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Rare bear cubs debut at San Diego Zoo

In this picture provided by the San Diego Zoo, Pagi, right, a female Bornean sun bear cub whose name means morning in a Malayan dialect, licks her brother, Palu, who is named after a valley in Borneo, as they make their public debut at the zoo on Monday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
In this picture provided by the San Diego Zoo, Pagi, right, a female Bornean sun bear cub whose name means morning in a Malayan dialect, licks her brother, Palu, who is named after a valley in Borneo, as they make their public debut at the zoo on Monday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

SAN DIEGO – Two endangered Bornean sun bear cubs have been introduced at the San Diego Zoo.

The twin cubs were born at the zoo on Oct. 25 and made their public debut on Monday.

Lisa Bryant, the zoo’s lead keeper, said the cubs spent the day exploring their habitat, including scaling the exhibit’s climbing structures.

Bryant said Bornean sun bears are affectionately called “monkey bears” because they are the most arboreal bear species.

Bryant said the male is more reserved and his sister is more outgoing and curious.

The sun bear is the smallest of the world’s eight bear species, about half the size of the American black bear, according to the zoo’s Web site.