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News Room | Museum bear gets CT scan...

Help Yona!

If you would like to make a contribution to help cover her medical expenses, contact the Museum of Life and Science at 919.220.5429.  Read the Animals and Keepers Blog to see more images and radiographs and learn more about Yona.

 

 

YONA FACTS

  • Found along the roadside in Townsend Tennessee, weighing only 4lbs – Late February/March 2009
  • Transferred to Appalachian Bear Rescue – March 2009
  • Determined not suitable for release to the wild by ABR staff - November, 2009
  • Transferred to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham – January 15, 2010
  • Introduced to the Museum’s other four bears in the Explore the Wild attraction -  February 22, 2010
  • Yona means bear in Cherokee
 

adopt an animal logo with a photo of a lemur

It costs the Museum more than $40,000 a year to care for its rescued bears. If you would like to help, join the Adopt a Bear program by calling 919.220.5429 ext. 352.

(DURHAM – NC) Yona, the Museum of Life and Science’s yearling black bear, received a CT scan on June 8 to determine what’s causing her angular limb deformity. A team of twenty people assisted with the procedure, including NC State Veterinary Teaching Hospital staff, orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Marcellin-Little, Dr. Michael Stoskopf, whose focus is zoological medicine. Results showed bone chips in her right elbow.

While at the vet school, Yona was sedated for about 2.5 hours. She had a CT scan, radiographs, blood work, dermatology exam - including skin scrape and punch biopsy - physical exam, manipulation of her limbs, and more.

"Yona injured her arm a long time ago. Fortunately, her arm is still growing. Her elbow is a little bit out of alignment but that does not appear to be getting worse. She broke a piece of bone the size of an almond inside her elbow and that piece is moving around the joint. We may remove it in the future," comments Dr. Marcellin-Little.

Yona was found abandoned on the roadside in Townsend, Tennessee in February of 2009. It is possible she may have sustained the injury at this time.

Currently Yona is doing just fine. She’s on exhibit and continues to wrestle with Gus, the four year old black bear, swim in the bear pool, climb the mulberry tree and relax near the waterfall.