Bear Necessities: Black Bear Cubs Take a Swan Paddle at Woburn Safari Park

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Four black bear cubs at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire, England, were treated to a unique enrichment activity - a swan pedalo ride!

Heavy rains created a small lake in their enclosure, and park keepers decided to place a swan pedalo on the water. The bears, named Harvard, Maple, Colorado, and Aspen, were immediately curious about the new object and wasted no time climbing aboard.

This enrichment activity is designed to stimulate the bears’ natural foraging behaviors and keep their minds and bodies active. While a swan boat might not be a typical element in a bear’s habitat, it proved to be a big hit with these curious cubs!