Former breeding bear Wolverine’s legacy is one that will require decades of dedicated care, but for him and his children, a brighter future awaits.

Wolverine is one of the largest bears on Nanning Bear Farm – the former bear bile farm that Animals Asia is turning into a sanctuary.  A suspected half Tibetan brown, half Asiatic black bear crossbreed, Wolverine cuts as striking a figure as his X-Men namesake as he trudges around his open pasture.

He lives in a den attached to an area of open land where visitors to Flower World – a large park area which contains Nanning Bear Farm – can watch him.

Solo access to an outdoor enclosure is a rare privilege at Nanning Bear Farm but for hybrid bear Wolverine it’s no sanctuary.

The barren area, while large has precious little to keep him occupied and stimulate his natural behaviours. Flower World will eventually re-develop this land and Animals Asia will build new enclosures elsewhere.

With the land reverting to Flower World, and the space’s fundamental unsuitability, these males will soon join the rest of the bears in the sheds.

Many of the younger bears have a touch of brown to their coats, a sign that Wolverine is most likely their father. When the farm’s breeding programme was still running, sows would be brought to the outdoor enclosure during mating season.

That has now stopped as Animals Asia seeks to ensure that no more bears are born into captivity on the site. The cycle of captive breeding has been broken, but the legacy of Wolverine’s offspring will require decades more dedicated care. Care which Animals Asia and its supporters are committed to giving.

Animals Asia founder Jill Robinson said:

“Wolverine is a reminder to us that simply open space is not nearly enough for a bear.  They need enrichment, purpose built enclosures, management practices that challenge them body and mind and, ideally under captive conditions these bold, adventurous males like Wolverine would benefit from being integrated with a community.  That is our aim – not just for Wolverine but for all the bears.”

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