Uckfield charity helps rescue bears from cage at Armenian bus depot

Twobearsareenjoyinganewlifeoffreedomafterbeingrescuedfromyearsofcaptivity. Max,aSiberianbear,andMinnie,aSyrianbrownbear,werediscoveredinasqualidcageatabusdepotinArmeniain2018andwererescuedbyUckfield-basedcharityInternationalAnimalRescue(IAR)anditsArmenianpartner,theFoundationforthePreservationofWildlifeandCulturalAssets(FPWC). Therescuefollowedayear-longefforttopersuadetheircaptortoreleasethem. AlanKnightOBE,presidentofIAR,said:“Thecagedoorhadbeenweldedshut–aclearindicationthat,haditnotbeenforourmercymission,thetwobearswouldhavebeenkeptinthatcagefortherestoftheirlives. “Thishasbeenanemotionaldayforeveryone.Thebearswerebeingkeptindeplorableconditionsandweweredesperatetosetthemfree. “Weknewitwouldbeachallengingrescuebecauseofthesizeofthemalebear.Heisthebiggestbearwe’verescuedtodate. “NowwecanworktogiveMaxandMinniethelifeandthelovingcaretheydeserveaftersomanyyearsofmisery.” Weighing500kg,Maxw