In brief
Siblings Mish and Lucy, two European brown bears, made a spectacular escape from their enclosure at a Devon wildlife sanctuary, leading to a frantic but light-hearted scene as they devoured a week's worth of honey in a short time. Although the staff enacted safety protocols, the playful bears posed no real threat to guests.
Mish and Lucy, the delightful sibling pair of European brown bears, became unlikely stars this week when they broke free from their enclosure at a wildlife sanctuary in Devon, England. The 5-year-olds, known for their friendly demeanor, made their way to a stash of honey and didn't waste any time in enjoying the sweet treat.The incident unfolded on Monday afternoon when sanctuary staff received a “code red” alert. Mark Habben, the director of zoological operations at Wildwood Trust, was alerted while at their Kent location, roughly four hours away. Initially suspecting a drill, he soon realized the situation was serious and swiftly implemented their emergency protocols. Guests present were escorted to a secure area, while local authorities were notified, even though none were ever in harm’s way.The chaos was short-lived, as video surveillance captured the playful escapades of Lucy breaking into a food container. The bears proceeded to finish off a week's worth of honey in less than an hour, an act that seemed as if it came from a whimsical children’s story. Their antics provided a moment of levity and distraction for the staff and guests alike during an otherwise alarming situation.
