Gorgeous orphaned bears taken in by Kansas zoo after their mother was shot dead by a hunter [Video]

09:36 EDT 25 Jul 2024, updated 12:12 EDT 25 Jul 2024

Two orphaned bears have been taken in by a zoo in Kansas after their mother was shot dead by a hunter.

Adorable photos show the twin black bear cubs – a brother and sister – playing in Sedgwick County Zoo who announced the news Wednesday. 

The bears, who arrived from Oregon, will be eligible for public viewing in the exhibit as soon as Monday.

‘Without their mother’s guidance, bear cubs face a multitude of dangers,’ Chelsey Schartz, Sedgwick County Zoo marketing manager told local NBC affiliate KSNW. 

‘At around eight pounds each, they lack the skills to hunt, fend for themselves, and survive the harsh winters.’