2 Orphaned Black Bears Debut at New Exhibit

Two young black bears debuted at the Los Angeles Zoo on Wednesday in a new exhibit funded by a local couple.

Ashby, a 1-year-old male orphaned in last summer’s forest fires, was found at a Pyramid Lake campsite in August, thin and begging for food. After deciding that he was too tame to survive in the wild, authorities shipped him to the zoo.

The task of naming the bear fell to the 8-year-old son of Mark Cerami, who with Jenean Razo donated $57,000 to the zoo to create a bear exhibit that includes a hill, pine trees and a pool.

Ashby was joined by another orphaned male from Minnesota. Zoo officials are hoping more donors will come forward to help maintain the bear home. For a $50,000 donation, the zoo will let you name the Midwestern cub.