WAMU 88.5 : News

Filed Under:

National Zoo Welcomes Andean Bear Cubs

Play associated audio

It's twins for the National Zoo's 6-year-old Andean bear, Billie Jean. It's not yet clear, however, when visitors might be able to see the cubs in person. For now, the public will have to log on to the [zoo's live webcam]( http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Amazonia/AndeanBears/andean-bear-cam.cfm) and hope they're in view.

Zoo staffers say mama bear will stay inside with her cubs for now, and come spring, if they're healthy, the three will head out to their yard.

Andean bears, also called spectacled bears, are one of the world's most endangered bear species. Scientists estimate there's only about 2,000 left in their natural habitat. These cubs are the only surviving Andean cubs in a North American zoo since Billie Jean's first cubs were born in 2010.

The cubs' father had to be euthanized in August after being treated for an aggressive type of cancer.

NPR

More Time Together, Though 'Midnight' Looms

Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke return for the third in Richard Linklater's loosely peerless Before series, and they've never been more persuasive — nor has the storytelling. (Recommended)
NPR

The Great Charcoal Debate: Briquettes Or Lumps?

Does the kind of charcoal you use really make a difference when it comes to grilling up a tasty steak or other food on the grill? Yes — but deciding which one to use depends on what you're after. Both briquettes and lump charcoal — aka "natural" hardwood charcoal — have their advantages and disadvantages.
NPR

Obama's Terrorism Fight Is Colored Gray, Not Black And White

If President Obama's newly recalibrated counterterrorism strategy demonstrates anything, it is his penchant for nuance.
NPR

Google Reportedly Faces FTC Antitrust Probe Over Display Ads

The Federal Trade Commission is in the early stages of opening an antitrust probe into how Google runs its online display advertising business, according to a report by Bloomberg News, citing sources who want to remain anonymous because the FTC has not announced the probe.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.