The animals from the closed Orsa predator park were threatened with euthanasia. One of two animals that remained was the bear Diego – who has now been given a new home in Devon, England.
– Had we not done that, I doubt he would be alive today, Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at the Wildwood Trust, told BBC.
When Orsa Predator Park was closed, the animals that remained were threatened with culling. Diego the brown bear was one of two animals left behind – but was rescued by the charity Wildwood Trust. On Thursday, he arrived at the Devon Wildlife Park, it reports BBC.
But the journey there was not easy. According to Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at the Wildwood Trust, the plan was to transport the 360 kilogram bear by ferry. But when storm Ciarán hit Europe, the decision to transport by ferry became too risky.
– We needed to make a last minute solution and transport him via train, he says.
He describes the move, which went via the Channel Tunnel, as extensive.
– It has required a large amount of people from two different organizations who worked closely with Sweden to be able to carry out this very, very complex move.
Winter break awaits
Habben describes the big bear as wonderful, calm and intelligent and that the organization received great support to find him a new home. But the move has been very complex and required a large number of people from two different organizations in collaboration with Sweden.
– We had no plans to have another bear here. But if we hadn’t done that, I doubt he would have been alive today, he says.
Now Diego will remain in his temporary home over the winter, to get his winter rest. He will then be moved on to Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park in Ipswich, which will now have time to prepare a good home for the bear.