Adorable bear cub is flourishing after being found abandoned and malnourished
An abandoned bear cub who was found starving in a California forest is now thriving in his new shelter.
The two-month-old male arrived to the shelter 'weak, underweight, and alone', according to the San Diego Humane Society.
Campers in Los Padres National Forest discovered the orphaned black bear cub on April 12.
California Department Of Fish And Wildlife (CDFW) biologists tried to reunite the baby with his mother by returning him to the wild overnight.
However, she did not return for him, and with no signs of a mama bear in the area, the cub was transported to San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center on April 14.
Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations Manager at the center, said: 'He was extremely fragile when he arrived.
'This is a very unusual case. We don't often see bears this young without their mother.'
The baby bear had health problems, and, combined with his young age, his caregivers were worried he might not make it.
Welch said: 'After going several days without nutrition, it was touch-and-go at first. But now, he's active, eating well and gaining weight steadily.'
The San Diego Humane Society said the bear receives four enrichment and feeding sessions daily, with overnight feedings required in his early days to help stabilize him.
Daily care: The shelter said the bear receives four enrichment and feeding sessions each day
Photos from the enrichment sessions show staff wearing wildlife costumes and mimicking maternal behaviors to prevent the cub from forming an emotional attachment to humans.
Other snaps show the cub playing with toys, chewing on leaves, and drinking from a bottle.
The San Diego Humane Society said it does not receive state funding and depends on community contributions to care for wild animals in need.
Welch said: 'It's an honor to care for him, but it's also a significant commitment. We rely entirely on donations to make this kind of specialized care possible.'
Male black bears can grow up to be 500lb and have powerful limbs and well-developed claws on large, strong paws.
The caregivers expect him to remain with them for up to a year and hope to release the bear cub back into the wild one day.
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