By Jennifer Gee
The students of the United Auburn Indian Community Tribal School have selected Kome Pano (“Moon Bear”) as the name for the black bear cub at the Wild Things Wildlife Rescue Center in Weimar.
The two words are combination of the Miwok and Maidu language. Kome is a Miwok word meaning moon and Pano is a Maidu word meaning grizzly bear.
The students first met Kome Pano back in April, when Wild Things Wildlife Rescue Center visited the tribal school with the abandoned bear from Southern California. The rescue center then invited the children to name the bear as a symbol of the tribe’s good will toward nature.
“It was a fun way for the kids to get involved with nature and make the bear a part of their community,” said Roger Bordeaux, superintendent of the UAIC Tribal School. “The black bear has always been important to our people, so it is an excellent thing for these children to get to see one so close and help give it a name.”
The bear is a significant animal in Nisenan, Miwok, Pomo, and Maidu cultures. The bear is used in many stories that teach children about courage and perseverance.
The name was the overwhelming favorite from the 13 names available during the voting.
“The name was selected because of the distinctive white chest of the young cub,” said Bordeaux. “One of the students said ‘Hey, it looks like a moon.’”
Wild Things Wildlife Rescue Center took the bear to other schools to teach children about the importance of respecting nature and will continue to rehabilitate the bear with the hopes of releasing back it into the wild. Wild Things houses and cares for displaced wildlife and educates the public with a message of conservation and appreciation for natural wonders.
— Jenifer Gee
