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Last Serbian dancing bear moves to Switzerland
FOUR PAWS sedated Napa before he was loaded into a bear ambulance to start his journey towards a better life.

Napa getting used to life in his new sanctuary

The last remaining dancing bear in Serbia has been transferred to his new home in Switzerland.

Led by international animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, the transfer saw bear Napa travel some 1,400 kilometres to the newly-built Arosa Bear Sanctuary in Grisons.

Napa is now getting used to his new enclosure under the watchful eye of veterinary surgeons and caretakers. Once accustomed to his new environment, he will move to a much larger outside enclosure.

Pascal Jenny of the Arosa Bear Foundation, said: “We have been waiting so long for him. Finally he is here, our first bear. All of Arosa is pleased that Napa has found a lifelong home with us in the beautiful Arosa mountains.

“The location of Arosa is particularly attractive due to various other tourist destinations in close proximity to the bear sanctuary. This will allow visitors to the area to come into contact with animal welfare and nature conservation topics.”

The journey took around 28 hours and involved a cable car ride. FOUR PAWS sedated Napa before he was loaded into a bear ambulance to start his journey towards a better life.

Regular checks and an air conditioning unit ensured the wellbeing of Napa But on arrival in the Arosa, the team were met with some difficulties:

“The transport cage with Napa in it weighed about 550kg. Transporting it from the bear ambulance to the gondola was a logistical masterpiece. I am very happy that everything went so well and that Napa finally arrived in his forever home”, explained Carsten Hertwig, bear expert at FOUR PAWS.

Napa was born in a zoo and went to a Serbian circus called Corona. It is not known if he actually performed in the circus as there has been a ban on wildlife in circuses in Serbia since 2009. However, it is assumed that he was kept in a cramped cage on site for many years.

Arosa Bear Sanctuary is the first bear sanctuary in Switzerland offering its residents three hectares of enrichment opportunities, ponds and trees. Offering enclosures for up to five bears, it will officially open at the start of August.

Image (C) Four Paws

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.