On any given day, D.J. can usually be found relaxing on a raised platform under shady trees. On her afternoon stroll, Kelly Garrison may notice him and call down with a greeting.
He doesn’t respond — not with words at least.
D.J. is an American black bear and one of the many animals at the Bear Hollow Zoo, a hidden gem in the Athens-Clarke County community. This county-funded zoo houses various animals that you would naturally find in Georgia.
The animals of Bear Hollow are non-releasable due to disability or other circumstances that would make it difficult for them to live in the wild. Now, they serve as ambassadors for their species, motivating visitors to protect wildlife.
The University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine has supported the zoo’s animal health since its founding, providing care for animals like Ginger the deer and Cypress the beaver. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital handles everything from checkups to treating issues like toothaches.
Learn more about this program in the video above and in this full story, published first by the UGA Division of Marketing and Communications.
