TOSHIYUKI TAKEYA/ Staff Writer
May 12, 2017 at 11:00 JST
Editor's note: This is part of a series of videos offering an up-close perspective on the animal kingdom. A special 360-degree video camera system was set up in zoos and other facilities to show how the animals view their world as they interact.
Also visit our special 360-DEGREE LIVES page (http://t.asahi.com/360lives), where you can watch all the previous videos.
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The Okuhida Bear Park is offering visitors an opportunity to mingle with irresistibly adorable and fluffy Asian black bear cubs.
Of 13 cubs born in January and February at the bear park in the Okuhida Onsen hot spring resort in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, five have been chosen to be hand-raised before they come in contact with guests.
The cubs can only toddle and waddle, but they already have a crescent moon-shaped mark clearly on the chest, which lent them the nickname of “moon bears.”
Their fur is stiff, but when you hold one gently in your arms, it feels like a plump puppy. Weighing about 2.5 kilograms and measuring about 40 centimeters, they seem like moving stuffed cubs.
But beware of their claws, which are sharp enough to cause slight pain felt through your jeans.
Founded in 1976, the bear park currently exhibits nearly 100 moon bears, including about 10 cubs, and one brown bear.
Asian black bears live in mountainous areas of Japan’s main island of Honshu. Nocturnal and omnivorous, they are good at climbing trees and feed on fruits, nuts, insects, fish and other foods.
The Okuhida Bear Park hosts an annual event beginning in mid-April for visitors to take pictures with a bear cub in their arms. The event costs 1,000 yen ($9) to attend in addition to admission to the park.
Visit the official website at (https://www.nande.com/kuma/).
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