Animals / Aquariums / Archeology / Insects / Fossils / Zoos

Feb. 10, 1966 - Runaway Bears Get New Maximum Security Quarters: For prison Governors and zoo keepers the problem is the same: how to keep the daring and the dangerous safely confined behind bars. In the case of feur of the Great Train Robbers it meant their transfer from closely-guarded Durham Jail to maximum security quarters at Parkhurst Prison en the Isle of Wight was humming with news of two other notorious figures, none other than Nikita and Valentina, the Russian bears who spent twelve days of last month on the lease after slipping out of their cage in the Children's Zoo at Ryds, Isle of Wight. They were being packed off to a new maximum security wing at Knaresborough Zoo in Yorkshire. Strong precautions were taken with their removal. Both the bears were looked in an extra-strong metal lion's cage. Photo shows The Russian bears, Nikita and Valentina pictured in their new security wing at Knaresborough Zoo with their new keeper, 17-year-old Julia Nichols. (Credit Image: © Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS.com)