25 February 2026

From the USA to Belarus: How Senya the raccoon settles into new life

Senya the raccoon, who became famous after his unusual arrival from the USA inside a shipping car container, is now adapting to life at the animal park in Baranovichi, BelTA has learned.

Senya’s story touched many Belarusians, who continue to follow how his new life is unfolding. At first, the foreign guest was kept in quarantine at the Oshmyany District Veterinary Station, after which he moved to the Baranovichi animal park. He was placed in a spacious enclosure, fed various delicacies, and even received official documents: the former “illegal traveler” was issued a Belarusian passport, making him officially one of “ours”.

“Senya is a wild raccoon, so he is very cautious. The journey he went through would be a major stress for any animal. He needs time to adapt to new conditions. When a person enters the enclosure, Senya tries to hide. But we are doing everything possible to help him get used to people and stop seeing them as a threat,” the park staff said.

When no one is around, the raccoon behaves calmly. He comes out of his shelter, explores the enclosure, walks around, and eats. “We try to create the most comfortable conditions for him, following his routine and dietary habits. Raccoons are predators: they usually eat raw meat. But for some reason, Senya prefers cooked meat. So we adjust to his new food preferences,” specialists explained. “We hope that very soon Senya will get used to people, feel safe and relaxed in the park, and that we will even be able to place him on display with other raccoons.”

The Baranovichi animal park is among the three most visited tourist attractions in Brest Oblast.

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