Three of the orphaned cubs are housed in the municipal dog pound just outside Tbilisi.

Appeal will raise funds to rescue and relocate the cubs

A major appeal has been launched by the Born Free Foundation to ensure the care of four orphaned bear cubs in Greece and Georgia.

The Bear Me in Mind campaign hopes to raise enough funds to enable the rescue and relocation of the cubs, as well as build a new enclosure that will provide the bears with a rich and natural environment.

The campaign was brought to the attention of the Born Free Foundation by the Mayhew Animal Home. A special hotline and text messaging service have been set up as the urgent appeal gets underway.

Born Free's founder Virginia McKenna OBE, said: "For us it is always the most wonderful moment when we are asked to help with a rescue … time is of the essence here and we cannot fail them."

One of the orphaned bear cubs is 10-month-old Ushka, who sustained serious and life-threatening injuries after being hit by a car. Unable to walk and only with movement in his front legs, the young bear pulls himself along the floor as a means to move and play.

Ushka is currently under expert care at the Arcturos Bear Sanctuary in Northern Greece.  A team of vets, led by Born Free's senior vet Dr John Knight, are undertaking a detailed assessment of the cub to see what might be done to give him a fighting chance of maintaining a satisfactory quality of life.

The other three cubs were found wandering the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia, following the floods in June. The nine-month old bears are currently housed in the municipal dog pound where they are subjected to the noise of barking dogs, are at risk of disease and are severely stressed.

The bears' progress will be updated over the coming weeks and during the lead up to Christmas. A spokesperson for Born Free added: "These four bears fought for their very survival, It is nothing short of a miracle they have made it this far."

For more information about the campaign and to make a donation, call 0800 803 0480 or visit www.bornfree.org.uk.

Image (C) Josh Cura/Born Free Foundation