Brunhilda's New Beginning: orphaned brown bear arrives at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park

Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park has welcomed a brown bear called Brunhilda, from Romania, to their reserve.

Jimmy Doherty, founder and CEO of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park was delighted at the safe arrival of Brunhilda:

“We couldn’t be more delighted to welcome Brunhilda to her forever home. Her journey reflects everything we stand for—providing a safe, caring environment for animals in need and giving them a second chance at life.”

Brunhilda is joining Diego, rescued earlier this year, at the Suffolk-based Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, a regional centre of excellence for British native breeds and exotic species conservation. The aim is to rescue protected and endangered species whilst promoting a wider understanding of the natural world and inspiring future generations to support and protect wildlife.

JFWP, partnered with Bears in Mind, an incredible organisation dedicated to protecting bears worldwide. They rescue bears from appalling conditions, fight for the conservation of their habitats, and use their expertise to improve the lives of bears both in the wild and captivity. Simply put, they’re heroes for bears. Bears in Mind work with Bear Again, the ‘only centre for rehabilitation of orphan bears in Europe’ as stated on their Instagram page.

In the autumn of 2021, Bear Again welcomed a young bear from Belarus with the hope of rehabilitating and eventually returning him to his homeland. After a temporary stay at a Zoo and a lengthy bureaucratic process, generous supporters helped bring him to Bear Again for rehabilitation. This bear, like many others in their care, was discovered alone in the forest, with no trace of his mother.

Named Milan by his rescuers, the bear began the familiar journey of recovery, growing into an exceptionally beautiful animal. When the time came to release him, Bear Again prepared to send him back to Belarus. Unfortunately, political tensions and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine halted those plans—no transport companies were willing to return him to Belarus. Another year passed with little hope for resolution, and Milan’s companions were eventually released. When Bear Again prepared Milan for a transfer to their special holding enclosure, they made a surprising discovery: Milan was, in fact, a robust young female, a detail that had been misidentified. Her return to the wild now off the table, Bear Again grew closer to this remarkable bear, who had already been through so much. To mark this new chapter, she was given a new name—Brunhilda.

Bear Again were sadly unable to keep Brunhilda at their site:

“Regrettably, our facility isn't equipped to accommodate adult bears, so we had to find her a new home.”

“It was an incredibly difficult decision for us, as she felt like a family member, but sometimes we must make rational choices, even when our emotions tell us otherwise. We’ll visit her from time to time and will always think of her as our child, thriving in a new land.”

Bears in Mind were grateful to Jimmy Doherty and the team for taking on the bear saying:

“Bears in Mind is very pleased and grateful with the rescue and relocation of bear Brunhilda, an important ambassador for her species in the wild, from Romania to Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park in the UK. We are confident she will be a great playing companion for resident bear Diego and enrich each other’s daily lives in their beautiful naturalistic environment that is their home.”

Stevie Sheppard, Park Director at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park said:

“Her entire wild life was taken from her due to forces beyond her control—greed, money, power, and space. People need to hear this because many are simply unaware. We’re honoured to be part of her story and look forward to sharing her journey with our visitors. She embodies the very heart of our mission here at the park.”