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Orsa Björnpark Kodiak bears to Orsa Bear Park

Discussion in 'Sweden' started by Jodea, 21 Jan 2011.

  1. Jodea

    Jodea Active Member

    Joined:
    13 Sep 2008
    Posts:
    42
    Location:
    Stockholm, Sweden
    Orsa Bear Park will receive two wild born Kodiak bears from the Kodiak Island in a near future. It’s two orphaned young bears that will be brought to Orsa, one male and one female, both around one year old. At the moment they are in a Wildlife Center in Anchorage, Alaska. This is the first time in 35 years that wild Kodiak bears cubs are allowed to leave the island. Orsa has been approved as the only zoo in the world to receive bears from the Kodiak Island. There has not been a captive facility with high standard enough according to the Alaskan authorities. Orsa Bear Park has since several years good relations with the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game with an extensive exchange of knowledge about bear management and information.

    The park has begun the process of paper work with all permissions needed from authorities and exhibit design. They don’t say when the two bears should be expected to arrive, but the TV-channel TV4 says in the summer 2012, if everything goes according to plan. The enclosure will be placed just next to the entrance of the park, in a today unused wooded area. See the preliminary sketch (PDF-file, english). Interestingly, it seems that wolverines will share the big enclosure with the bears (and off course have a smaller private enclosure where they are free from the bears).

    TV-clip

    Orsa Bear Park press release (swedish)
     
  2. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    24 Jun 2009
    Posts:
    6,298
    Location:
    UK
    At least one of the Kodiak Bears has arrived today