CHICAGO (WGN) — Female brown bears Ash and Lexi made their public debut Monday at the Lincoln Park Zoo, marking the first time the zoo has cared for brown bears since 1979.

The pair came from the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, where they became fan favorites for their playful behavior and close bond.

Although the two bears are aunt and niece, zoo officials say they are often referred to as sisters because of their connection.

Ash is known for being highly food motivated and eager to participate in training, while Lexi tends to be the braver bear, exploring new surroundings first, according to their former keepers in Wisconsin.

Both bears were rescued as cubs in Montana after learning to raid trash cans and becoming reliant on human food. They were deemed “unreleasable” by the s

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