Three rescued baby bears released back to nature

The three baby bears that were rescued near Dospat last year were released back to Central Balkan park by a joint team of the Ministry of Environment and Four Paws foundation. The baby bears had a period of rehabilitation and survival training but they will be monitored how they will adapt to nature. This has been the first such action in Bulgaria for rescue of baby bears and their return to forest.

Radostina, Mitko and Jonas were found in a helpless condition at the end of April last year near Dospat Dam, South Bulgaria. They were about 2 months old and weighed only 3-4 kg each. They spent a year at a rescue center in Greece under a special regime to learn to survive in the wild nature.

Dimitar Ivanov, Manager of the Dancing Bears Park in Belitsa (where the baby bears accommodated after the rescue) and a member of the Four Paws Foundation: The most important was to minimize contact with people, i.e. not to get used to people and on the other hand - a diet, which is prepared in such a way that they are fed on food that is close to their natural food.

Before being transported and released, the three bears were fitted with a GPS device around the neck. This way they will monitored by an expert from the ministry to ensure response if something happenes to the bears.

The brown bear is a protected species and exceptionally valuable for Bulgaria. According to recent surveys, there are between 500 and 1,000 brown bears in our country. But every year, approximately 50 bears fall victim to poachers.