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Our teddy bear selfie campaign in support of suffering bears in Armenia.

16th November 2017

We have launched a teddy bear selfie campaign in support of our Great Bear Rescue project in Armenia. Using the hashtag #thisbearcares we’re aiming to raise awareness and funds for the rescue of dozens of brown bears living in misery and squalor all across the country. The social media campaign has already won the support of a range of celebrities who will be spreading the word by posting a selfie of themselves with their teddy bear and tagging two friends, thus nominating them to do the same. We’re asking them also to share a link where people can make a donation in support of the rescue operation.

Among the celebrities supporting the campaign are TV presenter Fearne Cotton, singer-songwriter and children’s author Tom Fletcher; West End actress, author and vlogger Carrie Hope Fletcher; author, actress and TV presenter Giovanna Fletcher; TV personality Sophie Newton and West End actor Scott Paige.

Phily Kennington, our Fundraising and Digital Community Officer, says: “Celebrity support will make a huge difference to the success of this social media campaign. Well-known figures with a large following can help us reach thousands, even millions of people, enabling us to spread the word about the plight of the bears in Armenia and secure the support we need to rescue them.

“Our Great Bear Rescue campaign is already underway and, by working with the support of the Armenian government and in collaboration with our partners FPWC, we have successfully rescued a number of bears that are now in the care of the FPWC veterinary team. But there are dozens more bears being kept in appalling conditions and in urgent need of our help. The more awareness and funds we can raise, the sooner we can save them. So we’re urging everyone please to get on board with the campaign and support #thisbearcares.

Follow these steps if you would like to get involved: 

1. Find a teddy bear 

2. Take a selfie with your Teddy bear

3. Upload it onto a social media account

4. Use the hashtag #thisbearcares and include a link to www.internationalanimalrescue.org/thisbearcares

5. Make a donation at www.internationalanimalrescue.org/thisbearcares

6. Tag two friends and ask them to do the same!