At more than 700 pounds and standing about seven feet tall, Keno was the “gentle giant” of Discovery Wildlife Park.
The huge and lovable black bear was a constant source of joy and comfort, not only for his brother bruin Reno, but also for zoo visitors and staff. But perhaps even more so for zoo co-owner Doug Bos.
Sadly Keno passed away at the zoo on June 20 of cancer.
“He was a special bear. My wife and I raised him ourselves, fed him by bottle. He was one of the best bears I have ever had,” said Bos, adding Keno had been with the zoo for 20 years after he had been orphaned as a cub. “He was one of three orphans and we got him when his eyes were still closed. We bottle raised him.”
Bos said Keno spent his entire life at the zoo in an enclosure with Reno and became a poplar attraction with guests. He also occasionally performed on television shows but his primary claim to fame was his “gregarious” nature, said Bos.
“He was our gentlest, best bear that we had. He was like a gentle giant,” said Bos. “He was popular and always liked coming up to the fence. He was a really gregarious type of bear, a bear that if you wanted to do some interaction he would do that. You could trust him.
“I could literally put food in his mouth and hand feed him,” added Bos. If I took a piece of meat to feed him, I could put my hand and reach into his mouth and take it back out, and he would just sit there and wait for you to give it back to him. He would never get aggressive.”
The loss of Keno greatly affected staff, and of course Reno, said head zookeeper Serena Bos.
“We've had them since I was 12 years old, and when I was young if I ran away because I was mad at the world I would run away to Reno and Keno,” said Serena, who is now 32. “I don't know how many times I curled up and slept with them. I always said if those two bears could talk I would be in so much trouble.”
She said Reno has been “quiet” since his sibling's passing. “You can tell he is definitely missing that sibling to romp around and sleep with. Typically bears are solitary but he spent 20 years with his brother,” said Serena. “We have been trying to spend a bit more time with him and just be with him so that he doesn't feel as big a loss.
“I think the only thing that helps with the mourning process is time,” she added. “Time never fixes everything, as the feelings are still there, but with time the ache becomes a little bit less.”
