Skip to content

Man who rescued bear delighted at its new home

Wildwood Trust Diego the bearWildwood Trust
Diego the bear is said to have settled in well to his home in Devon

A former bear park worker has shared his delight over the relocation of Diego the bear.

Hanse Hansson, said he found the bear cub "abandoned and very skinny" in a Swedish forest in 2011.

Diego the bear was due to be put down until Wildwood Trust, a conservation charity, stepped in to bring the animal to the UK.

Mr Hansson decided to catch him and delivered him to Orsa Predator Park, where it was housed until late October.

Hanse Hansson
Hanse Hansson used to work for the Swedish authorities with bears, wolves, lynx, wolverine and golden eagles, in the nature

Speaking about the rescue he said; "I think it was a mission impossible but I thought I should give it a try."

He added: "My brain said, 'don't do it', but my heart said 'do it'".

Hanse Hansson Diego the bearHanse Hansson
Diego the bear was rescued from a forest in Sweden in 2011
Hanse Hansson Diego the bearHanse Hansson
Mr Hansson found the five-month old cub, believing he lost his mother when she was crossing a river

The bear was transported on Friday, via the Eurotunnel, to Devon Wildlife Park where he'll be housed over the winter.

Mr Hansson hopes to one day visit the UK to see Diego once again.

"I have a little bit in my heart for him - I hope one day I can visit him and give him a big hug," he said.

Plans are in place for the animal to eventually be relocated to Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park, near Ipswich.

line

Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].