European brown bear

Brown bear facts

Are there European brown bears at Whipsnade Zoo? 

Whipsnade Zoo is home to four European brown bears. Cinderella was joined by Mana, Minion and Naya in April 2023. Sisters Mana and Minion, who are four-years-old, have moved to the UK’s largest zoo with one-year-old Naya, from Orsa Predator Park in Sweden. Over winter, our bears are in torpor in their back dens, but they'll become more active again in the spring. 

What do European brown bears look like? 

European brown bears are one of the largest species of bear. As the name indicates, they are covered in brown fur, with the colours varying from a yellow brown to a dark brown. The bears are equipped with large paws, and claws that can grow up to 10cm long! 

What do European brown bears eat?

A European brown bear’s diet is made up of a mixture of grasses, berries, sedges, fungi, mosses, nuts, fruit, honey, insects, birds and fish.

What threats do European brown bears face in the wild? 

While European brown bears are recognised as Least Concern on the IUCN red list, the threats they face include hunting and habitat loss. 

Visit Whipsnade Zoo