Two bears are enjoying a new life of freedom after being rescued from years of captivity.
Max, a Siberian bear, and Minnie, a Syrian brown bear, were discovered in a squalid cage at a bus depot in Armenia in 2018 and were rescued by Uckfield-based charity International Animal Rescue (IAR) and its Armenian partner, the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC).
The rescue followed a year-long effort to persuade their captor to release them.
Alan Knight OBE, president of IAR, said: "The cage door had been welded shut – a clear indication that, had it not been for our mercy mission, the two bears would have been kept in that cage for the rest of their lives.
"This has been an emotional day for everyone. The bears were being kept in deplorable conditions and we were desperate to set them free.
"We knew it would be a challenging rescue because of the size of the male bear. He is the biggest bear we’ve rescued to date.
"Now we can work to give Max and Minnie the life and the loving care they deserve after so many years of misery."
Weighing 500kg, Max was too large for a standard crate and was transported in a horse trailer.
Minnie travelled on a deep bed of straw in a transport crate.
The rescue team included four vets from Armenia, Iran and the UK, and was supported by the local emergency rescue services.
Once at the wildlife centre in Urtsadzor, the bears were kept in quarantine for several weeks before being released into an outdoor enclosure.
Mr Knight said: "It’s heart-warming to see how healthy and playful Max and Minnie are after all the years they spent in a cage.
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"We’re so grateful to everyone who has supported their rescue and rehabilitation.
"These images show that even after years of cruelty and neglect, bears like Max and Minnie will seize a second chance to enjoy life to the full."
Seven years after their rescue, the bears are now thriving.
Recent photos and footage show them enjoying the outdoors as they prepare for hibernation.
Max is described as playful, often climbing trees and tossing logs and balls into the pool.
Minnie prefers to wait while Max does the work of shaking apples from the wobble tree, then collects the fallen fruit.
Their diet includes seasonal fruits, pumpkins, vegetables, fish and meat, helping them build up fat for winter.
International Animal Rescue is now constructing a new rescue facility in Ushi to house more bears.
To support the building of the new centre, visit internationalanimalrescue.org/animals/armenian-bears.
The site offers a colder climate, better suited for natural hibernation.
IAR works globally to rescue and rehabilitate animals, including primates, bears and other wildlife.
FPWC continues to lead bear rescues and sanctuary care in Armenia.
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