Key facts
- Bu and Tyapa were rescued from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia.
- The rescue journey took five years and was delayed by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
- Tyapa lived in a cage measuring 2.5m by 2.5m by 2m, too small to stand upright.
- Both bears were severely malnourished and showed signs of psychological trauma upon rescue.
- The bears arrived at Wild Ireland in County Donegal on August 3, 2026.
Two brown bears, Bu and Tyapa, have found a new home at the Wild Ireland sanctuary in County Donegal after a complex five-year rescue mission. The journey, which began in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, was fraught with difficulties, including two major conflicts that disrupted transport routes. Bu, a former circus bear, had lived in a small indoor cage, while Tyapa was confined to a cage so small he could not stand upright and was exposed to extreme weather. Both bears were found to be severely malnourished and suffering from psychological trauma, with blood tests revealing serious kidney problems. The rescue operation involved over 100 people, including veterinarians and transport specialists, and saw the bears travel from Moscow via Abu Dhabi to Dublin, arriving on August 3, 2026. Since their arrival, Bu and Tyapa have shown remarkable health improvements, gaining weight and seeing their kidney function return to normal in their new woodland habitat.