St. Louis Zoo officials are working to find a solution to keep an Andean bear named Ben inside his enclosure after he escaped for the second time this month. The four-year-old bear, who weighs around 300 pounds, briefly ventured out of his habitat on Thursday, only to be tranquilized and returned to his enclosure. According to zoo officials, Ben managed to snap the stainless steel clips that held the mesh to the door’s frame, allowing him to escape. This incident is not the first of its kind, as Ben also escaped on February 7, when he tore apart the clips that attached the stainless steel mesh to the frame of the door.
On the initial escape, the bear was outside for approximately 90 minutes before being returned. In response, the zoo added stronger clips to the mesh, which had a tensile strength of 450 pounds. However, Ben’s persistence paid off, as he managed to snap these clips as well. As a result, zoo officials are working on alternative ways to secure the enclosure and will seek advice from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Bear Taxon Advisory Group.
St. Louis Zoo bear
Visitors and staff were kept inside the zoo buildings during Ben’s brief excursion. Fortunately, the bear did not wander far and was found only 100 feet away from his habitat. Andean bears are native to the Andes mountain range and are known for their distinctive white or yellow fur rings around their eyes, which serve as a unique identifier, much like human fingerprints. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these magnificent creatures, and the St. Louis Zoo is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for Ben and the other animals in their care.
