Bears’ Penchant to Wander Putting Zoo Out on a Limb

In 73 years, the San Diego Zoo has had a lot to brag about. Its proudest moments, however, would not fall under the title “The Great Escape.”

There was the rare, 600-pound African antelope that thundered across a golf course.

There was the jaguar that skittered between a keeper’s legs and caromed toward the exit, its claws clicking on the concrete.

And there was the orangutan that left for a stroll, only to surrender--to everyone’s goggle-eyed amazement--to a keeper’s outstretched palm.

Those were one-shot escapades, easily squelched. Now, however, a pair of Malaysian sun bears at the zoo appear to be out to break all records, and to possess the savvy of Houdini when it comes to escaping.

On Saturday, shortly after 3 p.m., 100-pound Ringo climbed over a wall and ended up on the patio of Sun Bear Forest. Onlookers apparently thought it was part of a show and made an attempt to cozy up to Ringo, who was just trying to act naturally.

Ringo’s was the third escape by a sun bear since the animals’ new $3.5-million exhibit opened in June.

Muffin, Ringo’s female playmate, escaped the two other times.

The bears’ antics have zoo officials worried, so much so that a guard has been posted at the exhibit during visiting hours.

“Every time these bears get out it’s a problem--and a potential grave hazard--for zoo visitors,” zoo spokesman Jeff Jouett said with furrowed brow Monday afternoon. “We can’t seem to convince the public that, although small, these animals are not Yogi Bear or Winnie the Pooh. Sun bears have the ability to do a lot of damage to human beings.

“They have big claws for digging and teeth that could easily deliver a big bite. We face the dual hazard of a person or a bear getting hurt, and then the very real possibility of incurring a major lawsuit. So, yes, we’re worried.”

Escapes notwithstanding, the bears have managed to do considerable damage to the exhibit, Jouett said, which has the theme of “native habitat.” What zookeepers hadn’t counted on was that the cute little bears would gnaw down every tree in sight, along with plants and grassy slopes, and destroy a $25,000 fiberglass “tree” with an automatic honey dispenser.

Jouett said the zoo even resisted using electrical wiring, but, as it turns out, the bears’ claws do not conduct electricity, which keepers didn’t know.

He said the bears are “intelligent, curious” animals with “a ferocious climbing instinct.”

They’re just more intelligent, more curious and better at climbing than anyone at the zoo thought they could be.

Sun bears weigh 60 to 150 pounds, Jouett said, and the eight on exhibit in the

1 1/2-acre Sun Bear Forest average about 100 pounds. The bears bear a vague resemblance to large dogs, especially those of the hound variety, the kind Lyndon Johnson might have picked up by the ears.

So far--and Jouett said the zoo is “incredibly fortunate” to be noting this--the escapes have not resulted in injuries to the bears or the passers-by who find them so irresistibly cuddly and charismatic.

On Saturday, however, Ringo had to be felled by a tranquilizer gun, which Jouett said poses problems, the likes of which the zoo hopes not to encounter again.

“You never know quite what dosage to give the animal because every animal is different. An animal gets out, its adrenaline is racing, and that affects the dosage you select. The instinct of such an animal would be fight or flight once it escapes. Luckily, Ringo chose flight. Otherwise, some people could have been hurt--seriously.”

Zookeepers have installed sheet metal behind a row of bars in the area where each escape took place. They’re hoping the metal will prevent claws from wrapping around the bars to gain traction. A “visitor assistance officer” is now on duty during zoo hours to make sure no further escapes occur or to minimize damage if any do.

Jouett said the conventional way of housing bears is in a “sunken grotto.” The zoo had hoped to alter that by having onlookers gaze up at the bears, rather than down--”not quite so condescending,” he said--and offering a kind of minimum-security setting to such creatures of the wild.

But the strength and boldness of sun bears, particularly those on view in San Diego, have baffled and awed the experts. And now, Jouett said, the zoo may be inclined to “rethink” the nature of Sun Bear Forest.

“It’s like if you designed a human exhibit,” he said. “You or I wouldn’t be able to get out--but (Olympic athlete) Carl Lewis might. He’d probably just jump over. Much to our chagrin, that’s exactly what Ringo and Muffin keep doing.”