Cleveland Metroparks Zoo reports death of young female sloth bear Suhani during medical procedure

Zoo confirms loss of Suhani, born in late 2024

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announced Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, that Suhani, a female sloth bear born at the zoo on Dec. 22, 2024, has died. The zoo said the death occurred during a medical procedure.

In a public statement, the zoo also recognized the animal care and veterinary teams that worked with Suhani and said staff members had formed a close bond with her.

From cub birth to public naming campaign

Suhani’s birth was previously shared by the zoo as a milestone for its sloth bear program. The cub was born to Shiva (then listed as 10 years old) and Balawat (then listed as 19 years old), and the zoo described the birth as the pair’s second cub.

In March 2025, the zoo invited the public to help select the cub’s name from three options, tying the campaign to conservation fundraising connected to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ SAFE initiative for sloth bears. The name “Suhani” was among the choices offered during that campaign.

• Suhani was born Dec. 22, 2024.

• The zoo reported her death on Feb. 16, 2026.

• The zoo said she died during a medical procedure.

Where sloth bears are housed at the zoo

At Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, sloth bears are part of the bear complex in Susie’s Bear Hollow, a habitat that also includes other bear species. The exhibit features glass viewing areas and an elevated treehouse-style viewing structure designed to give guests multiple sightlines into the habitat.

Veterinary care and what is known so far

The zoo operates a dedicated veterinary hospital, the Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine, which is equipped for diagnosis and surgical procedures for large and small animals. The zoo did not release additional details Monday about the specific procedure involved, any underlying condition, or whether a necropsy will be performed or results shared.

The zoo asked members of the public who wish to do so to share messages of support in response to its memorial post.

Species context

Sloth bears are native to India and Sri Lanka and are classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Zoo communications around Suhani’s birth previously highlighted habitat loss, degradation, and human-wildlife conflict among key threats to the species in the wild.