![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://xperttimes.com/bear-rescued-from-bombed-out-ukrainian-zoo-finds-new-dwelling-in-scotland/&media=https://xperttimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bear-Rescued-From-Bombed-Out-Ukrainian-Zoo-Finds-New-Home-in.jpg&description=london — An unlikely refugee from the war in Ukraine — a rare Asiatic black bear — arrived at his new home in Scotland on Friday and quickly took to a meal of cucumbers and watermelon. The 12-year-old Yampil was named for a village in the Donetsk region where he was one of the few survivors found by Ukrainian troops in the remains of a bombed-out private zoo. Yampil, who had previously been called Borya, was discovered by soldiers who recaptured the devastated city of Lyman during the Kharkiv counteroffensive in the fall of 2022, said Yegor Yakovlev of Save Wild, who was among the first of many people who led the bear to a new life. The bear was found in a menagerie that had long been abandoned by its owners. Almost all the other animals had died of hunger, thirst or were struck by bullets or shrapnel and some were eaten by Russian troops. Yampil narrowly missed the same fate, suffering a concussion from a projectile that landed nearby. "The bear miraculously survived," said Yakovlev, also director of the White Rock Bear Shelter, where the bear recovered. "Our fighters did not know what ... to do with him, so they started looking for rescue." Vet care, then rehabilitation What followed was an odyssey that your average bear rarely makes, as he was moved to Kyiv for veterinary care and rehabilitation, then shipped to a zoo in Poland, then to an animal rescue in Belgium, where he spent the past seven months, before landing in the United Kingdom. Brian Curran, owner of Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder, Scotland, said his heart broke when he learned of the plight of the threatened Asiatic black bear. "He was in terrible condition; five more days and they wouldn't have been able to save him," Curran said. "We were just so amazed he was still alive and well." The bear was skinny but not malnourished when he was found, said Frederik Thoelen, a biologist at the Nature Help Center in Belgium. He now is estimated to weigh a healthy 440 pounds (200 kilograms), Thoelen said. The nature center in Belgium, which usually treats injured wildlife and returns them to their natural settings, has taken several animals rescued from the war in Ukraine, including a wolf, a caracal cat and four lions, though those animals had not experienced the ordeal Yampil endured. It was remarkable how calm Yampil was when he arrived in Belgium, Thoelen said. The bear was trained in the past two weeks to move from his enclosure to the crate that would transport him across Belgium to Calais, France, then across the English Channel on a ferry to Scotland. Pastries from a local bakery were used for good measure to lure him Thursday into the cage, where he was sedated for the journey. "We want to use the food that he likes most, and for most bears — and for people also — it's sweet, unhealthy foods," Thoelen said. Thoelen had a sense of the bear's weight as he drove the crate to the port. "Every time when we had a red light or a traffic jam, when the bear moved a little bit, you could feel the van moving also," he said. "You could feel it was a heavy animal in the back of the car." Yampil arrived at the zoo about 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of Edinburgh and immediately made himself at home. He feasted on cukes — said to be his favorite food — and melon, said Adam Welsh, who works at Five Sisters. Vulnerable to extinction The Asiatic black bear is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species as vulnerable to extinction in the wild, where it can be found in central and southern Asia, Russia and Japan. It's known for the distinctive white crescent patch on its chest that gives it the nickname moon bear. It can live for up to 30 years in zoos. It's not clear if the bear will go into hibernation. The winter has been warmer than usual but colder days are on the horizon. The zoo has other bears, but Yampil is the only Asian bear and unique in other ways. "We've had circus bears, for example, that have been rescued," Welsh said. "We've had bears rescued from places like roadside restaurants where they've been used as kind of roadside attractions and been kept in subpar conditions. But this is the first time that we've worked with an animal that's been rescued from a war zone." Read Xpert Times for more news updates){kind=link}
The bear was present in a menagerie that had lengthy been deserted by its homeowners. Virtually all the opposite animals had died of starvation, thirst or had been struck by bullets or shrapnel and a few had been eaten by Russian troops. Yampil narrowly missed the identical destiny, struggling a concussion from a projectile that landed close by.
“The bear miraculously survived,” mentioned Yakovlev, additionally director of the White Rock Bear Shelter, the place the bear recovered. “Our fighters didn’t know what … to do with him, in order that they began searching for rescue.”
Vet care, then rehabilitation
What adopted was an odyssey that your common bear hardly ever makes, as he was moved to Kyiv for veterinary care and rehabilitation, then shipped to a zoo in Poland, then to an animal rescue in Belgium, the place he spent the previous seven months, earlier than touchdown in the UK.
Brian Curran, proprietor of 5 Sisters Zoo in West Calder, Scotland, mentioned his coronary heart broke when he discovered of the plight of the threatened Asiatic black bear.
“He was in horrible situation; 5 extra days and so they would not have been capable of save him,” Curran mentioned. “We had been simply so amazed he was nonetheless alive and effectively.”
The bear was skinny however not malnourished when he was discovered, mentioned Frederik Thoelen, a biologist on the Nature Assist Heart in Belgium. He now’s estimated to weigh a wholesome 440 kilos (200 kilograms), Thoelen mentioned.
The character heart in Belgium, which often treats injured wildlife and returns them to their pure settings, has taken a number of animals rescued from the conflict in Ukraine, together with a wolf, a caracal cat and 4 lions, although these animals had not skilled the ordeal Yampil endured.
It was outstanding how calm Yampil was when he arrived in Belgium, Thoelen mentioned.
The bear was skilled previously two weeks to maneuver from his enclosure to the crate that might transport him throughout Belgium to Calais, France, then throughout the English Channel on a ferry to Scotland. Pastries from an area bakery had been used for good measure to lure him Thursday into the cage, the place he was sedated for the journey.
“We need to use the meals that he likes most, and for many bears — and for folks additionally — it is candy, unhealthy meals,” Thoelen mentioned.
Thoelen had a way of the bear’s weight as he drove the crate to the port.
“Each time after we had a purple mild or a site visitors jam, when the bear moved a bit bit, you can really feel the van shifting additionally,” he mentioned. “You can really feel it was a heavy animal at the back of the automotive.”
Yampil arrived on the zoo about 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of Edinburgh and instantly made himself at house. He feasted on cukes — mentioned to be his favourite meals — and melon, mentioned Adam Welsh, who works at 5 Sisters.
Susceptible to extinction
The Asiatic black bear is listed on the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature’s Crimson Listing of Threatened Species as weak to extinction within the wild, the place it may be present in central and southern Asia, Russia and Japan. It is identified for the distinctive white crescent patch on its chest that offers it the nickname moon bear. It may possibly reside for as much as 30 years in zoos.
It is not clear if the bear will go into hibernation. The winter has been hotter than typical however colder days are on the horizon.
The zoo has different bears, however Yampil is the one Asian bear and distinctive in different methods.
“We have had circus bears, for instance, which were rescued,” Welsh mentioned. “We have had bears rescued from locations like roadside eating places the place they have been used as form of roadside sights and been stored in subpar circumstances. However that is the primary time that we have labored with an animal that is been rescued from a conflict zone.”
Learn Xpert Occasions for extra information updates