Salisbury Zoo Kicks Off "'Bury Bear Project" Andean Bear Program
SALISBURY, Md.- The Salisbury Zoo recently kicked off the "'Bury Bear Project," making the "Just Bear It" naming contest the first event on the list.
“The ‘bury Bear Project” is an initiative to create a sustainable Andean Bear program for the Salisbury Zoo. This project will help to support the Zoo's efforts to provide the community the opportunity to see and learn more about these endangered bears.
Salisbury Zoo's Director, Ralph Piland told WBOC how important the Andean Bears are to the zoo.
"Andean Bears have been apart of the history of Salisbury Zoo for a long time, going back to the well known 'Poopsie' who was at the time the longest lived Andean bear well known," Piland said. "We want to make this an opportunity to really instill the bear program into the heart of the zoo and figure out ways we can sustain this program as long as we possibly can."
The Salisbury Zoo and the City of Salisbury are asking the public's help in naming the new bear. Since Andean bears are found in South America the names chosen are Spanish.
The following names to chose from are Sonrisa (Smile), Jefa (the Boss), Esperanza (Hope), Milagro (Miracle), Alba (Dawn, daybreak), Enhorabuena (Congratulations), Encantada (Delighted, enchanted) and Mariquita (Lady Bug).
Mary Seeman, Marketing and Development Associate at the Salisbury Zoo, said the process to find these names took some thought.
"We polled the Zoo keepers here and we really wanted to name the bear a Spanish name so we got together about eight names and put them online."
Although it was raining, the zoo was still filled with visitors, mostly checking out the bear exhibit.
Joe Marsiglia and his sister spent most of their day at the exhibit watching the cub and her mother climb trees and wrestle around.
"It looks very cute to me, and that big one, there's a big one all the way at the top of the tree it looks very cool," Marsiglia said.
Zoo officials say they would like to keep the polls open until the end of June to name the cub.
‘bury Bear” activities can be found throughout the City Living Salisbury webpage. There will be more activities posted all year long.
“The ‘bury Bear Project” is an initiative to create a sustainable Andean Bear program for the Salisbury Zoo. This project will help to support the Zoo's efforts to provide the community the opportunity to see and learn more about these endangered bears.
Salisbury Zoo's Director, Ralph Piland told WBOC how important the Andean Bears are to the zoo.
"Andean Bears have been apart of the history of Salisbury Zoo for a long time, going back to the well known 'Poopsie' who was at the time the longest lived Andean bear well known," Piland said. "We want to make this an opportunity to really instill the bear program into the heart of the zoo and figure out ways we can sustain this program as long as we possibly can."
The Salisbury Zoo and the City of Salisbury are asking the public's help in naming the new bear. Since Andean bears are found in South America the names chosen are Spanish.
The following names to chose from are Sonrisa (Smile), Jefa (the Boss), Esperanza (Hope), Milagro (Miracle), Alba (Dawn, daybreak), Enhorabuena (Congratulations), Encantada (Delighted, enchanted) and Mariquita (Lady Bug).
Mary Seeman, Marketing and Development Associate at the Salisbury Zoo, said the process to find these names took some thought.
"We polled the Zoo keepers here and we really wanted to name the bear a Spanish name so we got together about eight names and put them online."
Although it was raining, the zoo was still filled with visitors, mostly checking out the bear exhibit.
Joe Marsiglia and his sister spent most of their day at the exhibit watching the cub and her mother climb trees and wrestle around.
"It looks very cute to me, and that big one, there's a big one all the way at the top of the tree it looks very cool," Marsiglia said.
Zoo officials say they would like to keep the polls open until the end of June to name the cub.
‘bury Bear” activities can be found throughout the City Living Salisbury webpage. There will be more activities posted all year long.
