August 26, 2003
Lee County - There's a new furry addition at Chehaw Park. On Tuesday, a cub from Alaska moved to southwest Georgia. She arrived at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport in Albany.
It wasn't a typical flight at the airport in Albany. Among the luggage, there's something moving. A cub has been on a plane for at least nine hours. Chehaw Park Assistant Curator, Jan Thompson, carries the bear inside and says, "Okay Berrie, we've got air conditioning for you."
Berrie came all the way from Alaska to live at Chehaw Park. Thompson says to the new addition, "Hi, aren't you beautiful. Want a blue berry?" She's an orphan bear because a boy playing with a gun shot Berrie's mother. Thompson adds, "She was found sadly trying to nurse off her dead mother."
The lonely cub brought with her a souvenir from home. Inside her traveling cage was a stuffed bear.
Berrie will eventually meet her two adopted siblings, Rosie and Theodore at Chehaw. Thompson says, "In about a month, we'll move Berrie into the empty holding pen next door to Rosie and Theodore. Introduce them that way and let them see each other."
The shy bear will have to adjust to the new friends, south Georgia heat and also cuisine. Thompson gives the cub a peanut and instructs, "Crack it there's nuts inside. You'll have to learn about this you're in Georgia now. I'll get you a peach later."
The orphan American black bear may have a little jet lag, but her adventures have just begun.
Berrie will be quarantined for 30 days for observation. She will then be moved to the bear exhibit to live with four other bears.
posted at 6:00PM by kathryn.simmons@walb.com
Berrie came all the way from Alaska to live at Chehaw Park.
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