AHEAD of Saturday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup Final between England and Canada, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, a zoo and conservation charity in North Somerset, turned to its spectacled bears to predict the winner.

The squad of bears at the Zoo were given two boxes of delicious treats – one flying the St George’s Cross, the other marked with the Canadian maple leaf. After some playful scrums, including passing a pumpkin disguised as a rugby ball, the result was clear: England for the win!

The Red Roses go into Saturday’s Grand Final on a record-breaking run, and the zoo’s furry pundits are backing Captain Zoe Aldcroft and her side to triumph. Local rugby fans will also be cheering on Bristol Bears stars Sarah Bern and Abbie Ward, lining up for England in the big game.

But while the zoo’s bears are showing their sporting spirit, they’re also promoting a vital message. Noah’s Ark champions the conservation of spectacled bears, the only bear species native to South America. With as few as 2,500 mature individuals left in the wild, they face serious threats from habitat loss and climate change.

Noah’s Ark is home to a family of spectacled bears, including breeding pair Madidi and Rasu, and their twin cubs Tuichi and Beni.

The zoo is proud to support the Spectacled Bear Conservation Society (SBC) in Peru, which works to protect the species through community empowerment, scientific research, and habitat protection. By raising awareness in the UK and shedding light on the plight of these bears in the wild, Noah’s Ark helps to generate vital funds to support SBC’s conservation efforts.

Larry Bush, managing director of Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, said: “Our bears might be backing England, but off the pitch, their biggest win is raising awareness for a species on the brink. Rugby fever has gripped the nation and we’ll be roaring alongside the Red Roses this weekend.”