In May 2007, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded to reports of an injured bear and cub in the Osceola National Forest, caught in the "Bugaboo" fire that burned across Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida. A team of rescuers were able to locate and capture the injured bears and transfer them to the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center (UF VMC) in Gainesville for emergency care. The sow suffered third-degree burns on all four feet and the cub was dehydrated but untouched by the fire. The bears were transferred to Disney's Animal Kingdom (DAK) for continuing medical treatment and rehabilitation. Mother and cub arrived as wild bears, and every effort and treatment plan centered on keeping the bears wild. For the next 30 days, members of the veterinary, animal nutrition, and horticulture teams partnered to provide medical care and natural food items (berries, cabbage palm, fish, etc.) in a safe and secure environment that limited human contact. Exactly 30 days after their arrival at DAK, the sow's wounds had healed and in June, a team of biologists and veterinarians from the FWC, Disney, and UF VMC released the mother and her cub back into the Osceola National Forest.
These bears are an amazing example of the partnership between Disney and Florida wildlife officials. These partnerships are crucial to protecting wildlife and wild places in Disney's "backyard" and around the world. Previously, Disney stepped in to rehabilitate other animals such as Florida panthers and whooping cranes.
