Bears rescued from war-torn Ukraine given new chance at life in Devon

Watch the bears settle into their new West Country surroundings

Two brown bear cubs born after their mother was rescued from the frontline in Ukraine have arrived at a sanctuary in Devon, destined to become their "forever home".

Malenky and Nanuq are siblings whose mother was smuggled out of Ukraine in the back of a van to escape the shelling.

The two-year-old cubs were born in Belgium, but have now arrived at Wildwood Devon.

The Director of Zoo Operations at Wildwood Trust, Mark Habben, said: “Our colleagues in Belgium did an incredible job caring for Malenky and Nanuq, but with six bears already in their care, they simply didn’t have the space or resources to give these young cubs the future they deserve.

“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. Over the coming weeks our team will set to work helping the pair settle. We’re incredible excited for our members and visitors to meet the newest members of the Wildwood family in the coming days.”

Malenky and Nanuq will share their new home with another rescued sibling duo - brown bears Mish and Lucy, who were saved from certain death in Albania and brought to the park in 2021.

With the arrival of Malenky and Nanuq, Wildwood has now rescued eight brown bears, but according to the Director General of Wildwood Trust, Paul Whitfield, the work is far from over.

He explained: “We want to help more bears like Malenky and Nanuq, but we can only do it with the public’s support. 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.”

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