Bears in Albania
The cruel keeping of bears in captivity nearly set to end
When FOUR PAWS began its work in Albania in 2015, more than 30 bears were living a miserable existence cooped up in tiny cages next to restaurants or hotels where they were put on show to attract tourists. These confined conditions in an environment unsuited to the species were very stressful for the animals, both physically as well as mentally. Consequently, many of the bears were in a poor overall condition: emaciated or displaying behavioural disorders.
A major milestone
In March 2016, FOUR PAWS signed a declaration of intent with the Albanian Environment Ministry with the goal of finding a permanent solution in line with animal welfare standards for the many Albanian bears living in captivity in catastrophic conditions. Since then, more than 30 bears have been rescued in cooperation with the Albanian authorities and other animal welfare organisations and transferred to wildlife rescue centres abroad. Ten of these bears today live in FOUR PAWS bear sanctuaries and partner projects in Kosovo, Switzerland, Germany and Bulgaria.
Our plans in Albania
Currently there is only one bear left that is kept and publicly exposed close to a restaurant in Tirana. In cooperation with Albanian authorities, FOUR PAWS is working on a solution for 'Albania’s last restaurant bear' in order to end this cruel exposure and abuse of bears for entertainment purpose in Albania for good.
Still, the work of FOUR PAWS in Albania is not yet done, as there are reports about bears being found orphaned in the wild and ending up in illegal private keeping or being abused for other illicit activities every year. FOUR PAWS is reiterating its urgent call for the establishment of a wildlife sanctuary in Albania in order to help these bears and other native wildlife species in need of rescue and professional care. FOUR PAWS considers the establishment of a sanctuary as essential for the law enforcement and accommodation of native wild animals in a species-appropriate environment. In addition, such a project will play a key role in raising public awareness for the needs of these animals, and wild fauna protection in general. FOUR PAWS repeatedly offered to support the Albanian government in its efforts to build such a facility, and the Albanian Minister for Tourism and Environment expressed his commitment for this project several times but without any consequences.
Furthermore, FOUR PAWS will continue advocating for improvements in Albanian legislation and consistent law enforcement on wildlife protection.
FOUR PAWS HELPS ANIMALS IN DISTRESS
A new life for bears in Albania
WHAT FOUR PAWs has achieved in Albania so far:
November 2020
FOUR PAWS becomes official member of the newly established National Wildlife Council in Albania. The role of this council, comprising members of several national institutions and authorities as well as NGOs, is to act as consultative body for the Ministry of Tourism and Environment in Albania for wildlife management & conservation topics. In frame of its membership, FOUR PAWS will continue to push for better animal welfare in Albania and also advocate for legal improvements concerning the wildlife protection and conservation.
June 2020
An investigation published by FOUR PAWS reveals that the illegal wildlife trade in Albania is out of control: More than 35 advertisements offering protected wild animals and exotic animals for sale were found on public Albanian online market portals! Furthermore several wild animals (including the highly rare Balkan lynx) were found killed and stuffed in restaurants. Following these findings, the Albanian Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mr. Blendi Klosi, expressed his resolve to take serious measures against illegal hunting and commercial wildlife trade. A. o. the Minister ordered the establishment of a special task force to which NGOs can report their concerns and suspected cases of wildlife crime. Also, he promised to bring up and discuss possible measures against wildlife trade on online market platforms with the relevant national authorities. Read more in our press release!
May 2020
Thanks to the efforts of several international animal welfare NGOs and sanctuaries in recent years, the number of #SaddestBears in Albania decreased significantly. Now there is only one bear left that is kept close to a restaurant in Tirana. In cooperation with Albanian authorities, FOUR PAWS will work on a solution for 'Albania’s last restaurant bear' and end this cruel exposure of bears for good!
November 2019
FOUR PAWS handed over the feasibility analysis for an Albanian bear sanctuary & rescue centre to the Albanian Minister of Tourism and Environment, Blendi Klosi. It is task of the ministry now to realize and implement these plans in the foreseeable future. Of course FOUR PAWS will further monitor and support this process.
October 2019
Success: After years of advocating and campaigning from several national and international NGOs incl. FOUR PAWS Albania makes a big change to toughen measures against environmental crimes!The Criminal Code of the Albanian law has just been amended with a list of punishable offences for environmental crimes, which means that delicts such as killing, poaching or illegal trade of protected species can be sentenced to several years of prison now. Before now, such crimes were only punished with a low fine.Furthermore, the 'Law on wild fauna protection and preservation' was amended. As a result, a 'National Council on Wild Fauna' will be established whose task will be mainly to monitor and contribute to the implementation of the new law.
June 2019
Rocco has arrived in BEAR SANCTUARY Mueritz. After a long journey, the rescued bear from Albania is finally at his new home.
A total ten bears rescued in Albania now live in the FOUR PAWS bear sanctuaries and partner projects in Kosovo, Germany, Switzerland and Bulgaria.
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April 2019
The three-legged bear Dushi rescued from illegal Safari Park Zoo Fier in Albania in October 2018, arrives at BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz in Germany. Shortly after her arrival at the sanctuary she already starts to explore her new natural environment.
February 2019
Meimo and Amelia, two of the last Albanian restaurant bears, find a new home at Arosa Bear Sanctuary.
October 2018
Jointly with Albanian authorities, FOUR PAWS saves twelve wild animals, including three lions and a bear, from 'Europe's worst zoo' – the illegal Safari Zoo Park in Fier. The animals are provisionally sheltered in the capital at Tirana Zoo.
May 2018
On the occasion of the opening of the new environment education centre at BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina, the Albanian Ministry for Tourism and Environment again stresses its intention to build a bear and wildlife sanctuary near Tirana in cooperation with FOUR PAWS.
January 2018
More than 25 bears have been rescued in cooperation with Albanian authorities and other animal welfare organisations and transferred to wildlife rescue centres abroad.
November 2017
FOUR PAWS submits 424,691 signatures demanding a state ban on the cruel keeping of bears in Albania to the new Albanian minister of tourism and the environment.
August 2017
A total six bears rescued in Albania now live in FOUR PAWS bear sanctuaries in Kosovo, Germany and Bulgaria.
May 2017
FOUR PAWS transfers bear Riku to the DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa. Until then, the bear had been held privately as a 'pet' in an Albanian mountain village. FOUR PAWS already freed Riku, who was kept chained up in a small hut, in December 2016.
February 2017
FOUR PAWS becomes a member of the 'Save Albanian Bears' coalition. Together with other animal and environmental protection organisations, as well as state institutions, the coalition advocates ending the cruel keeping of bears in captivity in Albania.
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November 2016
FOUR PAWS saves two more bears from life in terrible conditions: 'amusement park bear' Luna and 'selfie' bear Jeta, who was kept in a small shed next to her owner's house.
August 2016
FOUR PAWS launches an online petition in order to draw attention to the suffering of the caged bears in Albania and appeals to the Albanian Environment Ministry to introduce legal amendments to protect these animals.
August 2016
In cooperation with Albanian authorities, FOUR PAWS rescues three of Albania's saddest bears: 'restaurant bears' Tomi, Pashuk and Gjina. A month later, the three animals are transferred to BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina.
Note: Any advertisements that may appear during the viewing of this video are unrelated to FOUR PAWS. We assume no liability for this content.
July 2016
The sad story of 'Tomi the beer bear', held in a small cage next to a restaurant in northern Albania, goes around the world.
March 2016
FOUR PAWS signs a declaration of intent with the Albanian Environment Ministry with the joint goal of finding a permanent solution in line with animal welfare standards for the many Albanian bears living in captivity in catastrophic conditions.