Two brown bears rescued from Russia relocated to Ireland

Two brown bears, Bu and Tyapa, have been successfully relocated from the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, to the Wild Ireland sanctuary in County Donegal, Ireland, following a five-year rescue mission.

Before their rescue, the bears lived in poor conditions. Bu was a former circus bear confined to a small indoor cage, while Tyapa lived in a cramped, roofless enclosure that prevented him from standing upright and exposed him to extreme weather. Reports indicate Tyapa was being raised for eventual taxidermy.

The relocation involved significant logistical hurdles due to the 4,000km distance and the lack of direct flights between Russia and most European nations following the invasion of Ukraine. The rescue effort, which involved over 100 people, required the bears to be cut from rusting cages and sedated for transport. The bears were eventually flown to Ireland via Abu Dhabi.