site.btaFirst Time Ever that All Inmates of Dancing Bears Park Go into Hibernation

First Time Ever that All Inmates of  Dancing Bears Park Go into Hibernation

Sofia, January 20 (BTA) - For the first time ever, all the bears in the Dancing Bears Park in Belitsa have gone into hibernation. The sanctuary was opened in 1999.

Nasko and Monty, the last two to succumb to sleep, have been denning for a few days.

The park's manager, Dimiter Ivanov, said hibernation is a sign that the bears live a good quality life. He explained that most bears rescued from handlers or Zoos had not hibernated in winter before. Their instinct was reawakened by the good diet and living conditions in the park.

In the last few years a growing number of bears in the wild have not been sleeping in winter or have been waking up too early. Experts attribute this to human encroachment on their habitat through construction, logging, hunting, ski tourism, mushroom and berry picking.