In April, a resident of Bihor County (western Romania) sent us pictures of a bear cub who was raised as a dog in a private home. The illegal owner would have tried to sell the bear for 400 euros, which is illegal in Romania. “On behalf of the Association, I’ve sent complaints to the police and the Environmental Guard declaring our concern that the bear could be sold on the black market and become a new case of an abused animal, raised illegally in a cage too small for the needs of a wild animal, or even killed at some point for meat or fur. The authorities mobilized in an exemplary way and soon, the person who claimed to have found the bear was found,” said Liviu Cioineag, AMP’s general manager.
The little bear was found in the village of Ponoarele in Bihor County two weeks after the authorities were notified. The gamekeeper claims that he didn’t want to sell the beautiful cub, and that the bear was sick and lame when he found him. He insists that took good care of the cub and offered him food and shelter. After being driven almost 1.000 kilometers in a single day, the little bear reached the Libearty sanctuary. ”The bear cub is about three months old, and his general condition is good. He’s a cheerful cub with high chances of rehabilitation. I made a detailed examination and treated him for internal parasites,” says AMP’s veterinarian, Ciprian Cocianu.
After the treatment, the bear was handed over to a rehabilitation center in Harghita. There, he’ll have the chance to become a wild animal again, to live in the woods where he belongs, and to enjoy a true bear’s life.
A month ago, two other bear cubs were brought to the association’s office after their mother was most likely shot during hunting season this spring.
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