// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
From Russian cages to Irish sanctuary: The five-year rescue journey of Bu and Tyapa
Tyapa (left) and Bu (right) were previously kept in small cages in the Republic of Dagestan in Russia
After years in cramped cages, two brown bears are adjusting to their new life following a remarkable rescue mission that spanned multiple countries, was disrupted by two major conflicts and involved more than 100 people.
For Bu and Tyapa, the five-year rescue journey from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia to the Irish countryside was anything but straightforward.
One bear had spent their life forced to perform in a circus, while the other was confined to a cage so small they could not stand upright.
Today, the bears are now adjusting to a totally different world among the trees and grass at Wild Ireland, a sanctuary for rescued animals in County Donegal.
Tyapa is slowly settling into her new surroundings in Burnfoot, County Donegal
Wild Ireland founder Killian McLaughlin first learned about Bu and Tyapa in 2021 and committed to bringing them to safety in Donegal.
The sanctuary, located in Burnfoot, opened in October 2019 and provides a safe space for animals, including brown bears, monkeys, wolves, and lynx.
Wild Ireland founder Killian McLaughlin says the bears' health improvements since their arrival have been remarkable
McLaughlin said the two bears were in extremely poor health when they were first rescued.