Bear cub found dead in New York Central Park; animal cruelty suspected

A bear cub with apparent slash wounds was found dead in New York City’s Central Park on Monday, and the police animal cruelty investigation squad is looking into the unusual situation, officials said.

The approximately 3-foot-long baby bear — discovered about 9:45 a.m. under a bush in the park near 69th Street and West Drive — had “what appear to be some slash wounds to the body,” police Lt. John Gimpel told The Times.

The squad is investigating how the cub died and how it got to the center of heavily urban Manhattan, he said, adding that it is not believed to have been living in the park.

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