Dagestan to Donegal: Two brown bears rescued amid war

Two brown bears rescued from unsuitable conditions in Dagestan, a republic of Russia, are settling into a forest home in Burnfoot, Co Donegal, following a five-year rescue effort.

Founder and director of Wild Ireland Killian McLaughlin said it was a case of "mission accomplished" as the two bears traversed two war zones as part of a 13,500km journey.

Wild Ireland, which opened seven years ago within a rainforest, provides sanctuary and rehabilitation for animals, including bears, wolves, arctic foxes, reindeer and lynx.

The rehoming of the two bears - Bu and Tyapa - brings the number of brown bears at Wild Ireland in Co Donegal to four - the only living brown bears in Ireland.

The species once roamed Ireland before its extinction more than 2,000 years ago.

Mr McLaughlin first learned of the two bears when they were housed in a dog and cat sanctuary in Dagestan in 2021, which he said lacked the provisions for long-term care.

Tyapa, who came from a petting zoo, was reportedly being raised for taxidermy, which meant he could have been stuffed, if killed.

He lived in a cage with limited access to water.

Bu was part of the circus.

After being surrendered to Right to Life Sanctuary in Dagestan, she spent years in a small indoor cage, also with limited access to water.

---

Watch: Bu and Tyapa settle into their surroundings in Donegal

---

The sanctuary, which could not adequately provide for the bears, contacted Mr McLaughlin through the Dutch charity, Bears in Mind.

Mr McLaughin had worked with the charity previously.

The original plan envisaged transporting the bears by road from Russia through Ukraine and on to Co Donegal.

However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 made this impossible.

War, sanctions and international transport restrictions repeatedly delayed the rescue, which meant the bears were in Dagestan for longer than intended.

Mr McLaughlin engaged a lawyer in Moscow to set out a plan for a rescue without breaching trade sanctions and also built a team of volunteers in Russia.

A sanctuary - Tiger House - that cares for former circus tigers near St Petersburg agreed to help him.

They provided the bears with health checks, vaccinations and treatment before their transport to Ireland.

In October 2025, the owner's of Tiger House, Dima and Yana Kim, undertook a 36-hour drive to Dagestan.

On arrival, the bears had to be cut out of cages and sedated before being transported.

The bears - severely malnourished, showing signs of psychological trauma and kidney problems associated with dehydration - underwent quarantine and care in Tiger House.

Mr McLaughlin, along with Dima and Yana Kim, worked closely with Russian and Irish authorities alongside lawyers to complete the required paperwork for transportation.

With no direct flights between Russia and the EU due to the war in Ukraine, Mr McLaughin sought an alternative transport route through the Middle East.

The escalation of the Iran war in late-February led to airspace closures and disruption to flights across the Middle East.

Intradco Global and Etihad Cargo joined the mission to transport the two bears in June.

Intradco provided its specialist animal transport services for free, while Etihad Cargo agreed to a reduced price.

Teams at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi helped coordinate the bears' arrival, handling and transfer between flights.

Once transport was secured, the bears were transported to Sheremetyevo Alexander S Pushkin International Airport in Moscow for their first flight to Abu Dhabi.

Mr McLaughlin travelled to Abu Dhabi to meet the bears, oversaw their transfer and accompanied them on the flight from Abu Dhabi to Dublin.

Bu and Tyapa arrived in Ireland on 3 August.

William Gill Livestock Transport brought them by cattle lorry to Wild Ireland in Co Donegal, where they entered quarantine.

Mr McLaughlin said people from different countries worked together to bring the two bears to Ireland.

He said: "There was kindness and compassion in the middle of so much strife and war.

"Maybe Bu and Tyapa’s story offers a bit of hope."

Following veterinary inspection and release from quarantine on 7 September, Bu and Tyapa were introduced to their forest habitat at Wild Ireland.

In their first two months at the sanctuary, the physical condition of both bears has improved, with blood tests showing their kidney function has returned to normal following treatment and reliable access to fresh water.

Mr McLaughlin said their physical recovery has been encouraging, but adjusting to the forest will take longer as both bears remain frightened of open spaces.

He said: "We have experience rehabilitating rescued animals, and we will work at their pace.

"It is all part of their rehabilitation.

"Our job is to give them what they need to feel safe."

The habitat prepared by Wild Ireland provides Bu and Tyapa with woodland, water and space to explore, alongside smaller houses where they can retreat.

Mr McLaughlin added: "They can explore the forest, return to their houses or take themselves away from public view.

"Giving them that choice is part of their recovery."

Visitors to Wild Ireland will have the opportunity to see Bu and Tyapa during the October midterm break, but sightings cannot be guaranteed.

"We ask visitors to bear with them while they settle," Mr McLaughlin said.

A documentary following the rescue mission is expected to be released next year.

CEO of Moondance Productions Shane Brennan said it is an "extraordinary journey" that gives hope in an age "that can often feel increasingly bleak".

Mr Mc Laughlin said he has "no doubt" that Bu and Tyapa will become as healthy and confident as the other two bears in a habitat that "replicates their natural environment".

He said: "The habitat that I’ve designed has everything that a bear needs to be a bear; trees to climb, pond to swim, logs and rocks to forage under.

"We’ve a fantastic, experienced animal care team that spend all day with them, hiding food, making them use their brains, encouraging them to exercise.

"By us providing them with a habitat that replicates their natural environment, that’s a huge step on their road to recovery.

"This is a perfect environment for them.

"We invite members of the public to come and learn about brown bears, learn about their history in Ireland and the plight they face in the world."