Good news again, from Thomas the Bear! Recently, with the efforts of the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) and the International Animal Rescue (IAR), a team of international veterinarians has arrived in Armenia to perform a series of difficult surgeries, in an effort to make the animals more comfortable.

When the FPWC moved Thomas Bear to Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC), from his cage in Artashat town of Ararat province, the animal’s teeth condition was disturbing, which would inevitably affect Thomas’s well-being and normal life.

Thomas received the help of the best professionals, now.

The Syrian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos syriacus) is listed in the Red Register of Armenia, and now is included in the IUCN Red List (ver.1.1) as “Least Concern”. According to IUCN Red Listing Standards, VU B2ab (iii, iv) it is assessed as Vulnerable. According to the data of Red book of Armenia, the species has a very large habitat (Eurasia and North America). In Armenia, they live in Ararat, Vayots Dzor, Syunik, Tavush, Lori, Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions.

Sometimes they can be seen at Shirak and Aragatsotn regions. They were spotted on heights ranging from 400-500 to 3,000m. above sea level. According to the RA Red Register, their number is unknown, but it is likely to be stable. The fact that the bears often enter the villages, damaging the fruit orchards and beehives, cannot be considered as a sign of the existence of large numbers. More likely, this is a result of biotopes degradation and lack of feeding resources, which leads to the fragmentation of the animal population.