Premium

Meet Harry and Bruno, the Himalayan black bear cubs whose endearing antics are drawing visitors to Kufri zoo in Shimla

Visitors are particularly fascinated by how the nine-month-old bear cubs compete with each other to climb a nearly 60-foot-tall deodar tree within their enclosure at the Kufri zoo in Shimla.

4 min readShimlaUpdated: Jan 27, 2026 01:00 PM IST

One of the Himalayan bear cubs seen atop the 60-foot-tall deodar tree within their enclosure at the Himalaya Nature Park in Kufri, Shimla. (Express Photo by Saurabh Parashar)

Two nine-month-old Himalayan black bear cubs have emerged as a major attraction for visitors at the Himalaya Nature Park, a mini zoo located at Kufri in Shimla.

The park, situated at an altitude of around 2,400 metres above sea level, is currently drawing a large number of tourists, many of whom are captivated by the male cubs’ lively and natural behaviour.

The cubs, named Harry and Bruno, were born in May 2025 to Shyamu and Dolly. Visitors are particularly fascinated by the cubs’ playful antics, which include competing with each other to climb a nearly 60-foot-tall deodar tree within their enclosure. The cubs are frequently seen pulling each other down while racing to the top, scratching one another during play, and occasionally being disciplined by their mother, sometimes with a snub or a gentle slap.

‘Tree-climbing skills a major attraction’

Shahnawaz Ahmed Bhatt, Divisional Forest Officer, Shimla, told The Indian Express that the natural behaviour of the cubs, particularly their instinctive tree-climbing skills, proves quite entertaining for visitors. “A large number of tourists visiting the park come from the plains, such as Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, where coniferous trees like deodars are not found. Many of these visitors have never seen bears display such natural climbing behaviour, even in zoos in their home states,” he said.

Two nine-month-old Himalayan black bear cubs, Harry and Bruno have emerged as a major attraction for visitors at the Himalaya Nature Park, a mini zoo located at Kufri in Shimla.https://t.co/waIUYJqRid pic.twitter.com/Kv3iF5lEiI

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) January 27, 2026

Tarun Panda, a tourist from Odisha who visited the park with his family, said the Asiatic black bear enclosure stood out from the rest. “I found the bear enclosure more vibrant than any other in the zoo, although I have seen black bears in a zoo near Cuttack,” he said. The Himalayan black bear is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear.

Also Read | 12,600 kg chicken, 5,200 kg mutton, 600 kg fish, 6,000 eggs: What Himachal Pradesh zoo needs to feed inmates

An officer at the zoo said that besides being an instinctive skill, bears also learn to climb tall trees from their mother. “As a precaution, we cut down some branches of the tall deodar trees inside the enclosure as Dolly was teaching her cubs to jump from one branch to another,” he added.

The Indian Express visited Himalaya Nature Park on January 22, a day before heavy snowfall hit the region. During the visit, one of the cubs was seen perched atop a deodar tree. Shortly afterwards, the second cub attempted to follow it, but his sibling repeatedly prevented him from reaching the top.

Himalayan bear cubs at Himalaya Nature Park at Kufri in Shimla

The cubs in their enclosure at the Himalaya Nature Park, a mini zoo located at Kufri in Shimla, on Tuesday. (Express Photo)

Father kept away to ‘prevent attack’

A caretaker at the zoo said that though the bear family shares an enclosure, the adult male, Shyamu, is not allowed into the open area with the cubs and their mother. “As per natural behaviour, the father may harm or even kill the cubs to keep other males away from his mate,” the caretaker said.

Story continues below this ad

He added that the enclosure has two sections, with a shared open space. “We release Dolly and the cubs together into the open area. Shyamu is allowed in the open space only after the cubs and their mother are brought back to their section,” he said.

Besides the Asiatic black bears, the nature park is home to several Himalayan species, including common leopards, musk deer, Himalayan thar, sambar and a wide variety of bird species, making it a popular destination during peak travel seasons.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...