#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The 24-year-old brown bear Dasha, a favorite of Norilsk residents, moved from the Nornickel’s Polar Division’s Valyok complex to the Wild Island park in the Tver region.
This decision was made in connection with the Valyok complex reconstruction project. The Polar Division allocated 11.7 million rubles for the move, enclosure construction, and maintenance of Dasha in her new place of residence.
“A spacious enclosure with a swimming pool was prepared for the bear in the rehabilitation center. We came here in June to vaccinate the animal before the move. Visually, Dasha is healthy. After the move, she will undergo a series of examinations, including ultrasound, blood and cardio tests. Inside and out. In order to take the bear out under anesthesia, part of the enclosure was cut down. After that, she was moved to a transport box, then by cargo plane to Moscow, and then to the center in a cargo truck”, said Alexey Pervov, a representative of the Russian Biological Society and a veterinarian.
Dasha’s story began back in the 70s. The bear’s parents were given to the Norilsk combine, and they lived all their life in an enclosure on the complex territory.
“Dasha was born in 2000 on the territory of the complex. And she has not been removed from this habitat until now. In general, brown bears live about 47-50 years in captivity with proper care. Which is what we actually wish for her”, said Anastasia Gerasimova, the Polar Division’s economic activities department’s buildings and structures department .
In October 2019, the rights to own the bear were transferred from Norilsk combine to the Nornickel company. The Polar Division allocated 3.5 million rubles annually for the animal’s upkeep.
Dasha is now 24 years old and weighs about 300 kilograms. With proper care, the animal can live for another twenty years.
We previously told the story of Marfa, a polar bear rescued in Norilsk. She is now being prepared for family life.
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Text: Anzhelika Stepanova, Photo: Marina Peshkova
