Bears Emerge from Slumber: “March Napness” Bracket Challenge Begins In a unique blend of wildlife observation and friendly competition, the international animal welfare organization, Four Paws, has launched “March Napness,” a bracket-style tournament that tracks when bears at sanctuaries across Europe will emerge from hibernation

**Bears Emerge from Slumber: “March Napness” Bracket Challenge Begins**

In a unique blend of wildlife observation and friendly competition, the international animal welfare organization, Four Paws, has launched “March Napness,” a bracket-style tournament that tracks when bears at sanctuaries across Europe will emerge from hibernation.

The March Napness challenge, inspired by the popular March Madness basketball tournament, pits 15 bears from various European sanctuaries against each other in a competition to guess which bear will wake up first. The bracket, which can be followed online, features a range of bear species, including brown bears, black bears, and even a few rescued from cruel circus acts.

The bears participating in the challenge are from sanctuaries in countries such as Germany, Austria, and Romania. Each bear has been tracked and monitored by their caretakers, who have provided updates on their hibernation patterns and expected wake-up times.

The bracket is divided into rounds, with the winner of each matchup advancing to the next round. The bear that emerges from hibernation first will be crowned the champion.

“We’re thrilled to launch March Napness, a fun and educational initiative that raises awareness about the plight of bears in sanctuaries across Europe,” said Dr. Barbara Cartmill, a wildlife expert at Four Paws. “By tracking the hibernation patterns of these amazing animals, we hope to inspire a new appreciation for these incredible creatures and the work of sanctuaries that care for them.”

The March Napness bracket is open to anyone who wants to participate. Fans can follow the tournament online, filling out their own brackets and competing against others to see who can correctly predict the winner.

Some of the participating bears include:

* Bertha, a 5-year-old brown bear from the Bear Sanctuary in Germany
* Boris, a 10-year-old black bear from the Loro Parque sanctuary in Austria
* Luna, a 3-year-old brown bear from the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Romania

The March Napness challenge runs from March 1st to April 15th, with the winner expected to emerge in the coming weeks. To follow the tournament and fill out your own bracket, visit the Four Paws website.

**Current Standings:**

Round 1:

* Bertha (Germany) vs. Ursula (Austria)
* Boris (Austria) vs. Rocky (Romania)
* Luna (Romania) vs. Norbert (Germany)

Stay tuned for updates on the March Napness tournament, and join the fun by filling out your own bracket and cheering on your favorite bear!