ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Three orphaned grizzly bear cubs will join the Detroit Zoo family Friday.
The 10-month-old cubs arrived on a flight at Detroit Metro Airport from the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage.
The cubs were rescued in November by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game after their mother was killed in October by a poacher.
"It's tragic that the cubs' mother was killed. We will take good care of them," said Ron Kagan, Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director.
The poacher has been arrested.
The cubs were found in residential areas after their mother was killed. The ADFG contacted the Detroit Zoo while seeking a sanctuary for the bears because they did not think the young cubs could survive Alaska's winter without their mother.
They are about 2 feet 6 inches tall and weigh between 100 and 125 pounds.
The Detroit Zoo is home to two other rescued grizzlies who are now 27 and 26 years old.
The grizzly bear is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and 1,000 remain in the continental U.S. Grizzlies can be found in more abundance in Canada and Alaska.