Since being rescued from a concrete enclosure by Four Paws International in 2006 and taken to a sanctuary in Germany, a bear named Otto has become recognized as a happy-go-lucky and energetic creature.
Otto’s naturally expressive temperament conveyed the astonishment of his new surroundings at Bear Sanctuary Müritz in Germany right away.
Otto and his friend Mascha, who had shared his cage and had been rescued with him, explored their new home together, lazing around on the forest floor and swimming in the luscious ponds.
Otto, on the other hand, was plainly bewildered when his first winter at the refuge arrived.
Bears confined in artificial conditions, such as Otto was before his rescue, typically lose their innate instincts that inform them when the temperature drops and it’s time to hibernate.
So when snow fell and there was a distinct chill in the air, Otto tried to figure out the best way to get through the winter just like the rest of us.
A photo snapped of the rescued bear shows one of his innovative solutions: plonking himself down on the soft snow in a patch of sun.
Four Paws commented on Facebook, “He is just constructing a nice bed to enjoy the rare sunbeams on the winter days.”
Otto has learnt to hibernate since then, spending the winter as a bear should.
We can’t all be so fortunate as to be able to hibernate, but Otto’s first winter as a free bear demonstrates that there are other ways to relax.
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