caged bears in southeast europe abused as pets and tourist attractions
FOUR PAWS estimates that hundreds of bears are still kept in captivity in Europe, some of them in the most appalling conditions. In Southeast Europe in particular they are often held in cages that are far too small, badly structured and inadequately equipped. Not only circuses and private owners keep animals in conditions not suited to their species, many zoos and animal parks do not fulfil the minimum standards for keeping wildlife as set out in the EU Zoos Directive.
FOUR PAWS aims to permanently improve the situation of brown bears in countries like Albania, Serbia and Croatia.
FOUR PAWS has already helped many bears in Southeast Europe, and rescued some of them from catastrophic conditions.
Together with the government of Kosovo, we have been able to rescue all the 'restaurant bears' in the country and accommodate them in our BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina. FOUR PAWS has put an end to the cruel practice of keeping dancing bears in Bulgaria and Serbia.
about 13,000
brown bears live in the wild in Southeast Europe
> 100
bears are being kept in captivity
< 8 m²
cage area for an adult bear
over 70 bears
in Southeast Europe have been saved by FOUR PAWS
