CLEVELAND — Susie’s Bear Hollow – a new habitat at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo – is now officially open.
“Bear Hollow includes significantly larger and more complex habitats for the animals,” according to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. “The four new habitats triple the size of the former 60-year-old space and incorporate features that encourage bears’ natural behaviors including climbing structures, elevated resting areas and dig pits. Enhancements behind-the-scenes will also include multi-level resting areas to better support nesting bears.”
Susie’s Bear Hollow is home to the zoo’s sloth bears along with a male Andean bear, all of which are listed as vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“New glass viewing opportunities allow guests to get nose-to-nose with the bears and an immersive treehouse provides guests with nearly 360-degree views of the habitats,” zoo officials explain. “Centered in the treehouse is a one-of-a-kind climbing structure that allows children to climb up like the bears and offers unique viewing into the habitats below. A separate viewing area allows for up-close views of animal care and veterinary staff as they conduct training and health and husbandry monitoring of the bears.”
The total project cost $8.5 million.
Friday’s opening of Susie’s Bear Hollow also marks the official debut of the recently announced AdventureKeys experience.
“Each AdventureKey location will feature several exclusive video messages revealing fun facts about animal species, the inside scoop on individual animals and a behind-the-scenes look at conservation efforts,” zoo officials say. “Later this fall, AdventureKeys will debut at all five Nature Centers located across the Emerald Necklace with additional locations to be announced at a later date.”
