Sun bear undergoes procedure at Hertfordshire Zoo to aid conservation efforts
Kyra the sun bear receives treatment for fertility issues as part of breeding programme
Last updated 4th Dec 2025
A female sun bear at Hertfordshire Zoo has undergone a rare veterinary procedure to aid vital conservation efforts for her species.
Kyra the sun bear has been part of the European conservation breeding programme since April 2023, but she has not been able to conceive despite being paired with her mate.
Last month, veterinarians discovered cysts in Kyra's womb, which were believed to be causing her fertility issues. Specialist doctors travelled from Germany on Wednesday to carry out the complex operation to remove them.
Tyler Whitnall, managing director at the zoo in Broxbourne, said: “This is a complex and unusual procedure, but one that is vital for Kyra and for the international breeding programme.
“If this operation is successful, it offers a real chance to boost the European population and contribute directly to the survival of this incredible species.”
Sun bears are classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, with fewer than 10,000 left in the wild.
Native to dense forests in south-east Asia, sun bears are the smallest bear species and are distinctive for their golden patches of fur on their chests.
The zoo hopes that the procedure will assist with breeding efforts, helping to safeguard the future of sun bears.