These two orphaned bears arrived at IEAS when they were just seven months old. They had witnessed their mother being tragically shot in order to protect human life. Their mother was doing what she was supposed to do...protect her cubs. As you can imagine, when they arrived, they were scared, lonely and unsure of humans. However, with the use of our Emotional Enrichment Program, these bears soon exchanged their fears and anxiety for a new found fondness for their new home and their human caregivers. They began to trust their human caregivers more and more every day. Louis Dorfman, Animal Behaviorist, and Christi Gilbreth, Curator/Asst. Animal Behaviorist, sat with them for many hours every day earning their trust and providing them with a source of security and comfort. In a way, they were becoming their parents, and that is how these motherless bears began to look at them. It wasn't long before they were coming up to Louis and Christi, eating grapes and apples from their hand, sitting beside them and rubbing on their legs. Dakar and Meyote were the first residents in our natural five-acre habitat known as Bear Orphanage. Bear Orphanage is filled with everything bears enjoy, including trees to climb, thickets to play in, meadows to roam and ponds to swim in. They are now able to act like wild bears. They began to take walks in the meadow with Louis and Christi, coming up to them for reassurance then off to chase a butterfly or chase each other playfully. They loveed peanuts that were handed them as the walks progressed. Last winter, they even dug their own den and went into hibernation for about two months. They day they came out of hibernation, Louis was present, and they approached him as if they had seen him the day before rather than four months previously, enjoying the rubbing on their necks and backs just like the summer before. They also came out to find they had two new neighbors, Lucky and Lucy. They have adjusted well and are getting along nicely with their new residents. Help support Dakar.

Personality Traits

Dakar is a very laid back bear who enjoys human companionship. He seems to enjoy affection more than his sister. He has even gone on walks with our Behaviorist, Louis, at times, and he still enjoys having his back rubbed by Louis. Lately we have noticed that Dakar is spending a lot of time with Lucy, a year and a half old black bear. The first time we noticed this interaction was when Christi took some honey down and poured it on a tree trunk. Lucy came right over to lick it up, and Dakar came out of the woods and joined her. They sat side by side licking the honey. Another afternoon, Louis and Christi saw Dakar following Lucy around and touching noses after their afternoon snack. It seems that Lucy is capturing the hearts of all the male bears (and humans) at Bear Orphanage.

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