Bears Escape at Devon Park Due to Unlocked Gate

Two five-year-old European brown bears, Mish and Lucy, escaped their enclosure at Wildwood Devon wildlife park in the UK, heading directly to the food store where they consumed a week's supply of honey and other treats before falling asleep. The incident lasted about an hour and triggered a swift visitor evacuation and lockdown, though the bears posed no danger and were monitored via CCTV throughout. Keepers safely returned the bears to their enclosure using recall training and favorite foods, with no harm to people or animals. Police and specialist officers responded to the scene. The park has identified an 'operational error,' likely an unlocked gate, as the cause of the escape and is reviewing protocols to prevent recurrence. Mish and Lucy, orphaned in Albania and now favorites among visitors, remain safe as the park reemphasizes the enclosure's structural integrity.