BEARS FIND A HOME THAT'S JUST RIGHT IN THE FAR EAST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VLADIVOSTOK 000009 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV SCUL PGOV RS SUBJECT: BEARS FIND A HOME THAT'S JUST RIGHT IN THE FAR EAST VLADIVOSTO 00000009 001.2 OF 002 Summary ¶1. Bears and pensioners, both prisoners of the Russian bureaucracy, are trying to survive together. Mr. Ivan Leschenko and his wife, Lyubov, have "inherited" a wildlife refuge for eight Himalayan bears. The regional government considers the Himalayan bear to be property of the state, but it does not provide any financial support for this shelter. The Leschenko's have no choice but to manage this shelter on their modest retirement income. Past . . . ¶2. During Mr. Leschenko's 40 years as a game warden, he saved many wild animals that were injured by poachers, including tigers, bears and wild boars. Ten years ago, regional authorities created a shelter for wounded or abandoned animals in the town of Dubovy Klyuch (less than two hours from Vladivostok). The shelter was run by Mr. Leschenko and located next to his summer hut. Fences, cages and provisions were funded by the regional hunting department. Hunters, environmentalists, or concerned local citizens brought injured and abandoned animals to Mr. Leschenko. In 2006, the nature protection agency was restructured and the district hunting management department was closed. Mr. Leschenko was dismissed and the shelter's funding was stopped. Instead of relocating the animals, the regional government simply abandoned them. Mr. Leschenko, age 75, and his wife, Lyubov, age 74, now privately manage the unsanctioned refuge. ¶3. This shelter is technically operating without a license. Aleksey Surovyi of the Primorye Regional Hunting Management Department advised reporters that Mr. Leschenko is considered "a law breaker, since he keeps bears illegally, without a special license." A license cannot be issued since the regional government has no records of the shelter, and at the same time, the regional government will not subsidize the refuge since it is operating without proper authorization. The bears cannot be released into the wild since they have been in captivity too long and will not survive on their own. Himalayan bears are considered state property and cannot be sold or placed in a zoo without special authorization. ¶4. Upon closure of the shelter, Mr. Leschenko performed the required treatment of the injured animals and released most of them into the wild, with the exception of eleven bears that had been raised by humans since they were cubs. The Leschenkos explored the possibility of placing the bears in zoos or circuses, but because of lack of appropriate documentation, their attempts were futile. The government would not provide the necessary authorization, and instead totally erased this shelter from state documents. Several attempts by Leschenko to draw officials' attention to the needs of the shelter were ineffective. The Leschenko's had no choice but to manage this shelter on their modest retirement income. Present . . . ¶5. The Leschenkos spend two thirds of their modest retirement income to feed the bears. Additional costs are covered by donations from a few local citizens, random visitors, an occasional businessman, and U.S. Consulate staff. Visitors report that the bears appear to be in good health and live in good conditions. In late fall, "officials" visited the bear refuge and removed the three oldest bears. Mr. Leschenko was advised that they were being relocated to another shelter which would be more comfortable for large bears. Mr. Leschenko contacted this other shelter and learned that the bears were never delivered. It is Mr. Leschenko's opinion that the bears were delivered to a hunting farm and killed by game hunters who paid a hefty fee for this privilege of hunting "wild bears". . . . and Future of the Shelter VLADIVOSTO 00000009 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. There is discussion that the newly organized Primorye Nature Resource and Protection Department may establish another official wildlife shelter. This could be an ideal solution for the bears, however, discussions to create a new shelter are only beginning. The Leschenko's realize that they need to find someone with a love for wildlife to take over for them when they pass away. Comment ¶7. The current Russian system has already demonstrated its inability or unwillingness to handle wildlife issues unless intervention is dictated at the highest level. The endangered Amur Tiger benefited from this intervention when a special program was created to protect the tiger's habitat in two national parks -- Udege Legend and Zov Tigra. Even Vladivostok Mayor Igor Pushlaryov supported the tigers with a contribution to the Yudin's wildlife rehabilitation center located in Gaivoron, to the northwest of Vladivostok. Such support is much appreciated by conservationists, but immediate action is required from the Russian federal government to stop poaching and to enforce efficient environmental protection policies. In the meantime, the Leschenko's are providing at least a temporary haven for some very lucky Himalayan bears. ARMBRUSTER