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Bern bears find new home in Romania

Bern bears Ursina and Berna are to be moved to Romania Keystone

Ursina and Berna, two European brown bears in residence at the Bern Bear Park, will be given a new home in Romania.

The female twin cubs were born in the Bern Bear Park in December 2009. As mother bears reject their cubs when they are old enough to survive on their own, they must be found a new home.

A spokesman for the bear park said Ursina and Berna would be moved to a reserve near Zarnesti, 200 kilometres northwest of the capital Bucharest.

The 80-hectare reserve is operated by the Christina Lapis Foundation and is home to 56 bears rescued from mistreatment as circus animals or zoo attractions.

The Bern Bear Park will pay the reserve SFr20,000 ($23,600) a year to keep Ursina and Berna. It is understood the bears will move to their new home before spring.

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