- The bears climbed into the pedal boat at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire
An adorable moment was captured at a safari park of a group of bears enjoying a ride on a paddle boat.
The bears were spotted climbing into a swan-shaped pedal boat at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire, where a makeshift lake was formed after the ground became waterlogged following heavy rain.
The staff quickly took advantage of the situation by borrowing a swan-shaped pedal boat and placing it at the edge of the new water, hoping the bears would become curious.
And it didn’t take long for them to investigate. One by one, the group of bears – known as sleuths – began climbing into the boat as it floated on the lake until all four seats were occupied.
The bears were spotted climbing into a swan-shaped pedal boat at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire
A makeshift lake had formed after the ground became waterlogged due to heavy rains. The staff quickly took advantage of the situation by borrowing a swan-shaped pedal boat and placing it at the edge of the new water
And it didn’t take long for them to investigate. One by one, the group of bears – known as sleuths – began climbing into the boat as it floated on the lake until all four seats were occupied.
The North American black bears that live in Woburn have a reserve of just under 13 hectares, which they share with the Canadian timber wolves
Keeper Tommy Babington, Deputy Head of the Carnivore Section said: ‘There has been so much wet weather this year that a new mini-lake has formed during the black bear passage at Woburn Safari Park, so we thought we would to create a new mini-lake. an interesting enrichment for them.
“The bears’ ‘sleuth’ was immediately intrigued by their new neighbor and wasted no time investigating the swan treadmill.”
He added: ‘It was great fun for visitors to see them climb aboard, and we enjoy coming up with new ways to provide food, scent and habitat enrichment that stimulates their natural foraging behaviour.’
The North American black bears that live in Woburn have a reserve of just under 13 hectares, which they share with the Canadian timber wolves.
This is one of the few mixed carivore enclosures in Britain and is home to the adult male Chuck, three adult females named Indiana, Phoenix and Dixie and three juveniles Koda, Georgia and Denver.
In 2022, the Park also welcomed four bear cubs to mother Phoenix, now there are a total of eleven bears and they live outside all year round.
Unlike grizzly bears, black bears do not have shoulder humps and their claws are shorter and more curved than other bear species, such as the sloth bear. Their claws are not retractable, so they are always extended and can be used for climbing, digging and tearing.
Black bears have sturdy bodies that are bulky and thick, with a short stubby tail and are known to be opportunistic eaters, so they will eat almost anything. That’s also why bears have been known to rummage through human trash bins.
