On Thursday 24 October, 2024, a brown bear in Armenia was successfully treated at a bear rescue centre and has been safely returned to the wild. The bear, named Ricky after comedian Ricky Gervais, spent two weeks at the Urtsadzor Wildlife Rescue Centre, managed by FPWC (Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets) and International Animal Rescue (IAR), before being released high in the Armenian mountains earlier today. Along with the rescue team, actor, animal advocate, and IAR patron Peter Egan was present for the release, naming the bear after his good friend Ricky.
In an interview shortly after the release, Peter described the experience as “exhilarating to see the bear bounding back to freedom”. He also commented on social media, saying, “This was exceptional to see this wonderful bear #Ricky released into the wild after being hit by a car and brought back to fitness by the amazing work done by @IAR_updates and @FPWC_Intl.”
The two-year-old bear exhibited its wild nature during the release, prompting members of the rescue team to return to the safety of their vehicles. One ranger from FPWC remained to open the transport crate, and, thanks to careful planning, was able to climb into a pick-up truck with the bear close behind. Video footage of the release captured the intense moment between man and bear.
Alan Knight OBE, President of International Animal Rescue, explained the precautions taken during the release, stating, “When you release a wild animal, particularly one as large and aggressive as a bear, you can’t be too careful about people’s safety.” He added, “We’re delighted that Peter has chosen the name Ricky for the bear. Peter is a wonderful patron and has kindly put in a good word for us with Ricky on a number of occasions, leading him to support our work very generously.”
The successful release marks the end of a two-week journey for the bear, who was hit and injured by a vehicle late one night. The driver reported the incident, and a joint team from FPWC and the RA Ministry quickly mounted a rescue mission and brought the bear back to the rescue centre in Urtsadzor for treatment.
FPWC vet Harutyun Hovhannisyan described the bear’s condition and treatment, stating, “The bear had a wound to his lower lip which we sutured at the scene of the accident.” He continued, “We vaccinated him and tested him for rabies and other diseases and after two weeks I was able to give him a clean bill of health.”
Alan Knight expressed his joy at being able to return an animal to its natural habitat, saying, “So much of our work with FPWC in Armenia involves rescuing caged bears that have spent years in captivity and can never return to the wild. It’s heartbreaking.” He added, “The opportunity to rescue and release a young, healthy animal back into its natural habitat is very uplifting.” Knight also encouraged more people to support their lifesaving work by visiting their website.
This release was made possible by the joint efforts of FPWC and IAR, along with the support of their patrons and donors. For more information on their work, please visit https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/projects/armenian-bears.
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/