Viktor Janukowitsch leaves five bears behind
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Four Paws
February 2014

In his luxurious winter residence in the Ukrainian Carpathians, the ex-president of the Ukraine also kept bears. The FOUR PAWS team is now on their way to administer first care to the animals left behind.

The discharged Ukrainian president, Viktor Janukowitsch, not only left his ostentatious estate near Kiev, he apparently left animals too; boars, horses, pheasants and five bears, including three bear cubs were left behind.

Local animal welfare organizations asked FOUR PAWS for help. Currently the animals, which are in a relatively good condition considering the circumstances, are still being taken care of by the former employees of Janukowitsch. FOUR PAWS bear expert Carsten Hertwig, who coordinates the first care of the bears says, “This can change quickly. It is to be feared that the bears will be sold, especially the bear cubs who are in danger of ending up in an unsuitable environment again.”

The bears, whose original home is still unclear, were kept in cages that were far too small. A single male bear was kept in one cage, while another one contained a female bear with her three cubs.

Today, a FOUR PAWS emergency rescue team including bear expert Annika Luerssen are on their way to get an idea of the circumstances and the condition of the bears. They will provide them with food and also try to find a long-term solution for all of the animals.

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