Escape Artist Bear Moved To New Home After Multiple Escapes From Missouri Zoo
Authorities at the St. Louis Zoo in Missouri announced the transfer of a 4-year-old Andean bear named Ben, with a history of escapes, to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas.
The announcement comes after Ben managed to escape from his enclosure twice in a month by breaking through steel mesh.
The zoo tackled the issue by reinforcing the enclosure after the first escape, but Ben still managed to escape again.
The Texas zoo will be more suitable for Ben because the bear enclosure is surrounded by a moat and not by steel mesh.
Officials stated that their goal is to do whatever ensures Ben's safety and well-being.
The vice president of animal care at the St. Louis Zoo, Regina Mossotti, expressed gratitude for the care provided to Ben by their team and for everyone's efforts to help him thrive.
Andean bears are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and are native to South America.
The Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, is home to a diverse set of animal species and is strongly dedicated to animal welfare and conservation efforts.