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Babu the Sun bear at Edinburgh Zoo-released SWNS<\/p>\n Babu the Sun bear at Edinburgh Zoo-released SWNS<\/p>\n
A popular bear in the Edinburgh Zoo was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just days to live, but she\u2019s stunned experts by going into remission after taking medicine drenched in honey.<\/p>\n
The bleak diagnosis for the 13-year-old sun bear named \u2018Babu\u2019 was announced publicly to her supporters, while zookeepers tried to keep her comfortable in her final days.<\/p>\n
Only one similar case was found with a bear in China who died quickly after such a diagnosis, so little hope was given for Babu\u2019s future\u2014a beloved resident of the zoo known for her curious personality<\/p>\n
Vets said one of the \u2018sweetest parts\u2019 of Babu\u2019s dilemma was how delighted she was to take her medicine\u2014hidden in honey, which is her absolute favorite.<\/p>\n
Normally saved for special occasions, honey is a rare treat in a sun bear\u2019s diet, but it became part of her twice-daily routine during recovery. The only downside to her remission, keepers joked, is that Babu won\u2019t be treated to honey quite as often anymore.<\/p>\n
Professor Simon Girling, head of veterinary services at The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), was \u201cdelighted that Babu has responded so positively to the medication\u201d, especially because the animal experts were in uncharted waters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis news is better than we ever hoped for. We\u2019ve been able to stop her pain medication, and are now gradually reducing her cancer treatment while closely monitoring her remission.\u201d<\/p>\n
SWEET<\/strong>: Christmas Miracle After Dying Donkey is Rescued and Given Shelter\u2013With a Surprise Birth in Stable<\/a><\/p>\n Living in the wild, sun bears typically live around 10-25 years, but in captivity they can live up to 30 years, so Babu has possibly another decade in front of her adoring fans.<\/p>\n \u201cFor now, what matters most is that Babu is happy, healthy, and back to her old self.\u201d<\/p>\n A year ago, in April, keepers noticed Babu developed significant swelling in lymph nodes across her body, accompanied by changes to her behavior and eating habits. After seeking a second opinion from Dr. Isabel Miguel, a veterinary oncologist, a terminal diagnosis was confirmed and the team thought that Babu had months or weeks to live.<\/p>\n Bears are known to mask symptoms, making it difficult to catch illnesses early. Stephanie Mota, veterinary surgeon at RZSS, said<\/a>, \u201cThis diagnosis was new territory. We found one similar case involving a Himalayan black bear in China, but it died suddenly and there was very little information available to guide us.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Sun-bear-at-Edinburgh-Zoo-released-SWNS-1024x549.jpg\")
Babu the sun bear at Edinburgh Zoo \u2013released via SWNS<\/p>\n
After the RZSS\u2019s vets investigated, she was diagnosed with lymphoma \u2013 a form of cancer with very limited precedent in bears.<\/p>\n