Depending on where you live, you may not be too surprised to see bears wandering around outside. However, it’s quite a rarity in the UK, and most Brits haven’t seen one outside an enclosure. At least, they hadn’t until a pair escaped their home and went for a stroll around an Exeter wildlife park.
Per a report by the Daily Mail, Misha and Lucy, a pair of 5-year-old Brown Bears, escaped from Wildwood Devon in Escot Park on Monday. The incident occurred at around 3 PM. The breakout prompted staff to lock visitors away, including children, and dispatch armed emergency staff. Fortunately, Misha and Lucy were far more interested in what tasty morsels they could scarf down during their afternoon out.
The bears, which the outlet explains weigh 400 LBS, made a beeline for the park’s food store. They then tucked into a feast of vegetables, berries, and fish. Then, in true ‘Winnie the Pooh’ style, they allegedly ate “a week’s worth” of honey.
Per the BBC, Mark Habben, director of zoological operations, said the public “was not in harm’s way.” He also revealed that the bears found the area where they keep enrichment. “All the nice things,” he clarified. Wildwood was reportedly placed on a “code red” emergency procedure, which initiated an evacuation and lockdown of the park.
Experts reportedly escorted the pair back to their enclosure within the hour.
Wildwood Devon Reveals How The Bears Escaped
Wildwood Devon posted an update about the incident on social media. They shared heartwarming footage of a bear tucking into food outside. The park also revealed how the bears escaped, blaming it on an “operational error.”
The establishment explains, “We can now confirm that this was the result of an operational error, which allowed the bears to briefly access a staff-only food storage area. Our experienced keeping team acted immediately, following established safety protocols, and successfully used recall training to encourage both bears back into their enclosure without the need for any intervention.”
Wildwood Devon also explains the on-site protocols. The park was closed, and staff notified the police. They also thanked the public for their concern and interest.