Press release: Hauser Bears and Cristina Lapis have stepped in to save the lives of two bears in a Swiss Park.
Posted on: 17/06/2011
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The story of Berna and Ursina has been making headlines across Switzerland: having outgrown their enclosure at the BarenPark, Bern it was feared the furry celebrities would have to be killed if they couldn’t be re-homed. But now the story will have a happy ending thanks to Hauser Bears and the Cristina Lapis Foundation in Romania.
Using a network of international partnerships, bear conservation and wildlife charity Hauser Bears has ensured Berna and Ursina will be emigrating to a dedicated bear sanctuary in Romania.
The two bear sisters have been making headlines since their birth 18-months-ago. The Swiss media have avidly followed the story of the Bern bears as the zoo’s management team struggled to find a suitable new home; time began to run out as potential new homes were discounted due to lack of space or the wrong climate for European Brown Bears.
Hauser Bears stepped in after hearing the plight of Berna and Ursina, holding talks with both the zoo and the Romanian animal protection organisation The Cristina Lapis Foundation. Having funded the construction of a new 7ha enclosure to welcome more bears in distress including Misha from Georgia, HB and Cristina Lapis were able to come to the help of the two cubs.
Now, through a new fundraising initiative, Bern BarenPark has pledged to support the Romanian sanctuary, which is the largest brown bear sanctuary in Europe. Situated in 70 hectares of land leased in the town of Zărneşti, the reservation was originally set up to home rescued bears held illegally - and often in inhumane conditions - within Romania.
By co-ordinating international operations such as this, Hauser Bears is making its impact felt on the conservation and welfare of bears across the globe. From the Arctic to South-East Asia the charity is partnering with, and supporting, organisations to collectively achieve the goal of changing bears lives every day.
“We are delighted to be working together with the BarenPark and the Cristina Lapis Foundation,” explains co-founder Karine Hauser.
“We started working with Cristina earlier this year on the construction of new enclosures to facilitate the rescue and care of confiscated bears in Romania. Our hope is that Ursina and Berna will become ambassadors for all remaining Romanian illegally kept bears, to enable their rescue and continuing care at the wonderful Zărneşti sanctuary.”
NEWS ARCHIVE
WILDLIFE 1 FOUNDATION AND HB HAVE COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A RESCUE
FACILITY AND SANCTUARY FOR THE ABUSED BEARS OF THAILAND. HB PROVIDED FUNDS TO
BUILD THE QUARANTINE AREA, FIRST BEAR ENCLOSURE AND A MEDICAL CENTER TO ASSESS AND TREAT THE BEARS
Ursina and Berna, the two Swiss bear cubs born in the bear park in Bern in 2009 will stay in the park with their parents as per a solution created by Else Poulsen.
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