Zoo rescues homeless bears

Brown bears are the largest species of bear

Two brown bears facing possible death after their zoo near Turin was sold for building development have found a new home in north Wales.

Yogi, 12, and 25-year-old Pina arrived safely in the early hours of Friday morning at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay.

The bears will join 35-year-old Sally, the zoo's longest resident and provide company following the loss of her long-term partner Rocky.

The International Bear Foundation - an Italian animal welfare organisation - and agencies of the Italian, French and British governments combined to ensure the minimum of hold-ups on the journey from Italy.

The bears were accompanied on their journey by three vets.

The bears will be subject to six months' quarantine but should be on view in their new enclosure some time next week.

A comfortable home

Zoo director Nick Jackson said there were many examples of bears having a rough deal in continental Europe.

They were delighted to be part of a co-operative project to give them a comfortable home and prolonged life, he said.

Brown bears are one of the largest and most widely distributed bear species and normally inhabit dense forests, tundra and lower alpine mountain regions.

They are omnivorous, eating a mixed diet of grasses, fruits, bulbs and roots, insects, fish and small animals.

They will also scavenge carrion when it is available.