It’s time for the Salisbury Zoo’s young star to “leave the nest.”

Zoo visitors might have noticed recently that bear cub Sinchi has been separated from his mother, Chaska. This was done because both mom and cub have shown through their behaviors that it is time for Sinchi to enter a new phase of independence.

In the wild, at around 1 to 2 years of age, a cub will leave its mother and venture out into the forest ready to start a new life, perhaps with offspring of its own someday.

Like most bear species, Andean bears are naturally solitary animals, rarely coming into contact with other bears unless they are seeking a mate.

According to zoo officials, the bears are just exhibiting expected and normal behaviors and we must honor their instincts.

Sinchi has become a star attraction since the baby bear’s birth.

Sinchi will be moved to the Philadelphia Zoo this week, under recommendations from the Andean Bear Species Survival Program.

With only 20,000 Andean bears estimated to be left in the wild these bears are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The zoo has new opening days and hours, Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sinchi will be on exhibit through Thursday.