At the beginning, she was both reserved and suspicious, only getting used to her new environment slowly. However it was she, of the three bears, who best found her feet and radiated a calmness to the others. She was extremely curious, despite her quiet nature. She often wandered through the park with her mother, Mary. Sonja loved taking time out or having a good long bath in the pond. 

Sadly, Sonja was only with us for a few months at the BEAR SANCTUARY. In June 2014 the doctors discovered a fast-growing, malignant liver tumor during a check-up. Even be-fore the initial lab results could be evaluated, her condition deteriorated rapidly within just five days. In the end, she could hardly move. Sonja had to be put to sleep in order to relieve her suffering.