Bear sanctuaries

Last night, during the evening session, groups of scientists and experts broke into groups for a workshop designed to discuss the serious issue of how best to manage sanctuaries for rescued bears.

This is something that WSPA understands well, having designed the very first bear sanctuary back in 1992.

We joined forces with a Greek NGO called Arcturos to build the first ever sanctuary for rescued bears in northern Greece.

The sanctuary enclosure was a large area of natural forest surrounded by a large fence and protected by electric wires. This invaluable resource enabled us to rescue bears from illegal or cruel trades – such as bear dancing – and to be released into an enclosed forest area where they can live a reasonably natural life.

In general these damaged animals cannot be released back into the true wild. This is because many of them have broken teeth and claws; some have eye problems and in general have become too accustomed to people. Releasing them into the wild could result in them coming back into contact with people as they search for food.

In the sanctuary environment, bears have vast areas of forest with trees, grass, shrubs and berries to forage for, and fresh water pools to swim in.

Over the last two decades WSPA has helped build bear sanctuaries in Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, India, Pakistan, Thailand and Laos.

Additionally, other groups have also built bear sanctuaries in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bulgaria and Germany.

The workshop here at the IBA last night enabled people from different projects to discuss problems they had come across while managing a sanctuary or rescuing bears.
 
WSPA actively supports the sharing of information between these types of projects and I personally thought the workshop really highlighted some fantastic work that is being carried out by dedicated people around the world to care for bears in these sanctuaries. Thank you for such an interesting discussion!

Comments

[Cathy]

Congratulations. Yes, the sanctuary from Artcturos, here in Greece, works very well as the people running it now, are not corrupt as the Greek government. It is always a question of WHO is running it. I followed the beginning of the Greek sanctuary from the WSPA office in London( it was then in Bayswater? I can`t remember anymore)- wonderfull work - wasn`t it then that an australian tv crew had brought a bear in their car??.Bears are amazing animals worth of saving.

[Kathy Foley]

Hi, I'm Kathy. I belong to the WWF and ASPCA, etc. Great work. The updates are very informative and helpful. I would love to work and help with the wild.

Keep up the great work!! Thank you very much to you and your crew.

Sign me, Wild Topaz

[Victor]

Hi Cathy,

How nice to see such a long-time supporter here on this blog.

The Arcturos sanctuary is still going strong and they have a great education programme for schools in Greece. It's interesting you mention the Australian TV team - this actually happened in Turkey when we built a bear sanctuary there in 1994. We confiscated one bear and the TV crew filming the work helped bring the bear to the sanctuary - in a transport cage of course!

Cheers, Victor

[Victor]

Hi Kathy,

Yes I agree that the WWF and ASPCA are great organisations. Glad to see that you have enjoyed the blog.

Victor

[Coach Factory]

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