Two orphaned black bear cubs have quickly become fan favorites on their first day at the Columbus Zoo.
Named after Disney villains, Ursula and Yzma made their debut in the Ohio capital on Tuesday to the delight of locals, who are eagerly booking tickets to see the cute cubs.
‘I would literally die for these bears,’ one Facebook user said.
They were named after the dark characters, as ‘villains are often shaped by hardship, misunderstanding, or the actions of others.’
Prior to making the Buckeye State their home, the bears were found in Montana. The young sisters weighed just 12 pounds when they were taken into professional care following their mother’s euthanasia.
The older bear had been deemed a ‘nuisance’ and a public safety threat. Montana officials said killing the bear was a last resort, as they knew she had dependent cubs.
Before her death, the cubs were already promised a safe home in Columbus, the zoo said.
By July, the cubs were up to around 30 pounds, and they now weigh around 60 pounds each.
Named after Disney villains, Ursula and Yzma, made their debut in the Ohio capital on Tuesday to the delight of locals, who are eagerly booking tickets to see the cute cubs
They were named after the dark characters as ‘villains are often shaped by hardship, misunderstanding, or the actions of others.’
Prior to making Ohio their home, the bears were found in Montana. The sisters weighed just 12 pounds when they were taken into professional care following their mother’s euthanasia. The older bear had been deemed a ‘nuisance’ and a public safety threat (pictured: Yzma)
Now that they’re healthy enough for visitors, Columbus residents and beyond are eager to meet the cute newcomers.
‘We need to go see them,’ one wrote.
‘Loving these girls already,’ a woman said.
‘They are adorable!!!’ another said.
‘Saw them today! They are adorable!’ a fourth wrote.
The zoo’s animal care team attended to the bears when they first arrived, giving them a tailored diet to encourage rapid growth and energy, while also giving them things to climb on and forage, among other things.
‘This specialized care is part of the Zoo’s commitment to providing a second chance to animals in need—especially those, like these sisters, who can’t safely return to the wild,’ the zoo said in a blog post.
They have yet to meet Stevie, the black bear that already lives at the Columbus Zoo.
For now, the bears will rotate with Stevie in the enclosure until ‘they’re ready to meet her.’ The zoo estimates this will happen in the springtime.
The zoo’s animal care team attended to the bears when they first arrived, giving them a tailored diet to encourage rapid growth and energy, while also giving them things to climb on and forage, among other things (pictured: Ursula)
Now that they’re healthy enough for visitors, Columbus residents and beyond are eager to meet the cute newcomers
‘I would literally die for these bears,’ one Facebook user said
The zoo also provided further insight into their names.
Ursula was named after donors Cheri and Wayne Rickert, and her name was inspired by mythology and the stars.
‘Her name connects to Ursa Major, the Great Bear constellation, which in Greek mythology represents Callisto — a huntress transformed into a bear and immortalized in the night sky,’ the zoo said.
‘The name reflects the strength, resilience, and symbolism of bears across cultures.’
Yzma was named by her care team and it means ‘beautiful flower’ in Incan culture. It reflects ‘beauty, cleverness, and protectiveness,’ the zoo said.