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Makoon Release: Bear Cub Celebrity Poised For Freedom In Manitoba Forest

Posted: 04/13/2012 5:50 pm Updated: 04/13/2012 8:29 pm

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WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government has decided a rescued bear cub nicknamed Makoon will released back into the wild in June.

James Duncan with the province's wildlife branch said Friday that officials discussed the fate of the black bear with animal experts and determined he could be rehabilitated and released.

"It's too bad that this bear was subject to such exposure," said Duncan. "But according to our own bear expert and others, given the stage of its life it's not likely to have imprinted on humans.

"That's part of the assessment — not only health but also the state of the animal's wildness, so to speak."

He said the animal will remain at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg for another seven or eight weeks.

Officials will then release the cub in a remote location of the province to boost its chances of survival, since adult male bears tend to prey on cubs.

"When it's weaned, it should not pose a threat to humans and also it would not be at risk itself in terms of being released and being overly familiar with humans," Duncan explained.

The cub became a celebrity after a man from St. Malo found him dying in a ditch last month and took him home to nurse him back to health.

Hundreds of people travelled to the home to cuddle the bear and take his photo before conservation officers took him away.

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A conservation officer climbs atop a cargo truck to get a better look.

(PHOTO: James Gemmill, Vancouver Public Library)
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WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government has decided a rescued bear cub nicknamed Makoon will released back into the wild in June.James Duncan with the province's wildlife branch said Friday that officials ...
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government has decided a rescued bear cub nicknamed Makoon will released back into the wild in June.James Duncan with the province's wildlife branch said Friday that officials ...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
No Man
"No man's guilt is not yours, nor is any man's inn
28 Fans
08:42 AM on 04/23/2012
"Makoon should be sent to a bear cub rehabilitation centre ASAP so he can be returned to the wild at the correct age with a real chance at survival. We understand Manitoba does not have a bear rehab facility. There are several reputable bear rehab centres in the country. One is Bear With Us:( www.bearwithus.org ) in Ontario. Bear With Us has offered to take Makoon, care for him and return him to the wilds of Manitoba July of 2013. Please do the right thing for this bear cub."
Sign the petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/makoon/
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Beautiful World
85 Fans
11:28 AM on 04/14/2012
Ideally little Makoon could be released back into the wild when he is mature enough to survive. Cubs have been released at 6 months of age but as already pointed out ,cubs stay with their mama until at least 16 months of age. They winter with their mom in their den and stay with the family even after new cubs are born. They may be able to find a foster family in the wild.

The Winnipeg Zoo may not be equipped to care for Makoon for the idea amount of time. Alternative rescue/ release centers need to be located. http://www.crittercarewildlife.org/index.php/about-us in British Columbia has the facilities. But everything needs money and hopefully a fund can be set up.

Zoo should spend more money on release and rescue . The public would probably support this new focus.
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grizzly bear55
King of the forest
452 Fans
08:21 AM on 04/14/2012
Here is a link to make a comment for the zoo.
Comments@assiniboinepark.ca

Here in the link to general inquiries at the zoo.

Phone: (204) 927-6001
info@assiniboinepark.ca

This cub is way too young to be released in the wild, he has to be kept for at least 1 year before even attempting.

I should know.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
No Man
"No man's guilt is not yours, nor is any man's inn
28 Fans
08:55 AM on 04/23/2012
Thanks for the email address! I sent them the following note, letting them know that the world is watching!
"Makoon should be sent to a bear cub rehabilitation centre so he can be returned to the wild at the correct age with a real chance at survival. We understand Manitoba does not have a bear rehab facility. There are several reputable bear rehab centres in the Canada. One is Bear With Us:( www.bearwithus.org ) in Ontario. Bear With Us has offered to take Makoon, care for him and return him to the wilds of Manitoba July of 2013. Please do the right thing for this bear cub. They have arranged to fly the bear to their facility, at no cost to the Manitoba government."
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Kim Lazaruk Goslin
3 Fans
01:18 AM on 04/14/2012
Duncan discussed with animal experts???? really???? I think NOT!!. I would like to know who these so called "animal experts" are because obviously they know NOTHING. This cub is way to young to be released . He will either starve to death or be killed by predators. Cubs in rehab are not released until the are 18 months of age. Send the cub to www.bearwithus.org , they are more than willing to take him rehab and release him at the proper age where he can actually find proper food and defend himself.
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Patricia Randolph
186 Fans
10:19 PM on 04/13/2012
I live in central Wisconsin on 72 acres with a creek and woods and am looking for a bear cub to raise to educate the ignorant DNR and hunters to stop killing over 5,000 black bears annually, 2/3 of them cubs over packs of dogs and bait. The DNR is selling unlimited hounding licenses (over 10,000 of them to hound the bears for 15 weeks and tear up the forests most of the time the bears are out of hibernation - just when they need to be putting on fat for winter). Then for five weeks Sept./Oct. they add in 9,015 "hunters" with packs of dogs ( so 20,000 in the woods with packs of dogs) to kill our bears. Crossbows, guns, and packs of radio-collared dogs. The bears, mostly yearling cubs, do nto have a chance.

I am starting a bear sanctuary/education center and do not want to buy a cub from a profiteering wildlife dealer - so I could take this bear and give him a life as a teacher and friend. I can be reached at Madravenspeak@gmail.com. I am a journalist and bear activist in Wisconsin, writing the Madravenspeak living wildlife column for the venerable old newspaper, the Capital Times online. Just put Madravenspeak into madison.com and all 33 columns so far will come up.

I would love to take this bear and give him a beautiful home.
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pinkibus
1811 Fans
12:55 AM on 04/14/2012
Thanks Patrick. Bears have more brains than people who hunt. Hunting is so Sarah Palin.
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annyp
A Canuck, eh!
1411 Fans
03:02 AM on 04/14/2012
Get a hold of the zoo in Winnipeg and see what they say. This cub will not survive on its own. They normally stay with the mother for a longer period of time.
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Victoria Reeve
66 Fans
10:04 PM on 04/13/2012
Are these bloody fools trying to ensure the death of this cub? There's a reason that cubs stay with their mothers until they are about eighteen months old - that's about how long it takes for them to learn their survival skills (and become large enough to defend themselves).
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catbear30
0 Fans
12:41 AM on 04/14/2012
Exactly! Don't be fooled, this boy will die and the gov't is just trying to look like they did something other than kill him. So maddening.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
No Man
"No man's guilt is not yours, nor is any man's inn
28 Fans
08:47 AM on 04/23/2012
Exactly! This is a death sentence for Makoon. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/makoon/
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pinnsy
85 Fans
09:22 PM on 04/13/2012
May you find lots of honey and wild berries in your future little Makoon!
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Beautiful World
85 Fans
08:23 PM on 04/13/2012
Lucky little bear, gets to go home . Appreciate the foster care though.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
No Man
"No man's guilt is not yours, nor is any man's inn
28 Fans
08:45 AM on 04/23/2012
This is a death sentence for the young bear. Makoon should be sent to a bear cub rehabilitation centre ASAP so he can be returned to the wild at the correct age with a real chance at survival. One is Bear With Us:( www.bearwithus.org ) in Ontario. Bear With Us has offered to take Makoon, care for him and return him to the wilds of Manitoba July of 2013. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/makoon/
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Beautiful World
85 Fans
12:26 PM on 04/23/2012
Yes, you are absolutely correct. He is much too young to survive on his own at this young age. He does need more fostering in the proper facility with proper nurturing, for survival in the wild . Good luck with your endeavors.
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