In brief
In a comical twist, Mish and Lucy's escape put their favorite snack in jeopardy, leading to a swift response from sanctuary staff.
Mish and Lucy, two sibling European brown bears, created quite the buzz this week at a wildlife sanctuary in Devon, England, when they broke free from their enclosure. Known for their friendly nature, the five-year-olds were enjoying their favorite seasonal treats like fruits and nuts when they decided to escape their pen and embark on an unexpected culinary adventure.On Monday afternoon, while the bears were supposed to be secure within the sanctuary, a “code red” call alerted the staff to the breakout. Mark Habben, the director of zoological operations at the Wildwood Trust, was located at a different sanctuary 100 miles away in Kent when the alert came through. Initially thinking it might be a drill, Mr. Habben soon realized it was a real emergency. As part of their emergency protocol, the sanctuary staff quickly moved 16 visitors into a safe location, away from the action, and alerted local authorities. Thankfully, there were no guests in immediate danger since the bears had escaped into a non-public area.What ensued was a humorous sight as the bears stumbled upon a stash of honey, managing to consume an entire week's supply in less than an hour. Surveillance footage captured the escapade, showcasing Lucy's clever antics as she accessed the honey container. The incident, reminiscent of children's stories featuring beloved bears and their affinity for honey, provided both excitement and relief to the sanctuary staff, who were able to safely contain the situation.
