Philadelphia Zoo Animal Care Specialists Travel to Indian Sloth Bear Rescue Facility Ahead of Carey Bear Country Opening
In spring of 2026, Philadelphia Zoo will be opening Carey Bear Country, a state-of-the-art facility built with the highest standards for animal care in mind, making it one of the best in the country for endangered bears.
To prepare for this monumental occasion, two animal care specialists, Jessica-Rae Faass and Kim Repetsky, have traveled to India to exchange information with the experts there on best care practices for sloth bears, an endangered species.
About Sloth Bears
Sloth bears are found in the lowland forests of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with populations decreasing dramatically in recent decades due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.
Fast Facts:
- This species has long, dark, shaggy fur with a distinct, cream-colored “U” or “Y” shaped marking on their chests that can be unique to each individual.
- They also have flexible snouts with protruding upper and lower lips. Their powerful lungs allow them to dislodge and eat termites and ants that are 8-10 feet underground.
- They also have the longest claws of any bear species, which they use to dig with ease.
If you’ve visited the Zoo in the last decade, you’ve likely seen this species, including Kayla and Bhalu, who have successfully had three offspring in the last 6 years. Both of them will return to the Zoo when Carey Bear Country construction is complete.
The Zoo's sloth bears will make a return to Carey Bear Country when the new facility opens in spring 2026.
Wildlife SOS and the Agra Bear Rescue Facility
Wildlife SOS was established in 1995 with the goal to make a lasting change to protect and conserve India’s natural heritage, forest and biodiversity. Part of reaching that goal and following its mission involves rescuing injured or displaced wildlife and caring for them under human care. Agra Bear Rescue is the largest facility of its kind in the world, caring for more than 80 rescued sloth bears. Many of these bears were rescued from the long-time practice of “dancing bears.” According to Wildlife SOS, the last dancing bear was rescued in 2009. Now, some community members who were a part of the industry now work to care for retired bears. This is the type of conservation planning that Wildlife SOS prides itself on: creating a sustainable future for not only wildlife, but also the humans who are impacted, ensuring both have a future they can look forward to.
Philly Zoo in Action
In October 2025, Faass and Repetsky traveled over 24 hours to Agra, India, to start their two-week long study abroad program with Wildlife SOS. While at the rescue facility, their work was focused on animal training and behavioral enrichment. Not only did they assist with training the bears directly, but training animal caretakers at the facility. Animal caretakers from Wildlife SOS’s facility in Bannerghatta, a 9-hour train ride, also came to participate so they could return and teach the rest of the staff there.
Training sessions in particular are essential to animal care and wellbeing as they allow care specialists to form bonds with the animals and aid in veterinary care. For example, asking a bear to show its paw allows the onsite veterinary team to get a close look if something’s wrong while not putting the bear under anesthesia.
“The work that Wildlife SOS is doing is incredible on its own, but when you see it against the backdrop of what is happening in the world around it, it feels almost unreal,” said Faass. “The staff and wider community, who love and care for these animals, have had to change generational mindsets on how to live with the wildlife around them. I have learned so much about patience and how to creatively utilize what is available while working with bears who have survived traumatic pasts before coming to the sanctuary.”
“Working with Wildlife SOS opened my eyes to the deep resilience of rescued animals, both the sloth bears and the elephants, and reminded me how powerful compassion can be in healing nature and humans.,” said Repetsky. “This experience taught me how empathy, collaboration, and informed action can create lasting impact in the field of wildlife protection.”
The Future of Carey Bear Country, Sloth Bear Conservation, and How You Can Get Involved
Carey Bear Country is the Zoo’s $20 million reinvestment to give its bears more choice, complexity, and care, while giving guests a more meaningful, mission-driven experience. The project includes the expansion of the Zoo’s Zoo360 animal exploration trails and the addition of a third bear habitat.
The W. P. Carey Foundation, with family roots in Philadelphia and a history of charitable giving in the region and throughout the country, has pledged lead charitable support for the project. In addition, this $20 million effort is being graciously supported by the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, donors, and continued fundraising efforts. It is also supported by the William Penn Foundation, whose investment further emphasizes their commitment to making the arts and culture organizations in Philadelphia more accessible to all local residents. Carey Bear Country is slated to open Spring of 2026.
Philadelphia Zoo supports multiple efforts in the protection of sloth bears including:
The trip to Agra Bear Rescue was made possible through the generous philanthropic support of Thomas and Linda McCarthy.
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