Watch: Zoo Opens Andean Bear Habitat May 21, 2023 Lennie Grimaldi Best of Bridgeport, News and EventsNo Comments <strong>From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ConnecticutsBeardsleyZoo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo</a></strong></p> <blockquote><p>Rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the crowd gathered for the official opening of Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo new Andean Bear Habitat today. Zoo Director Gregg Dancho welcomed a large gathering of Zoo guests along with Bridgeport Mayor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/joeganim">Joe Ganim</a>, in one of two covered viewing areas. Andean bear Cayambe wandered through the habitat and at one point came right up to the viewing window, to the delight of the guests.</p> <p>The new habitat welcomes back a species that was last part of the Zoo’s animal family in 2011. This large and beautiful habitat for the arboreal (tree-climbing) bears features trees, two rock caves, a swimming pond and a hammock. Native to the Andes and outlying mountain ranges, the bears’ conservation status is listed as vulnerable, with a decreasing population in the wild. They are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program.</p></blockquote> <p> 0
