Visitors had to be escorted to a secure building
Bear cubs Mish and Lucy(Image: Wildwood Escot)
Two bears who escaped from their enclosure in a South West tourist attraction helped themselves to a week’s worth of honey before being returned to their home.
The incident, which took place at Escot Park, part of Wildwood Devon, near Ottery St Mary, saw a major police response.
A police helicopter was seen circling the Devon area and visitors were taken to safety.
The two bears, Mish and Lucy, escaped to the food store to help themselves to a selection of snacks.
The pair, who are both five years old, had a week’s worth of honey before being returned to their enclosure.
The incident lasted around an hour and the bears were closely monitored during the process.
A spokesperson for Wildwood Devon said: “Two young bears escaped from their enclosure at Wildwood Devon this afternoon, heading straight for their food store.
“Mish and Lucy (both five years old), who posed no threat to the public at any point, enjoyed a selection of snacks – including a week’s worth of honey – before being safely returned to their enclosure by the expert keeper team within the hour.
“As a precaution, all visitors on site were promptly escorted to a secure building.
“The bears were continuously monitored both on the ground and via CCTV until they calmly returned to their enclosure and fell asleep.
“In line with standard protocol, police attended the scene, and an investigation is now underway to determine how the incident occurred.
“The exhibit is secure, and we are grateful to our staff and visitors for their cooperation, which helped us resolve the situation swiftly and safely.
“Wildwood Devon will be open as usual from tomorrow.”
A local school advised parents whose children usually walk home alone to pick them up instead whilst the bears were on the loose.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We were made aware of two resident bears having escaped from their home at Escot Park on the afternoon of Monday, June 23.
“Specialist officers attended and visitors taken to places of safety.
“The bears were safely returned to their area and secured.”