Post by diane9247 on Jul 23, 2015 7:50:22 GMT
Libearty Bear Sanctuary.kmz (921 B)
The Libearty Bear Sanctuary was founded in 2005 near the city of Zărnești, Romania, to care for brown bears - and one Asian black bear - formerly used as entertainment at restaurants, gas stations, hotels and even a monastery. Feeding was left to patrons who could, if they felt like it, toss leftovers into the cages. Some were in zoos or circuses. All are in need of protection and rehabilitation after years of abuse. A common history among the bears is starvation, dehydration and being locked in small cages for years.
The European brown bear is a strictly protected under the Berne Convention for the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats. Romania ratified the Berne Convention in 1993, but it was not until 2005 that it became illegal in Romania to own bears taken from the wild.* In 2005, WSPA (the World Society for the Protection of Animals), joined the AMA (Association for the Protection of Animals) to build the sanctuary. Over the years, many tourists have reported cases of bear abuse to authorities and there was finally a place to take them.
A paradise for former captives...
Gina
Zorro
Marita
Charles
Two million euros ($2.2 million), which seems a very small amount, have been invested in the sanctuary, which received over 20,000 tourists in 2014. About 60% of visitors were foreigners. The sanctuary is for the bears, not humans, so visits are by appointment. There are about 6,000 bears in the wild in Romania. The sanctuary bears can never be released into the wild, as they would not be able to hunt or to defend themselves.
Photos and information are from the sanctuary website and this news article.
To "adopt" a bear or donate, click here.
*This begs the question of what happens to Romanian bears born in captivity before 2005.
The Libearty Bear Sanctuary was founded in 2005 near the city of Zărnești, Romania, to care for brown bears - and one Asian black bear - formerly used as entertainment at restaurants, gas stations, hotels and even a monastery. Feeding was left to patrons who could, if they felt like it, toss leftovers into the cages. Some were in zoos or circuses. All are in need of protection and rehabilitation after years of abuse. A common history among the bears is starvation, dehydration and being locked in small cages for years.
...80 bears rescued from captivity have been taken in to be healed of trauma at the "Libearty" sanctuary, but the process can be slow.
Mura for instance instinctively begins to dance at mealtimes. "She's still afraid she won't be fed if she doesn't dance," Libearty guide Paula Ciotlos told AFP.
After doing tricks for the Globus circus in Bucharest for five years, Mura one day obstinately refused to keep performing and was finally handed over to the sanctuary by her owner. [Source]
Mura for instance instinctively begins to dance at mealtimes. "She's still afraid she won't be fed if she doesn't dance," Libearty guide Paula Ciotlos told AFP.
After doing tricks for the Globus circus in Bucharest for five years, Mura one day obstinately refused to keep performing and was finally handed over to the sanctuary by her owner. [Source]
The European brown bear is a strictly protected under the Berne Convention for the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats. Romania ratified the Berne Convention in 1993, but it was not until 2005 that it became illegal in Romania to own bears taken from the wild.* In 2005, WSPA (the World Society for the Protection of Animals), joined the AMA (Association for the Protection of Animals) to build the sanctuary. Over the years, many tourists have reported cases of bear abuse to authorities and there was finally a place to take them.
Recognised by many captive bear specialists as probably the best bear sanctuary in the world, it consists of 69 hectares [170 acres] of lush forests, streams and pools, graciously provided by the City of Zărnești, located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains near Brașov, Romania. [...] Several bears also came to the sanctuary after Romania’s EU accession led to the permanent phasing out of some of the worst zoos in the country. The Libearty Sanctuary is also proud to host Betsy, a rescued bear from Texas who came to us through the intervention of Houston SPCA (USA). [Source]
A paradise for former captives...
Gina
Zorro
Marita
Charles
Two million euros ($2.2 million), which seems a very small amount, have been invested in the sanctuary, which received over 20,000 tourists in 2014. About 60% of visitors were foreigners. The sanctuary is for the bears, not humans, so visits are by appointment. There are about 6,000 bears in the wild in Romania. The sanctuary bears can never be released into the wild, as they would not be able to hunt or to defend themselves.
Photos and information are from the sanctuary website and this news article.
To "adopt" a bear or donate, click here.
*This begs the question of what happens to Romanian bears born in captivity before 2005.
