Context:

Two European brown bears, Mish and Lucy, escaped their enclosure at Wildwood Devon in southwest England and found their way to a staff-only food storage area. The bears indulged in a variety of snacks, including a week's worth of honey, during their escapade. Although there was no threat to the public, visitors were moved to a secure area as a precaution while the bears were monitored. The wildlife park attributed the escape to an operational error and has initiated an internal investigation to prevent future incidents. The park remains committed to maintaining high standards of animal care and visitor safety.

Dive Deeper:

• Mish and Lucy, two 5-year-old European brown bears, managed to sneak out of their enclosure at Wildwood Devon in southwest England and headed directly to a food storage area reserved for staff.

• Once in the storage area, the bears feasted on a selection of snacks, most notably consuming a week's worth of honey, in what resembled a scene from 'Winnie the Pooh'.

• Despite the escape, the bears posed no threat to the public, but as a safety measure, all visitors were relocated to a secure building while the bears were tracked.

• Wildwood Devon acknowledged that the incident was due to an operational error and has launched a thorough investigation to identify and rectify the cause of the breach.

• The park emphasizes its dedication to upholding the highest standards of animal care and visitor safety, recognizing the seriousness of any operational lapses.

• The wildlife park, spread over 40 acres, is home to various animals including foxes, wolves, red squirrels, and bears, and it aims to prevent similar incidents in the future.

• The bears, after their indulgence, fell asleep, and the park has not compromised the structural integrity of the bear enclosure, focusing on operational improvements.