When IAR President Alan Knight visited Armenia in September, he went with a colleague with partners FPWC to the Miracle Garden restaurant near the capital city Yerevan. There they found two caged bears kept as an attraction for diners.
Knight recalls: “In spite of the sunshine lighting up the walls of their concrete prison, my heart sank at the misery of the bears inside. There were two beautiful bears, a massive dark brown male and a smaller female, locked in a cage for people to gawp at. They were in a small barren cage in the full glare of the sun, with a tiny pool no bigger than a bath and a small dark den to hide in, the floor wet with urine and faeces.”
The bears had nothing to occupy and amuse them. There was no log to climb or hanging tyre to swing on. Nothing to stave off the mind-numbing boredom. They had no freedom to do things wild bears do, like roaming in the hills, sniffing the mountain air and foraging for fruit and berries.”
We have named the two bears Bruno and Bella. Bruno is a giant of a bear but he was a pitiful sight, pacing to and fro behind the bars. Bella hid in the gloom of the den, out of the sunlight and away from visitors on their way to the restaurant who shouted and whistled at her as she cowered in the shadows.
The scene was horribly similar to the story of Max and Minnie, the two caged bears we rescued from a bus depot five years ago. They too were living in appalling conditions. Now Bruno and Bella are in need of rescue and we are seeking our supporters’ help in working to set them free.
Unfortunately, we aren’t in a position to free any more caged bears because the existing sanctuary in Urtsadzor is full. The latest rescue of six bears from miserable conditions in a private zoo has filled the centre to bursting point.
In our Christmas appeal to supporters, Knight says: “It’s a huge achievement to have filled the centre with rescued bears – and it’s all thanks to you! Now, together, we must push ahead with plans for a bigger, better bear rescue centre so that we can save Bruno, Bella and all the other bears still living in cages in Armenia. And there could be as many as 50 still to rescue… That’s why I urgently need your help.”
We are at the beginning of an exciting new phase of the Great Bear Rescue Project which involves building a new ‘Great Bear Rescue Centre’ and pushing ahead with the rescue of all the remaining caged bears in Armenia.
The project is already gathering momentum. Working with FPWC in Armenia, 50 acres of land have been purchased not far from Yerevan. The location and climate are perfect for bears. It isn’t too hot in summer but it is very cold in winter. Ideal conditions for hibernating bears to have a long deep sleep. Architect’s plans have been drawn up and work has begun on the site to install the electricity and erect the perimeter fence. The new sanctuary will house all the bears that have already been rescued, plus all the bears like Bruno and Bella that are still desperately in need of help.
An added incentive for supporters to give to the appeal has been created by a generous donor who has agreed to match all donations made by 31st December.
Knight concludes: “I know how hard life is for so many people these days. That’s why I’m so very grateful for each and every donation towards building a new home for Bruno and Bella and others like them. And every donation made by the end of the year will be worth double, thanks to one of our very generous supporters. That is going to make a huge difference.”
We hope to have the new centre ready to take in rescued bears by autumn 2023.