For the first time in more than three decades, bears are back on the Isle of Wight. Two rescued brown bear brothers, Benji and Balu, have arrived to begin a new life of peace and care at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in Sandown.
Believed to be around 13 years old, Benji and Balu spent years confined in a cage in Azerbaijan. This week, they completed an extraordinary 3,000-mile journey to the UK and are now settling into their specially designed coastal sanctuary.
Their arrival marks a historic moment for the island. The last time bears lived on the Isle of Wight was 30 years ago, making this not just an act of compassion, but a symbolic return.
“This is a landmark moment,” said Lawrence Bates, CEO of the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary. “Benji and Balu will experience grass beneath their paws, cool water to wallow in, and expert care every day. They finally get the life they deserve.”
Their spacious new enclosure spans 3,500 square metres and features soft grass, natural ponds, shaded trees, and snug dens. Its construction was made possible thanks to a £300,000 fundraising campaign, supported by hundreds of individuals and businesses from across the Isle of Wight and beyond.
The rescue was the result of a collaborative effort between the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary and the Ministry of Ecology in Azerbaijan, who played a key role in facilitating the bears’ release and ensuring their access to expert veterinary care and high welfare standards.
Additional support came from NGOs Bears in Mind and Four Paws, as well as dedicated private individuals, all of whom worked together to coordinate the complex logistics behind the relocation.
To bring the bears safely to their new home, Europe’s leading cargo airline, Cargolux, sponsored their journey. The airline provided specially constructed transport crates and flew Benji and Balu directly to the UK free of charge, drawing on its extensive experience relocating animals, including the celebrated beluga whale transfer to Iceland.
Once in the UK, the bears completed the final leg of their journey overland, before boarding a Wightlink ferry to the island. On Wednesday, they became the first bears in living memory to cross the Solent.
“This incredible story is a testament to what can be achieved when compassionate people and organisations come together,” added Bates. “We’ve had support from every corner: animal lovers who donated, teams who designed the bears’ new home, and companies like Cargolux who made the impossible possible.”