How big are the cubs?
At 8 weeks old, the cubs are about 7 pounds each. Sloth bear cubs weigh about one pound at birth, so they have grown quite a bit!
What milestones have the cubs reached so far?
The cubs’ eyes and ears have opened, and their baby teeth have come in. They are also fully covered in hair. Both cubs are just starting to walk, little by little. The first wobbly step they took was my most recent favorite moment.
They have also been practicing climbing on Molly’s back—a very important sloth bear skill! Sloth bear moms routinely tote their young around on their backs and have an extra shag of fur on their back—called a “saddle”—which the cubs use to cling on tight.