Growing Up Fast!

We know many of you, like us, fell instantly in love with our three youngest residents - Chewy, Saber, and Odin - so, we wanted to give you an all encompassing update of their recent growth and progress!

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Chewy is a bundle of fur and energy! She's grown considerably, weighing an estimated 140 pounds at the present compared to her initial 30 pounds. Her confidence and independence have been growing by the day. She proudly struts around her habitat, playing with her favorite toy - a blue plastic donut with a red ball that spins around the inside. She will throw the toy all over, spin it around on her legs, sit in the middle of it, or pounce on it in her pool. It's very entertaining to watch this happy girl enjoy playtime with this particular toy! When it comes time for a nap, Chewy prefers her highest perch. She climbs up her ramps and tucks herself in, allowing us only a tiny glimpse of fur sticking up over the edge of her perch. She is definitely content and comfy up there!  Chewy has been benefiting immensely from the Sanctuary's Emotional Enrichment Program, finding security and trust in her caretakers and using them to grow into a confident, self-assured young brown bear. One thing that definitely hasn't changed - Chewy's favorite food is still grapes!

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Speaking of growing, have you seen Saber lately? We can't believe how big this boy is! Saber is slowly transitioning from playful cub to mature tiger, and each day with him is a new adventure. At almost 11 months old, Saber still loves to spend his days playing, but one of his favorite activities has become spending quality time with his two legged friends. His warm chuffs are never in short supply, as this affectionate boy enjoys little more than spreading the love. This endearing trait always leaves us smiling after a visit. Aside from spending time with his friends, Saber's new favorite pastime is splashing around in his pool. We just filled it for the first time a few weeks ago, and to say that Saber had fun would be the understatement of the century. Saber was splashing, twirling, pouncing, and playing in the water for hours. He is still in his pool every day, always soaking wet! The Emotional Enrichment Program has already helped Saber grow leaps and bounds since his arrival, and we continue to see the positive effects it is having on him each and every day!

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Last but not least - Odin! Odin has matured so much over the past few months, both in appearance and personality. His mane is really starting to come in now, and we are spotting little bits of black fur around his neck and front legs indicating that he really is growing up! He is filling out and getting more adventurous with his new found strength. He recently found that he was, in fact, fully capable of jumping up onto his highest perch, much to the chagrin of the tree he was then able to reach. He's been tearing at the branches and fighting the tree ever since! We're still waiting on Odin's first lion call, but we're sure it won't be long. Every time Shauna, Gedi, and Nala start calling, his ears perk up to attention. Soon enough, he will be chiming in! In the meantime, he's lounging around just learning how to be a lion. He loves the time he spends with his caretakers as part of the Emotional Enrichment Program, as it really nurtures his social instincts. It's amazing to see how much confidence this boy has gained!

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