Introducing Luna: Arcola’s Newest Brown Bear Resident

ARCOLA, Ill. (WCIA) — We welcome Luna, a majestic 300-pound Syrian brown bear, to her new sanctuary at Aikman Wildlife Adventure. Rescued earlier this month from a facility in New York, this 12-year-old bear is settling into her new home in Arcola.

“We dedicate significant time to her care, ensuring her comfort and daily well-being,” shared Heather Keltner, one of Aikman’s devoted animal keepers. “We spend every day with her, helping her adapt to her new environment.”

The process involves purposeful interactions, including training exercises and rewarding treats. The staff are focused on acclimating Luna to her new surroundings and teaching her to “target train.”

“Our goal is to have her comfortable enough to present her paw through the fence so we can perform blood draws or administer vaccinations,” Keltner explained. “I monitor her physical condition closely, checking her gums for healthy color and ensuring she appears well-hydrated and in good shape.”

Such meticulous care is vital, as Syrian brown bears face the threat of extinction, with only an estimated 400 to 600 remaining globally.

“They have gone extinct in multiple countries,” Keltner added. “Endangered means they’re not producing at the rate they’re surviving in large populations.”

So, she believes caring for bears in captivity makes a difference, so they can potentially make a difference.

If you want to see Luna for yourself, you better act fast since hibernation season is only a month away.

“They slow their metabolism down. They do sleep a lot. But they don’t completely fall asleep,” Keltner explained.

When it’s time for the bear to slow down in the winter, she’ll call a back den portion of her enclosure home. But she’ll be back out to greet visitors with her fuzzy fur and cute demeanor in four to six months.

“It was definitely one of the most humbling experiences of my life to rescue a bear and bring it back and to see her doing so well,” Keltner said.

Luna is the second bear to call Aikman Wildlife Adventure home. Cissy, an American black bear, passed away in 2021 at age 27. Her enclosure has been open since then, waiting for another bear to move in.