ARCOLA, Ill. (WCIA) — Weighing in at a hefty 300 pounds, Luna, a 12-year-old Syrian brown bear, has found a new sanctuary at Aikman Wildlife Adventure. Rescued from a facility in New York earlier this month, Luna now enjoys a fresh start in Arcola.
“We dedicate a lot of time to her care, spending every day ensuring her comfort and adjustment,” shared Heather Keltner, an animal keeper at Aikman.
Part of Luna’s acclimation involves purposeful training sessions complemented by treats. The Aikman team is focused on helping Luna become familiar with her new environment and is working on “target training” her.
“Our goal is for Luna to present her paw through the fence, allowing us to perform blood draws or vaccinations,” Keltner explained. “I monitor her body condition, check her gum color for health, and ensure she’s neither dehydrated nor underweight.”
This attentive care is essential because Syrian brown bears are an endangered species, with estimates suggesting only 400-600 left in the wild globally.
