Bears sense spring is in the air

Spring is in the air and the bears at Wild Place Project, near Bristol, are up and about after three months of snoozing.

They have spent the winter months in a light state of hibernation, called torpor, but are now active again - just in time for spring. 

The four European brown bears are waking up early each day to make the most of the mild weather.

Natalie Kent, animal keeper at Wild Place Project, said: “It’s lovely to see the bears moving around. Although they don't actually hibernate, they do spend a lot of time asleep during the cold weather to conserve energy and minimise exposure to winter elements.”

The bears, five-year-old Gemini and Albie and six-year-old Neo and Nilas, live in Bear Wood at Wild Place Project, alongside four wolves - just as they would in the wild.  
In recent days they have been seen climbing on the trees, playing in the pond in the heart of the exhibit and enjoying a diet of grasses, greens and meat, as they would eat in the wild at this time of year.

Spring flowers, such as crocuses and daffodils, are coming into bloom throughout Wild Place Project which is rich in native wildlife. As many as 40 species of birds have been spotted there including blue tits, ravens, wrens and woodpeckers.

Natalie said: “Spring is well and truly here and the bears are eating well and exploring their surroundings.”

Brown bears, like those at Wild Place Project, used to roam all over Britain and, although it is not known exactly when they disappeared from these islands - experts think it was around 8,000 years ago.

They live in an ancient woodland at the attraction, just as their ancestors would have done thousands of years ago, alongside lynx, wolverine and wolves. 

“They are remarkable animals - intelligent and powerful - and Bear Wood provides a perfect, natural environment for them”, she added.

Bear Wood, which opened four years ago, is a popular attraction for the tens of thousands of visitors who visit Wild Place Project each year. The exhibit was part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). 

It covers 7.5 acres and is the UK’s largest and most ambitious brown bear exhibit.
Animal lovers can forge a special lasting link with the bears of Wild Place Project, and help support the conservation charity, by ‘adopting’ one of them. 

Wild Place Project is owned and operated by Bristol Zoological Society, a conservation and education charity.

The Society relies on the generous support of the public not only to fund its important work at both sites but also to support its vital conservation and research projects spanning four continents.