Recent heavy showers have proven to be a welcome relief for residents at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in Sandown — especially its most famous duo, rescued brown bears Benji and Balu.
The rainfall has helped top up a specially designed rainwater pond, part of an innovative water recycling system installed at the site earlier this year.
The bears, who were rescued from poor conditions in Azerbaijan and rehomed on the Isle of Wight earlier this year, have been spotted cooling off in the pond throughout the Summer.
Rather than using mains water — now under pressure across the Island due to hosepipe bans and dry spells — the sanctuary uses a system that harvests runoff from the café roof. That water is then filtered and directed down to the bears’ pond, reducing demand on local supplies while helping the animals stay cool and comfortable.
The project forms part of a £200,000 investment in sustainable drainage, known as a SuDS Safari, backed by Southern Water. It’s aimed not only at improving animal habitats but also at easing pressure on local infrastructure — reducing the risk of storm overflows and flooding.
Other improvements include permeable paving, rain gardens and a specially designed wetland pond that naturally fills and drains depending on the weather.
Joanne Wood, Partnerships Delivery Manager at Southern Water, has said:
“It has been so exciting to help the sanctuary and its amazing animals.
“Managing the water cycle better here will in turn help the environment beyond its boundaries, reducing the number of storm overflows and flooding incidents, which will all contribute to healthier rivers and seas on the Isle of Wight.”
The rainwater-fed pool is just one part of Benji and Balu’s expanded enclosure, which also includes play equipment and natural landscaping to mimic wild environments — a far cry from the concrete cages they once called home.
Pity they are not helping the pond next door which is going down and down
Pity they re not helping the old Canoe lake next door and the wildlife it supports as the water level is going down and down
So true, the wildlife are struggling.
Funny how this fills with water and the old canoe lake is running dry. So some bears are more important than our native species now?