Brown Bear Successfully Treated and Released Back to the Wild in Armenia
A brown bear, named Ricky after comedian Ricky Gervais, has been safely returned to the wild after being hit by a vehicle in Armenia. The two-year-old bear 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 on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
Actor, animal advocate, and IAR patron Peter Egan, who named the bear after his good friend Ricky, was present at the release. In an interview shortly after the event, Egan described it as “exhilarating to see the bear bounding back to freedom” and commented on X, stating, “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.”
Before being released, the rescue team returned to the safety of their vehicles, leaving one ranger from FPWC to open the transport crate. Thanks to careful planning, when the bear turned towards the ranger, the man was able to climb into the pick-up truck, which sped off with the bear close behind. A video of the release captured the heart-stopping moment of the man-bear encounter.
President of International Animal Rescue, Alan Knight OBE, said, “There was careful preparation among the rangers before the crate was opened. 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. In the case of Ricky’s release, the rangers discussed the best way to open the crate and stay out of his way, and they decided to have the truck ready to move off should the bear come too close for comfort – which he definitely did!”
Knight went on to express gratitude towards Egan for choosing the name Ricky for the bear, stating, “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. We’re hugely grateful to both Ricky and Peter for promoting and supporting our lifesaving work.”
The bear’s journey to freedom began two weeks ago when he 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 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 the treatment he received, stating, “The bear had a wound to his lower lip, which we sutured at the scene of the accident. He didn’t have any broken bones, just a minor injury to one leg. When he was first brought into the centre, he seemed disorientated, and we kept him under close observation in case he might show signs of neurological damage, but in fact, he soon recovered. 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.”
He added, “As a wild bear, he is naturally fearful of humans, and whenever anyone approached the quarantine quarters where he was housed, he would either cower in fear or launch himself at the bars. That’s what you want in a wild bear. The more they steer clear of human interaction, the better.”
Knight concluded by stating, “It’s a joyful occasion when we’re able to return an animal to its home in the wild. 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. So the opportunity to rescue and release a young, healthy animal back into its natural habitat is very uplifting. We couldn’t do any of this lifesaving work without everyone who supports us, and we would love more people to join us!” For more information on how to support IAR and FPWC’s efforts to save animals in Armenia, visit https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/projects/armenian-bears.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.