LITTLE ROCK (December 19, 2025)— Great news from the Little Rock Zoo; Kayla, the sloth bear, is expecting cubs!! Zoo veterinarians confirmed pregnancy using ultrasound imaging. Kayla is expected to deliver sometime before the end of December.
Sloth Bears use delayed implantation as a reproductive strategy. This means that the embryo does not immediately implant during breeding. Instead, the embryo remains dormant until something signals the embryo to implant in the female’s uterus. Sloth Bears typically breed in mid-Summer and can deliver cubs anytime between November and February. This can make it challenging for zookeepers to track pregnancy and know when to expect cubs to be born.
Kayla has been trained to present her belly for veterinarians to look for fetal development using an ultrasound. She receives grapes and other treats for holding still and allowing the vets to get a good look. The veterinarians can use these images along with changes in Kayla’s body to estimate when the zoo should be ready to expect labor and delivery. Zookeepers have already added extra heaters to Kayla’s den as well as a new bed full of hay for her to have a comfortable and private place to give birth.
Zoos accredited through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) work cooperatively to manage species through breeding and transfer plans to maintain genetically diverse populations. This cooperation goes beyond just matching genetically valuable animals for breeding. Other needs often occur such as moving animals temporarily for construction. This is how Kayla and Bhalu ended up in Little Rock. Philadelphia Zoo wanted to make some improvements to their sloth bear habitat but could not do the work unless the bears could move out during the construction, so Philadelphia contacted the Sloth Bear Species Survival Plan (SSP) for help. When this happens, the SSP looks at available spaces and needs of all participating institutions, sending out a call for assistance. Most sloth bear spaces were occupied at the time, but Little Rock happened to have some space and agreed to house Kayla and Bhalu during construction in Philadelphia.
Kayla and the cub’s father, Bhalu, moved to the Little Rock Zoo on November 24, 2025, as a recommendation of the Sloth Bear SSP. They came for a temporary stay while their habitat in Philadelphia was being improved. New habitats for sloth bears at the Philadelphia Zoo will open in the spring of 2026! Originally Kayla and Bhalu were supposed to travel back to Philadelphia together to explore their new spaces, but in the spring of 2025, bear managers at Little Rock and Philadelphia agreed with the SSP that more cubs were needed in the population. Details were discussed between the zoos, including Kayla’s experience as a mom and her personality that is laid back and relaxed. Nobody wanted to miss a year of breeding so the decision was made jointly that the bears could stay together to breed during the summer rather than be separated. Kayla and Bhalu successfully bred during the summer and Kayla is expected to give birth in December. The Little Rock Zoo is happy to be working with the Philadelphia Zoo and the Sloth Bear SSP on this important endeavor to strengthen the sloth bear population.
By Keeper Kate Neal
Sloth Bear Conservation
The arrival of cubs is exciting, but it also highlights the bigger picture of sloth bear conservation. Sloth bears face ongoing threats in the wild, including habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
Learn more about sloth bears, the challenges they face, and how the Little Rock Zoo is working to protect this species—both here and in the wild. Recently, members of our team returned from India, where they collaborated with our conservation partners to support sloth bear research, conflict mitigation, and community education.
