Buri the bear had never felt the cold embrace of snow until recently, after spending two decades confined in captivity.
Rescued just three weeks ago by a dedicated team in Ukraine, Buri’s first steps into freedom took place at Synevir National Park.

Here, amidst other rescued bears, he savored the thrill of the outdoors, sliding down trees and pawing at the unfamiliar snow.
Lionel De Lange, leading the rescue effort for Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization Ukraine, described the profound moment when Buri encountered the sky above him for the first time, a sight he had never known under the shelter of captivity. “My fiancĂ© burst into tears,” said De Lange, “seeing him embrace the snow and play joyfully was incredibly moving.”

Until recent regulatory changes, Ukraine lacked strict laws on captive wild animals, resulting in many, like Buri, enduring lives devoid of natural habitats.
Now, with efforts to rescue and rehabilitate bears gaining momentum, Buri symbolizes hope for others still awaiting freedom.






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