Wildlife

Photos: Orphaned black bears at the Alaska Zoo

A zookeeper on Wednesday walked through the bear cub exhibit at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, scattering food and pouring honey onto tree stumps. She laughed with zoo director Patrick Lampi, standing in his work jacket outside the exhibit, as they discussed how to lure two orphaned, underweight and skittish black bear cubs out of their den.

After the keeper left the cage, the cubs took the bait.

The duo -- recently delivered to the zoo after being rescued days apart in different Alaska communities -- are the latest bear orphans the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has sent to facilities across the country. Fish and Game has found homes for nine bear cubs in 2014.

Though the cubs come from different regions and different mothers, they are becoming what the zoo describes as "pseudo-siblings" and will soon move to the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Boyd, Texas.

READ MORE: 'Pseudo-sibling' black bear cubs prepare to move to new Texas home

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