It’s hard to think that someone could abuse an animal by sticking it inside a tiny dirty cage for two years, but that’s what Balu’s owner did to the poor bear.
Balu was about 2-years-old and kept in a cage on a piece of property in Artashat, Armenia by a man who likely kept the bear as a “trophy” or a “status” symbol.
“The enclosure was no bigger than 4 or 5 square meters [43 to 53 square feet],” PR and communications manager for International Animal Rescue (IAR) Lis Key told The Dodo. “There was no shelter from the elements. The enclosure was filthy. It’s unlikely that anyone ever cleaned it out, so poor Balu was living on mud, urine, and feces. It must have smelt terrible.”
Not only was Balu living in horrible conditions but she was also forced to wear a heavy collar and chain around her neck. The International Animal Rescue also found that Balu wasn’t being fed well or regularly.
When they saw her owner feed the bear, she was fed candy and soft drinks.
Unfortunately, Balu’s situation is all too common in Armenia where bears are often kept in cages on display as an attraction at restaurants or other tourist spots. The International Animal Rescue couldn’t stand to see bears kept in this condition.
So, they decided to work with the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets to form The Great Bear Rescue, an effort that aims to rescue all captive bears in Armenia.
More than 80 bears are believed to be held captive in cages in Armenia.
The Great Bear Rescue has already saved about a dozen bears and moved them to proper sanctuaries. One of those bears was Balu. The Great Bear Rescue was joined by the local police department and the local news to see Balu rescued.
But Balu’s owner was not about to be cooperative.
“The ‘owner’ was keeping her in shocking conditions of squalor and neglect — and yet he clearly thought those conditions were acceptable and saw no reason why the bear shouldn’t stay there,” Key said. “I imagine, too, that perhaps it was a matter of pride to him not to be forced to surrender his bear when so many people were watching.”
Eventually, Balu’s owner agreed.
Balu was sedated, then removed from her cage once she was asleep.
“The most emotional aspect of the rescue was the removal of the cruel collar and chain around Balu’s neck,” Key said. “That moment symbolized the end of her nightmare past and her first step towards the new life she deserves, free from cruelty and neglect and full of kindness and compassion.”
Balu was placed in quarantine for 21 days and was reported to be doing well.
“We do know that she woke up OK from the sedation,” Key said. “She took a drink of water and then later she was fed some decent food for the first time. So her recovery is going well so far, which is a relief.”
Balu will eventually be released to a bear sanctuary in the mountains.
“We have not yet received a veterinary report on Balu, but I think, sadly, it’s fair to assume that her physical health will have been compromised by her time in captivity and her poor diet — not to mention her mental health which certainly has been affected by two years living in such shocking confinement,” Key said. “On the plus side, she is still a young bear and we hope will recover from the terrible treatment she has suffered.”
You can see the video of Balu’s emotional rescue in the video below.
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