Vancouver Island Sanctuary Rescues Orphaned Bear Cubs

ERRINGTON, British Columbia - A wildlife sanctuary on Vancouver Island has rescued two young black bear cubs orphaned after their mother was found dead in her den, marking the centre's first intakes of the year.

The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, located in Errington northwest of Nanaimo, took in the cubs following their discovery by members of the public. Staff at the centre believe the mother bear was killed in a predator attack, though details on the exact circumstances remain unclear. In a statement posted on Facebook, the centre described the situation as unfortunate but expressed relief at the timely intervention. "It's always unfortunate when wildlife need our care, but we are grateful these cubs were found and given a second chance," the post read.

Upon arrival, the cubs weighed just 1.5 kilograms each, but they have since shown remarkable progress, growing to nearly 5.5 kilograms and continuing to gain weight rapidly under the centre's care. The sanctuary provides specialized rehabilitation for orphaned and injured wildlife, aiming to prepare the bears for eventual release back into the wild once they reach a suitable age and size.