Brown bear Ursus arctos
Animals in our sanctuary
Mimi (female)
Mimi has a horrible past. She was robbed from her nest by poachers and her mother was killed. After that she lived for years with brown bear Uli in a small concrete cage of 2m by 7m at a hotel in Albania. She had nothing to care for and received the leftovers from the hotel as food. No water to wash herself, no tree to climb in, no grass to walk in or to dig pits, just a concrete floor full of faeces.
Uli (female)
Uli was used as a dance bear. She had to stand on an electric plate where power was put on. As the electric current increased, she had to dance more actively. After the ban on showing dance bears in public, Uli was sold to a hotel manager. There she lived with brown bear Mimi in a much too small concrete cage of 2m by 7m at a hotel in Albania. She had nothing to care for and received the leftovers from the hotel as food. No water to wash herself, no tree to climb in, no grass to walk in or to dig pits, just a concrete floor full of faeces.
Sandra (female)
Sandra, together with her brother Tishka, were evacuated from a local zoo due to the war in Ukraine with the aid of Natuurhulpcentrum Oudsbergen. A host of other animals also had to be rescued from zoos in the war zone.
Tishka (Male)
Tishka and Sandra, his sister, were evacuated from a local zoo due to the war in Ukraine with the aid of Natuurhulpcentrum Oudsbergen. A host of other animals also had to be rescued from zoos in the war zone.
Nanuq (Male)
When Sandra was taken in by De Zonnegloed, no one knew she was also carrying two cubs. An unexpected but unique twist in her story. The two cubs are of course also very welcome, and are assured of having a bright future ahead at the sanctuary.
Malenky (female)
When Sandra was taken in by De Zonnegloed, no one knew she was also carrying two cubs. An unexpected but unique twist in her story. The two cubs are of course also very welcome, and are assured of having a bright future ahead at the sanctuary.
Appearance:
Brown bears have a powerful and muscular body covered with thick fur that varies in color from light brown to nearly black, depending on their habitat. They are characterized by a broad head, small ears, and strong front legs with large claws, which they use for digging and catching prey. A distinctive feature is the well-developed muscle hump on their shoulders, which provides extra strength for striking and digging.
Behavior:
Although brown bears are mostly solitary, they may gather in areas where food is abundant, such as rivers filled with salmon. They are primarily active during spring and summer and begin storing fat reserves in autumn to prepare for winter, during which they enter a period of dormancy.
Diet:
Brown bears are opportunistic omnivores, adapting their diet according to the available seasonal food sources. Their diet consists of:
- Berries and fruits
- Roots and other plant-based foods
- Insects such as ants and larvae
- Small mammals, including rabbits
- Fish, especially during salmon migration
- Honey, which they obtain by raiding beehives
Habitat and Distribution:
Brown bears inhabit a wide range of environments, including temperate rainforests, mountainous forests, and tundras. They are found across various regions of Europe, North America, and Asia. The availability of food and seasonal changes significantly influence their distribution and habitat.
Conservation Status:
Globally, the brown bear is classified as “Not Threatened,” but certain populations are at risk due to habitat loss and human activities. In some parts of Europe and Asia, they face threats such as deforestation and conflicts with humans.
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