By Fatos Bytyci
MRAMOR, Kosovo (Reuters) – Staff at a bear sanctuary in Pristina are working arduous to take care of a lion that wishes to play within the snow and bears who have been faraway from their pure habitat once they have been cubs and in addition benefit from the snowy circumstances as a result of they don’t hibernate any extra.
Because the winter’s first snowfall blanketed Pristina Bear Sanctuary within the Kosovan capital, guests loved the sight of a lion taking part in earlier than shortly taking shelter indoors the place a heater was put in to fend off temperatures which fell beneath freezing.
“We all know that this isn’t their excellent surroundings to outlive however we have now created a pleasant place for the winter and we have now put in a heater that helps him lots as a result of huge cats want a lot hotter temperatures,” Albana Hoti, head of animal and services administration on the sanctuary, advised Reuters.
The lion, named Gjon, was rescued final 12 months from an area restaurant the place it was stored to amuse shoppers. It’s anticipated to be transported to South Africa as soon as authorized hurdles are overcome.
The sanctuary, dwelling to twenty brown bears, is managed by 4 Paws Worldwide, a non-profit devoted to animal welfare. The bears have an identical story to Gjon’s, in that they have been caged in native eating places – having been faraway from native forests – earlier than being rescued.
“4 or 5 of our bears don’t go on a full hibernation as a result of they by no means skilled their wild life and that is all what they will do, they hibernate a bit of bit after which once more they exit.”
Hoti mentioned 16 of the sanctuary’s different bears do go into full hibernation.
(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Enhancing by David Holmes)
