Diego the bear settles into his forever home in Suffolk

He was rescued from a park in Sweden that was shutting down

Diego the bear
Author: Sian RochePublished 20th Mar 2024

A brown bear rescued from a closing-down wildlife park in Sweden is settling well into his new home in Suffolk.

Diego was rescued by bosses at Jimmy's Farm in Wherstead, after it was revealed he was the sole surviving bear at Orsa Predator Park.

There were some concerns he could've been euthanised, until Jimmy Doherty, the owner of Jimmy's Farm stepped in, to provide a forever home for him.

Diego's arrival's been a long time coming.

He hibernated in Devon at the Wildwood Trust while his new enclosure was built, using thousands of pounds raised through a crowd-funder.

Jimmy says he's delighted at Diego's safe arrival:

“I couldn’t sit there and do nothing, knowing that Diego was going to be put to sleep. It’s just not right.

"I am over the moon that he is safely here, at his forever home, and incredibly proud of all my team and also the public who helped us get here by donating to Diego’s cause.

"This is a marvellous achievement – to save the life of a remarkable bear.”

Stevie Sheppard, Park Director at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park was also overjoyed, saying: “Seeing him walk out of his crate into his home was one of the highlights of my career.

"From watching the tears on his keepers’ faces at the thought of losing Diego, to him now being here at his forever home – I can’t explain the joy.

"My team of experts are excited to get to know him, providing him with world class care. Not only is this a milestone for us but it helps us educate the public on the role of brown bears in the ecosystem.”

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