While basketball fans are gearing up for March Madness, the Rescue Bears are indulging in a March nap.
Once again, the animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS is looking for the world’s most flammable bear with its 2nd annual March Napness bracket competition. This year’s competition is a (bed) head-to-head battle to see who can stay in hibernation the longest. The players are 23 rescue bears who live in six FOUR PAWS sanctuaries around the world.
The animal athletes in this relaxing competition are currently hibernating after entering their dens at the end of last year. The bear that wakes up last and comes out of its den will win the March nap and win the title of the sleepiest bear in 2024.
Starting March 1, fans can join FOUR PAWS in following the bear that wakes up and is eliminated from the competition. The organization will post weekly updates on social media about which of the 23 bears have completed their hibernation period and a chance to win the title of the sleepiest bear.
Among the bears hibernating for victory this year is Mark, a competitive and hibernating novice. Mark, who is estimated to be around 26 years old, spent most of his life as a “restaurant bear” in Albania, according to FOUR PAWS, meaning the animal was kept in a small house next to the restaurant to attract customers.
Unusually tiny 15-pound bear found in suburban Arizona and now living at Bearizona Wildlife Park
Living in a cage on a concrete floor prevented Mark from enjoying natural bear behaviors such as foraging and hibernation. Fortunately, in December 2022, Marko was rescued from his life as a restaurant attraction by the organization CHETIRI SHAPE, which relocated the animal to the Arbesbach bear sanctuary in Austria.
Mark the bear.
Courtesy of FOUR PAWS
His rescuers were unsure if Mark would hibernate in the sanctuary after spending his life in unnatural conditions and poor nutrition. But when Mark moved into the open air of the sanctuary, where he had space to explore and be a bear, the animal surprised his caretakers. In late 2023, Mark entered his lair and remained there during his first full hibernation.
The bear that spent its life in an ‘inhumane and unhygienic’ cage is enjoying the outdoors for the first time
With this move, Mark earned the right to win the title of the most flammable bear, which in 2023 went to the bear Maschi from Sanctuary Muritz in Germany. Fans who think Mark is dedicated enough to sleep to win the contest can place him as the champion in the interactive group available through FOUR PAWS.
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Tag a bear at the FOUR PAWS Arbesbach Bear Sanctuary in Austria.
Courtesy of FOUR PAWS
The organization said fans can expect the March nap to extend into mid-to-late April. The last bear to come out of hibernation and wait for warmer weather will win.
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To learn more about the March Napness contest and how to follow it, visit the FOUR PAWS website.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education