Earlier this year, when the sanctuary staff and I went to Buhusi Zoo to rescue Benny and Ala (the bears you saw featured in episode one last week) we also saw an old Asiatic Black bear called Ursula, in a barren and tiny cage. Asiatic black bears are also known as Himalayan bears, Tibetan bears, or Moon bears. They are called this because of the white crescent moon on their chest.
Click here to find out more about Asiatic Black Bears
Ursula had spent all 26 years of her life in this 3 metre square cage and we all wanted to get her out and into a better environment. The problem for us though, is that she is a different species of bear to all the other bears at the sanctuary, which are brown bears.
Click here to find out more about European Brown Bears
Different species of bear can't live together. They have very different needs and can fight, so the race was on for us to find a small enclosure that was suitable for an elderly blind bear with cataracts (that's right, Ursula is also blind). We had to find just the right home for her before we could arrange to go back and free her. Buhusi Zoo is about 200km north of the sanctuary and it was hard for us to leave her behind.
We moved Ursula into a smaller enclosure that would normally be used for a cub, but as she is blind she needs less space - she wouldn't be able to cope with more. Most of the rescued bears have never come into contact with earth, grass, trees or water before and Ursula was no exception.
Now at 27 years old, Ursula's life has finally taken a turn for the better. She's really taken to her new enclosure and now she knows the layout, she's adapted well! Because of her advanced age, we decided that it would be too risky to operate on her cataracts - it could cause potentially fatal heart and respiratory problems - but this hasn't held her back. It's great to see her doing so well.
We hope that Ursula is doing well and all our best wishes went out to her....... Rock the Casbah Princess
Posted by: roy kenyon | 02/01/2009 at 03:02 AM
just to add to my last comment 'Ursula' will hopefully become our mascot shortly for special needs adults in my local area Neath Port talbot South wales. All money raised will immediately go to yourselves and all material will be forwarded to you for approval. keep up the amazing work!!
Posted by: roy kenyon | 29/11/2008 at 01:43 PM
working with special needs adults I would like make Ursula my special 'Bear'.
Posted by: roy kenyon | 29/11/2008 at 01:07 AM