When Rick first arrived at the refuge, it took him some time to adjust to his new surroundings and make himself at home.
Riku remained in a small hut for some time, unable to leave due to shackles. The bear had spent his entire life in a small cage next to a home in Albania, according to rescuers; however, by the time he was two, Riku had grown significantly and his owner no longer wanted to keep him.
Riku had no idea what the sun or grass were because he had been imprisoned for the first several years of his life and couldn’t even go outside.
After obtaining the cat from its previous owner, the rescuers delivered it to a Bulgarian animal shelter. This facility specializes in assisting animals that have previously been abused, and the local staff is knowledgeable about rehabilitation. A large park on the center’s property is used to create the conditions for bear rehabilitation.
Hibernating is the most difficult task for the rescued bears, according to experts. Captive animals are unable to establish their own lairs, preventing them from acting in accordance with their biorhythms. As a result, they are unable to prepare for and enter hibernation when they are awake. Bears frequently hibernate multiple times before their natural instincts take over.
The rescuers lack a practical solution to help Rick solve this problem.
Last year, there was no possibility of a dream because the infant was too preoccupied, and the first snow allowed him to experience such a wide range of emotions. Nobody knows what the bear will do this winter.
Riku was too preoccupied with his newfound freedom to work on den construction while the other bears in the center were. Instead, he spent his time playing and using everything in his reach as a toy.
The center’s staff is hopeful that everything will work out for Riku this year, especially since he has been so calm and content recently. Even if the bear does not sleep this time, he will not be bored and will find something to do during the winter.
