Keeper Jim Joiner knew his bears, and he was dedicated to the residents of Bear Canyon. A newcomer in 1985 was Deva, a Ceylonese sloth bear, the first of her species to be successfully born and raised in a zoo in the Western Hemisphere. When her mother, Kiri, became pregnant, Jim wanted to watch her progress closely, since she had had two unsuccessful pregnancies before. He and Dr. Andy Phillips from the research staff put together a video system, and the birth and initial weeks of maternal care of the tiny cub were all recorded, providing invaluable information for the keepers, veterinarians, and researchers.