Etihad Cargo recently demonstrated its dedication to animal welfare and conservation through a very special project, this summer: the transport of two rescued brown bears from Russia to a wildlife sanctuary in County Donegal called Wild Ireland. The two bears, Bu and Tyapa, had spent years in poor conditions in Dagestan, Russia. Bu suffered the abuse of having to perform in a circus, while Tyapa lived a life of misery at a petting zoo. Their new life began on 04AUG26, upon landing in Ireland, closing an international rescue campaign that had taken 5 years to complete and where over 100 people in several countries had been involved. At the helm of the project: Killian McLaughlin, Wild Ireland’s Founder and Director.
IATA CEIV Live Animals-certified Etihad Cargo carried the bears from Moscow to Dublin, routing them through its Abu Dhabi hub. Its teams worked alongside Abu Dhabi Airports and Velora, to arrange specialist handling and transit at Zayed International Airport. Last month, the bears settled into their new woodland habitat at Wild Ireland. They are showing promising signs of recovery and are steadily getting used to their natural surroundings. Moondance Productions, based in Abu Dhabi, filmed the rescue and a documentary covering the full five-year journey is due for release next year.
Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer at Etihad, stated: “At Etihad Cargo, we believe our global network and expertise can play a meaningful role in supporting wildlife conservation and animal welfare. Bu and Tyapa’s rescue is a powerful example of how collaboration can give animals a second chance at life. We are proud to have supported this remarkable mission alongside our partners, demonstrating that what we do goes beyond connecting markets to making a positive difference.”
Killian McLaughlin, Founder and Director of Wild Ireland, said: “After five years of challenges, seeing Bu and Tyapa finally reach their new home is incredibly rewarding. This rescue would not have been possible without the kindness, determination and collaboration of people across multiple countries. Together, we have given these bears the chance of a better life.”
Shane Brennan, CEO of Moondance Productions, commented: “Watching Killian, Etihad Cargo and so many international partners come together to give two neglected bears a second chance has filled me with real hope in an age that can often feel increasingly bleak. As filmmakers, it has been both a privilege and a passion to capture this extraordinary journey across continents.”
