On International Bear Day, three orphaned Andean bear cubs, named Sisa, Puya, and Chuquiragua, were rescued and relocated to the Quito Zoo from various provinces in Ecuador, including Cotopaxi, Imbabura, and Pichincha. The bears, aged between one and four months, arrived suffering from malnutrition and stress, primarily due to their early separation from their mothers. Given their young age and underdeveloped survival skills, it has been determined that they cannot be reintroduced into their natural habitat.

The cubs are currently undergoing a socialization process to live together in a specially designed habitat of 3,000 square meters, which is under construction in the Guayllabamba parish. As of now, Sisa and Chuquiragua are housed together, while the youngest cub, Puya, is kept in visual and olfactory contact with the pair. The initiative aims not only to provide a safe environment for the cubs but also to raise awareness about the precarious situation of the Andean bear species in Ecuador.

This significant rescue serves as a reminder of the broader conservation challenges faced by the Andean bear in its natural habitat, where issues such as habitat loss and climate change threaten their survival. The case of Sisa, Puya, and Chuquiragua illustrates the urgent need for awareness and intervention to preserve this vulnerable species and protect its environment for future generations.