, very fuzzy ears and keepers say he seems to be like a teddy bear or Teddy Graham.
Sunset Zoo is open 360 days a yr. Summer hours every day, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Zoo is positioned at 2333 Oak Street. The Zoo is tucked contained in the residential space close to Manhattan High School’s West Campus.
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