Zookeepers wore a bear suit to imitate an orphaned cub's mother while keeping him company.

The male baby black bear was found alone and underweight by campers in Los Padres National Forest on April 12.

Biologists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tried to reunite him with his mum, but the attempts were unsuccessful.

With no sign of the adult nearby, the juvenile was rescued and taken to Ramona Wildlife Centre on April 14.

Footage shows the cub playing in his temporary shelter with a caretaker wearing a costume sitting on the side.

The animal carers took turns wearing the suit and played with the now two-month-old cub with a teddy.

Wildlife Operations Manager Autumn Welch said: ''He was extremely fragile when he arrived. After going several days without nutrition, it was touch-and-go at first. But now, he's active, eating well and gaining weight steadily.'

The centre uses bear suits and enrichment sessions to mimic maternal behaviours, helping the cub stay wild and avoid imprinting on humans.

He receives four enrichment and feeding sessions daily. Overnight feedings were needed at first to stabilise his condition.

The centre said their goal is to return him to the wild. If another orphaned cub is found in California, CDFW may pair them to improve the chances of rewilding.

According to CDFW, only four bear cubs this young have entered rehab care in California in the past five years.

Autumn added: 'This is a very unusual case. We don't often see bears this young without their mother. It's an honour to care for him, but it's also a significant commitment.'

San Diego Humane Society receives no state funding for this work and relies entirely on donations.

The Ramona Wildlife Centre is the only facility in San Diego County permitted to rehabilitate apex predators such as black bears, mountain lions, and bobcats.