The largest brown bear sanctuary in the world
69 hectares of forest. Over 130 bears rescued. This is where HEALING begins.
The story that started it all
One encounter. One promise. One sanctuary
In 1998, Cristina Lapis, founder of the Millions of Friends Association, met Maya, a female bear held captive in a filthy cage near Bran Castle. Her suffering changed everything.
Maya never had the chance to live freely. The stress of captivity left an irreversible mark on her, and she departed forever to Ursa Major. But the promise made then - that no bear in Romania would ever again endure such conditions - became the foundation of one of Europe’s largest animal welfare projects.
In 2005, a public-private partnership between the Millions of Friends Association, WAP (World Animal Protection), and Zărnești Town Hall made it possible to transform 69 hectares of forest into the AMP Libearty Sanctuary, Europe’s largest brown bear rescue, care, and welfare project. The land was made available to the Association for 49 years.
That same year, the first two rescued bears - Cristi and Lidia - stepped onto grass for the first time in their lives.
Our mission
Why we exist
AMP Libearty is not a zoo. It is not an amusement park. It is not a tourist attraction created for people’s entertainment.
AMP Libearty is the home these bears never had. The sanctuary provides a habitat as close to their natural environment as possible for bears that have lived in captivity and for orphaned bear cubs that cannot survive on their own in the wild.
We have rescued over 180 bears from a nightmarish life of abuse, confined in cages far too small for animals with such a great need for space. Every bear in the sanctuary has a story that begins with suffering: rusty cages on restaurant terraces, chains at petrol stations, concrete beneath their paws instead of grass, and forced performances for tourists. Before arriving here, many of them had never known what it meant to climb a tree, seek shade from the sun on scorching days, or enjoy water deep enough to splash around in.
Our mission is simple, but not easy: to give them back everything that was taken from them.
What we do
We rescue. We care. We educate. We protect.
We rescue
We rescue bears from cages, illegal farms, substandard zoos, and private households. We coordinate rescue missions in Romania and, occasionally, in other countries.
We care
Across 69 hectares of forest, the bears live in an environment close to their natural habitat, with pools, trees to climb, food tailored to their needs, and continuous veterinary care.
We educate
The guided tours are educational. More than 40,000 visitors each year learn about bears’ real needs and the cruelty of captivity.
We protect
Through campaigns and legal action, we fight to ensure that no bear in Romania is ever held captive again. Every rescue is a victory.
AMP Libearty - ranked among the world’s top attractions
TripAdvisor ranks the AMP Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești among the world’s most beautiful, important, and worthwhile places to visit.
The distinction was awarded based on reviews posted on TripAdvisor by visitors to the world’s largest bear sanctuary.
The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence recognizes all the efforts made by the Millions of Friends Association team.
How we fund our work
The AMP Libearty Sanctuary receives no funding from the Romanian government
We operate entirely through private donations, sponsorships, and partnerships with international NGOs - including World Animal Protection, WTG, SPCA International, Fondation Brigitte Bardot, and other partners.
Our monthly operating costs range from €95,000 to €120,000. Every ticket purchased, every donation, and every virtual adoption directly supports food, medicine, veterinary care, and the rescue of more bears.
Sponsors and parteners
How we are different
Over 20 years
Over 20 years of rescuing and caring for animals
No exploitation
We believe in dignity, not entertainment
Small groups
For a peaceful and respectful experience
Testimonials
What our visitors say
Come and meet us
The best way to understand what we do is to come and see it for yourself.
But be prepared - many people leave here changed.
