Four bear cubs wandering without mother in Tartumaa forest
Four bear cubs found alone in Tartumaa; experts say survival chances are low after being returned to the forest.
Over the weekend, local residents reported four bear cubs wandering alone in Aardla village, Kastre Parish to the Environmental Board. The animals were captured and returned to a nearby forest, but experts assess their survival probability as low.
Expert Assessment
The Environmental Board, together with locals, hunters, and rescuers, caught the cubs and released them in the nearest forest. The Board noted on social media that it is crucial to return young animals to their natural environment quickly, minimizing human influence.
Biologist Harri Valdmann told ERR that the cubs will likely never reunite with their mother. He believes they might approach humans again or become prey for wolves. "It would be a miracle if the mother accidentally reunited with the offspring," Valdmann said. The mother bear has probably moved far away, making it unlikely for the cubs to find her. Valdmann suspects something unusual happened, as bears typically do not separate from their cubs this way. "In summer, maternal instinct should be very strong. Something dramatic must have occurred," he added.
Reunification Chances
Wildlife expert Peep Männil told ERR that if the mother's habitat is roughly known, a chance for reunification exists. "Returning the cubs to the forest is the only possibility for the mother and cubs to reunite," Männil said. If the cubs had not been returned, that chance would be completely lost.
Männil also questioned how the cubs became separated from their mother, suggesting serious intervention. "Actually, it is now the bears' mating season, and intra-species conflicts can occur. Male bears can be quite aggressive during mating season. Human involvement is not necessary but cannot be ruled out," he said.
Valdmann added that it is important to find out what happened to the mother bear, as she typically does not move actively during the rut. The Environmental Board noted that raising large wild animals in artificial environments usually yields poor results – animals accustomed to humans may not cope with independent life in the wild.
