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Mourning in the Bear Forest: Farewell to brown bear Masha after 20 years
The Müritz Bear Forest says goodbye to the brown bear Masha, who lived in better care for almost 20 years, and shows animal protection.
Mourning in the Bear Forest: Farewell to brown bear Masha after 20 years
The Müritz Bear Forest unfortunately had to say goodbye to its long-time resident, the brown bear Masha, today. The bear lived in the sanctuary, which opened in 2006, for almost 20 years. Her life story is characterized by a long struggle for a better existence, far away from the poor housing conditions in East Germany, where she used to live. Masha was euthanized due to serious health problems, including heart disease and osteoarthritis. Veterinarian Julia Bohner from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) was closely involved in her treatment and noticed that her health deteriorated rapidly in early summer, while she was still receiving good medical care. As [n-tv](https://www.n-tv.de/regionales/mecklenburg-vorpommern/Baerenwald-Mueritz- Nimm-Abschied-von-Braunbaerin-Mascha-article25887392.html) reports, Mascha suffered from these chronic illnesses in recent years and ultimately had to be adequately cared for.
Masha came to the Müritz bear forest in 2006 with another brown bear named Otto. Their former owners had agreed to transfer the two to the bear sanctuary and pledged not to keep any more bears. The handover was an important step for Masha, who was now able to live in an area with ponds and caves. The two lived together until Otto's death in 2022. After Otto's death, it was clear to see how deeply Masha was affected by his loss. Her behavior changed; she appeared stressed and lethargic. But over time she returned to her playful self and enjoyed being watched eating, bathing and roaming around again. Her small but important mourning process was very touching for the team in the Bärenwald, as is described in detail on the Bärenwald Müritz website. Bierenwald Müritz leaves no doubt that Masha was a very special bear.
The path to the bear protection center
The work of organizations like FOUR PAWS is of great importance when it comes to rescuing bears from problematic keeping conditions. The animal protection organization has been supporting bears in need since 1998 and has successfully freed more than 200 bears from indignant living conditions over the past 30 years. The objective is clear: the keeping of brown bears in Europe should be stopped and bear farms in countries like Vietnam should be ended. FOUR PAWS uncovers abuses in bear farming and offers these animals a safe and species-appropriate home in their protection centers, as can be read on their website. An example of their successes is the rescue of Masha and Otto, who were able to live in a habitat suitable for them after their liberation. FOUR PAWS appreciates the importance of such initiatives to help animals in need.
The sad news of Mascha's death leaves a big gap in the Bärenwald Müritz. Her life is a powerful example of the challenges many animals face and illustrates the importance of providing them with a safe home. Although we mourn Masha's loss today, her legacy remains alive and the Bärenwald will continue to fight for the well-being of the animals who have lived in similar situations to Masha and Otto and can look forward to a better life in a sanctuary.