Rescued twin brown bear cubs find forever home in Devon

Two brown bear cubs thought to be war refugees have travelled hundreds of miles across borders to reach a forever home in a Devon zoo.

The two-year-old siblings, Malenky and Nanuq, are in Wildwood, where director of zoo operations Mark Habben said they were “thrilled” to welcome the duo who would be offered a “safe, enriched environment to thrive”.

They were born in Belgium after their mother was rescued from the front line in Ukraine, but were believed to have been conceived in Ukraine, staff said.

Wildwood has now rescued and rehabilitated eight brown bears from hardship, but said it relied on public support, as caring for each rescued bear cost about £70,000 a year.

The cubs arrived at their new home in Ottery St Mary on Tuesday after a long journey from De Zonnegloed Wild Animal Sanctuary.

The pair’s arrival was described a “heartwarming milestone” in their journey of survival, after their mother had been smuggled out in the back of a van to escape shelling in Ukraine.

Mr Habben said his colleagues in Belgium did an “incredible job” caring for Malenky and Nanuq, but, due to a lack of space and resources, were not able to provide a future the cubs deserved.

“We’re thrilled to welcome them to Wildwood, where we can provide them with a safe, enriched environment to thrive under the watch of our expert keepers,” he said.

He added staff would help the pair settle in the coming weeks.

Malenky and Nanuq are sharing their new home with another rescued sibling duo, brown bears Mish and Lucy, who were rescued from Albania in 2021.

Paul Whitfield, director general of the Wildwood Trust, said they relied on the public’s support to help more bears like Malenky and Nanuq.

He said: “Every rescued bear needs food, shelter, medical care, and enrichment. We spend around £70,000 a year caring for each rescued bear, which is why fundraising is essential to everything we do.

“All the bears at Wildwood have come from unimaginable hardship. Malenky and Nanuq represent not just survival, but the growing threat to wildlife around the world.

“Their story reminds us why rescue work matters – and why we must act.”

He added that staff were “incredibly excited” for visitors to meet the newest members of the Wildwood family.