This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrxn4x7yx2o

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Wildlife park near Exeter evacuated after bears escape Wildlife park near Exeter evacuated after bears escape
(about 3 hours later)
The wildlife park was evacuated after Mish and Lucy escaped their enclosure Watch: CCTV captures one of the bears helping itself to supplies outside the bear house
Two bears who sparked the evacuation of a wildlife park involving trained firearms staff and police had headed straight for the honey store, the park has said.Two bears who sparked the evacuation of a wildlife park involving trained firearms staff and police had headed straight for the honey store, the park has said.
Wildwood Devon, a conservation charity near Exeter, said European brown bears Mish and Lucy made their way to the food store after breaking free - and then consumed a "week's worth of honey".Wildwood Devon, a conservation charity near Exeter, said European brown bears Mish and Lucy made their way to the food store after breaking free - and then consumed a "week's worth of honey".
The park was evacuated after the alarm was raised at about 15:00 BST on Monday - 16 people including children were locked into a play barn for their safety.The park was evacuated after the alarm was raised at about 15:00 BST on Monday - 16 people including children were locked into a play barn for their safety.
Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at Wildwood Trust, said emergency procedures were deployed and the public was "not in harm's way".Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at Wildwood Trust, said emergency procedures were deployed and the public was "not in harm's way".
The bears were roaming free for about 55 minutes, the trust says The wildlife park was evacuated after Mish and Lucy escaped their enclosure
The trust has now launched an investigation into how the pair of "young bears", weighing about 180kg (397lb) escaped as there were no signs of enclosure damage, it said. The trust has now launched an investigation into how the pair of "young bears", weighing about 180kg (397lb) each, escaped as there were no signs of enclosure damage, it said.
Mr Habben said: "Both bears are extremely happy, the team were very very calm as were the bears at all points. Mr Habben said: "Both bears are extremely happy. The team were very, very calm, as were the bears at all points.
"The public were not in harm's way, emergency procedures and everyone did the job they were intended to do.""The public were not in harm's way, emergency procedures and everyone did the job they were intended to do."
Mr Habben said a "code red" was called after the bears were spotted by senior staff after they "breached" the enclosure and made their way to a staff area at about 15:00 BST on Monday.Mr Habben said a "code red" was called after the bears were spotted by senior staff after they "breached" the enclosure and made their way to a staff area at about 15:00 BST on Monday.
He said: "They were in an area where we keep enrichment - all the nice things.He said: "They were in an area where we keep enrichment - all the nice things.
"The bears had a feast, played around, pulled some rope out.""The bears had a feast, played around, pulled some rope out."
The bears were roaming free for about 55 minutes, the trust says
He said the code red is a "category one emergency procedure" which leads to park evacuation and lock down.He said the code red is a "category one emergency procedure" which leads to park evacuation and lock down.
He said the park's emergency team was deployed, including those trained in firearms, while police were notified and arrived on site to "support the team on the ground".He said the park's emergency team was deployed, including those trained in firearms, while police were notified and arrived on site to "support the team on the ground".
Mr Habben said staff monitored the bears on CCTV and they "remained very calm throughout", and did not breach any public areas, choosing instead to remain at the back of the bear house. Mr Habben said staff monitored the bears on CCTV and they "remained very calm throughout", not breaching any public areas, choosing instead to remain at the back of the bear house.
"They were wandering up and down, having a sniff around, looking in the store cupboard where honey was stored."They were wandering up and down, having a sniff around, looking in the store cupboard where honey was stored.
"That was fortuitously left open so they raided that." "That was fortuitously left open, so they raided that."
Mark Habben says an investigation has been launched into how the bears escapedMark Habben says an investigation has been launched into how the bears escaped
Mish eventually made her own way back to the enclosure and Lucy was lured back with a bell and her favourite foods.Mish eventually made her own way back to the enclosure and Lucy was lured back with a bell and her favourite foods.
He described the pair, who were rescued from a snow drift in Albania in 2019, as "extremely charismatic and resilient".He described the pair, who were rescued from a snow drift in Albania in 2019, as "extremely charismatic and resilient".
The trust said it had built a reputation for working with European brown bears.The trust said it had built a reputation for working with European brown bears.
Mr Habben said this was the first time an escape incident had taken place at the park and an investigation was now underway as to how the breach occurred. Mr Habben said this was the first time an escape incident had taken place at the park and an investigation was now under way as to how the breach occurred.
Another brown bear that was set to be killed in Sweden and travelled to England by Eurotunnel, was resident at the trust before being transferred to a park in Ipswich.Another brown bear that was set to be killed in Sweden and travelled to England by Eurotunnel, was resident at the trust before being transferred to a park in Ipswich.
The pair of bears were rescued from a snowdrift in the Albanian mountainsThe pair of bears were rescued from a snowdrift in the Albanian mountains
On social media, Wildwood Devon added: "The exhibit is secure, and we are grateful to our staff and visitors for their cooperation, which helped us resolve the situation swiftly and safely."On social media, Wildwood Devon added: "The exhibit is secure, and we are grateful to our staff and visitors for their cooperation, which helped us resolve the situation swiftly and safely."
The park will open as usual on Tuesday. The park opened as usual earlier.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, European brown bears can grow up to 6.5ft (1.9m) and weigh up to 1,500lbs (680kg), are able to stand on two legs and communicate through scratch marks on trees.According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, European brown bears can grow up to 6.5ft (1.9m) and weigh up to 1,500lbs (680kg), are able to stand on two legs and communicate through scratch marks on trees.
Some of the largest living carnivores, brown bears have fallen prey to hunting and other conflicts with humans and there are thought to be up to 110,000 in the world.Some of the largest living carnivores, brown bears have fallen prey to hunting and other conflicts with humans and there are thought to be up to 110,000 in the world.
Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.