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Huge crowds expected at Wildwood Trust near Herne Bay as bear duo make return to enclosure

Two brown bears will be making a return to their enclosure after winter self-isolation.

Popular duo, Fluff and Scruff, have spent the past four months hibernating in the warmth since November.

Wildwood bears Fluff and Scruff are set to make a return
Wildwood bears Fluff and Scruff are set to make a return

The animals have been in a heavily-reduced state of activity called "torpor", in which their metabolism slows and they become very sleepy.

It is a survival tactic they would use in the wild to make it through periods when food is scarce.

The return of the bears is usually a big event for Wildwood, based in Herne Common, with several hundred visitors entering a raffle to open the gate to let them back into their big enclosure.

A post by Wildwood Trust on Facebook states: "It's the moment we've all been waiting for. Fluff and Scruff have been in torpor since November and are now awake and almost ready to rejoin us!

"Join us on Sunday, March 27 to officially welcome our boys back into their main enclosure."

The bears have been at the park for seven years
The bears have been at the park for seven years

Anyone who arrives before 11.30am will receive a raffle ticket.

A draw will be held at 12.15pm where the lucky winner will get a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to open the gate to let them out.

The post adds: "Please note, you will need to book your visit. We are expecting a large number of visitors so make sure to book your visit on our website."

Having not been fed for four months, the bears will have lost a lot of weight - so they spend hours each day foraging for berries, nuts, roots and leaves.

Named torpor, the bears' self-isolation results in a heavily-reduced state of activity as their metabolism slows and they become very sleepy.

The pair were rescued by the team at Wildwood from Bulgaria back in November 2014.

They were living a life of neglect in barren concrete cells at a disused bear breeding station.

For more information on booking your visit, click here.

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