Helping orphaned bears heal
Blog
Orphaned, frightened and alone, six young bears in Romania were given a second chance at life, and it’s all thanks to compassionate people like you. At Libearty Bear Sanctuary, they’re now safe and healing.
This year marks an incredible milestone: Libearty is celebrating its 20th anniversary! Since the very beginning, World Animal Protection has been a proud founding partner working alongside Millions of Friends Association (AMP) to create a safe haven for rescued bears.
And today, this partnership is more important than ever. Because of changes in Romania’s hunting laws, a higher hunting quota has led to more mother bears being shot leaving behind a surge of orphaned cubs with little chance of survival on their own.
Your support is helping Libearty meet this heartbreaking increase in need.
Meet Alexandra, Anita, Chance and Thomas – four inseparable siblings
When bear cubs Alexandra, Anita, Chance and Thomas were first spotted rummaging through trash cans in a small Romanian town, it was clear something was wrong. Their mother was gone and the four cubs were left to fend for themselves. Hungry, exhausted and alone, they would not have survived long without help.
Luckily, local authorities contacted Libearty Bear Sanctuary, who rescued them and brought them to safety.
At first, the little bears were traumatized by the loss of their mother. But with round-the-clock care, nutritious food and a safe place to rest, they slowly began to recover and their true personalities emerged.
These cubs have a strong sibling bond - they are almost inseparable. All four of them can often be found huddled in their cozy den together enjoying the comfort of being together.
Serafim and Alexander – brotherly love
Around the same time, another cub named Serafim was discovered beside his dead mother, who had been killed in a poacher’s trap. For days, the young cub stayed close to her, crying out and starving. By the time he arrived at Libearty Sanctuary, Serafim was frail, dehydrated and heartbroken.
But everything changed when he was introduced to Alexander, another young, orphaned cub. From the moment they met, it was clear they were meant to be friends. If one climbed a tree, the other followed. If one jumped into the pool, the other was right behind. They played, rested and explored together, never straying far from one another.
Their friendship became their lifeline. With each other’s support, Serafim and Alexander learned to trust again, to feel safe and to enjoy life as young bears should.
Healing made possible by you
Today, the four siblings, Alexandra, Anita, Chance and Thomas, and the inseparable duo of Serafim and Alexander are thriving in Libearty’s baby bear enclosure, where they can climb, play and grow strong.
While these bears will never be able to return to the wild, they have found family, friendship and safety thanks to you. Your support makes it possible to rescue orphaned cubs, provide them with expert care and give them the second chance they deserve.
Because of you, they will never be alone again.
Banner photo: Bear cubs Anita, Thomas, Alexandra and Chance playing in the snow at Libearty Sanctuary. (Photo: AMP)
Become an Animal Protector today
As an Animal Protector, you are side by side with animals when they need you the most.
Your monthly commitment to animals means that every day you are stopping cruelty before it starts and giving animals the life they deserve.
Want to do something more for the bears of Romania? Write to the Romanian Ministry of Environment, let them know that you want to see investment in co-existence education and tactics that will help reduce conflicts with bears. For example:
- Collect in-depth data about bear populations
- Fund bear-proof waste management programs
- Install warning signs for tourists in high-density bear areas
- Ban feeding of bears, including failure to remove attractants, and enforce penalties
- Evaluate bear conflicts on an individual case-by-case basis