Orphan bear cubs rescued in new Wild Bear Rescue TV series

Jul 28 2016, 1:24 am

A new Canadian documentary TV series is going behind the scenes of one of BC’s busiest animal shelters, as they save starving and distressed orphaned bear cubs.

Wild Bear Rescue will follow the Langen family and their volunteers at the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter in Smithers as they rehabilitate the young bears.

Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter manager and co-founder Angelika Langen comforts an orphan black bear cub at the vet’s office. (Nick Quenville/Omnifilm Entertainment)

Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter manager and co-founder Angelika Langen comforts an orphan black bear cub at the vet’s office. (Nick Quenville/Omnifilm Entertainment)

After being rescued, the orphaned bear cubs are raised at the shelter until they can survive on their own, and then released back into the wild.

Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter is a unique animal shelter, the only such shelter in the world also licensed to rescue and release orphan grizzly cubs.

Valentine, an orphan grizzly rescued from a ski resort near Golden in December, 2014. (Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter)

Valentine, an orphan grizzly rescued from a ski resort near Golden in December, 2014. (Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter)

Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter co-founder Peter Langen feeds the grizzlies at his unique facility in Smithers, BC (Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter)

Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter co-founder Peter Langen feeds the grizzlies at his unique facility in Smithers, BC (Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter)

If a call comes in that a car has hit a mother grizzly or a hunter has killed a black bear with four tiny cubs, the team at the shelter drops everything and rushes to the rescue.

Opened in 1990, the shelter is currently having its busiest season ever, caring for around 25 bears right now, with at least 20 more expected in the fall.

Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter co-founder Peter Langen cares for an orphan black bear at his facility in Smithers, BC (Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter).jpg

Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter co-founder Peter Langen cares for an orphan black bear at his facility in Smithers, BC (Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter).jpg

Since opening the shelter, owners Angelika and Peter Langen have rescued more than 360 black bears, 18 grizzlies, and three Kermode bears.

Wild Bear Rescue is being produced by Omnifilm Entertainment and will air on Animal Planet Canada in 2017.

Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter volunteer Kim Gruijs bottle-feeds two orphan black bears. (Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter)

Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter volunteer Kim Gruijs bottle-feeds two orphan black bears. (Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter)

Daily Hive StaffDaily Hive Staff

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