Voytek the soldier bear

the long version

In the mountains of Persia (Iran), soldiers of the Polish Second Army Corps. found a small bear cub. They fed and cared for him as they moved from Persia (Iran) to the Middle East and into Italy where the battle for the Monastery in Cassino, Italy, was fought. According to soldier stories and pictures, Voytek the Bear assisted the Polish Army fighting the German Luftwaffe, and won! After the war, Voytek was taken to Scotland to live in the Edinburgh Zoo where he lived for 16 years. Voytek died at the age of 21.