Photos by: FOUR PAWS
Concerns are mounting for four brown bears kept in deplorable conditions by their private owners in Slovenia. Despite tireless efforts by the global animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS, Slovenian authorities have refused to confiscate the bears.
For over 30 years, the bears have endured confinement in cramped, concrete enclosures at a private zoo. These magnificent creatures have been exploited for entertainment purposes, drawing customers to restaurants for decades.
Sadly, one bear named Felix recently died. The remaining four bears named Mici, Masha, Mitko, and Tim are also having serious health issues. FOUR PAWS urges the responsible Slovenian Ministries to take action immediately and give the bears a second chance at life. The organization aims to rescue the bears and relocate them to its species-appropriate bear sanctuaries in Europe.
“It is a scandal that the EU country of Slovenia is allowing animals to vegetate like this,” said Patricia Tiplea, Head of the Wild Animal Rescue and Advocacy unit at FOUR PAWS. “The bears have been living in small cages for decades, on bare concrete, without protection from the weather or adequate food and medical care. Despite our tireless efforts, the authorities have been stalling for a long time. Even after the death of one of the bears, they continue to do nothing. The animals are in really bad shape – we must finally get them out.”
Three bears are kept in cages at restaurants, and one is housed in a private zoo. The bears suffer from severe dental issues, leading to unbearable pain. They also display stereotypical behaviors, such as pacing and biting the cage bars.
“I urgently recommend that the bears are relocated to a species-appropriate home to prevent further physical and psychological damage,” said Veterinarian Julia Bohner from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), who visited the bears last year, together with FOUR PAWS.
The deceased 33-year-old bear named Felix lived together with a 34-year-old female bear named Masha at Gostilna Tušek Restaurant and Hotel in Kocevje.
“When we visited, the animals had no drinking water and the two small pools in the enclosure were empty. The floor was littered with feces, indicating that the enclosure had not been cleaned for at least ten days. Apart from a tree trunk, there was no activity for the bears to engage in. Both animals were apathetic and barely responded to stimulation. Now Felix has died in his concrete cage – what a sad ending to a sad life,” said Patricia Tiplea, Head of The Wild Animal Rescue and Advocacy unit at FOUR PAWS.
Since 2004, it has been illegal for private individuals in Slovenia to keep bears taken from the wild. However, those who acquired animals before 2004 and couldn’t release them could obtain permits from the Ministry. This exemption continues under an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act, effective April 2023, which bans keeping bears born in captivity.
