At a zoo in the UK, a commotion ensued when two 180 kg brown bears escaped their enclosure. Their destination was none other than the "honey warehouse."
According to foreign reports including the BBC, on the 23rd (local time), a five-year-old Eurasian brown bear named "Mish" and "Lucy" broke through the fence at the 'Wildwood Devon' zoo near Exeter.
Around 3 p.m., when the bears were spotted wandering in a staff-only area, the zoo immediately issued a 'code red', blocking visitor access and initiating evacuation measures.
On site that day, there were 16 visitors, including children, who took refuge in a barn, locked the door, and waited. As the zoo's emergency response team, trained in firearms, was deployed and police arrived, tension escalated; however, the bears remained more relaxed than anyone.
After zoo staff tracked the bears' movement with CCTV, it was revealed that the two bears explored around, following their noses into the honey warehouse. They devoured a week's worth of stored honey in no time, having a "sweet feast."
A representative from the Wildwood Trust, which operates the zoo, noted, "The bears had a feast, played around, and even tugged on some ropes." After filling themselves with honey, Mish naturally returned to the enclosure, appearing sleepy, while Lucy also went back in following staff's bell sounds and treats.
The total duration of the bears' escape was 55 minutes, ending peacefully without any injuries.
The zoo stated, "Bears usually look for their favorite foods like honey, peanut butter, or jam in the nearest spots," adding, "They have an excellent sense of smell, so they can find hidden treats." The cause of the escape is under investigation, and the facility has since resumed normal operations.
Meanwhile, siblings Mish and Lucy have been under protection since being rescued during an avalanche in Albania in 2019, and they have been living at this zoo for four years.