People are accustomed to seeing dogs on leashes while in town, but the people in Gyumri, Armenia were horrified to see a baby bear being dragged through the streets on a leash as if he were a pet.
The poor little bear, who was barely a few months old, was trembling in fear.
Onlookers knew what they were seeing was wrong and took pictures and sent them over to the International Animal Rescue (IAR) and Foundation of the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC).
These organizations started a project to rescue bears in Armenia called The Great Bear Rescue.
“Witnesses contacted us after seeing the cub being dragged through the streets on a leash like a dog. He was trembling with fear whilst being pulled along by his neck. He must have been terrified,” the IAR wrote on Facebook.
The rescuers were able to get the owner to surrender the bear. It is illegal to hold wildlife captive in Armenia.
“Our rescue team set off immediately to track down the ‘owner’ and bring the little bear to safety. It is highly likely that this cub will have watched his mother getting killed right in front of him,” the IAR wrote.
Once in their care, they named the bear Leo.
“It seemed that Leo was just being kept as a pet, but of course, once he had grown bigger and stronger, it would no longer be possible to treat him like a domestic pet,” PR and communications manager for IAR, Lis Key, told The Dodo. “The chances are that he would have ended up in a cage.”
Unfortunately, little Leo was in bad shape when he was found. He was extremely malnourished and dehydrated.
It was uncertain whether he’d survive.
“Please be assured that he is now in our care receiving urgent treatment at our rescue center. It is too soon to say if he will make a full recovery but we are doing everything we can for this tiny cub who has no other hope of survival,” the IAR wrote.
His rescuers worked around the clock to help him get healthy.
Key said the IAR is grateful that they found Leo before his health deteriorated further.
“With no mother to keep him safe and teach him all the skills he will need to survive, Leo has a long journey of recovery ahead of him and the next few months are going to be crucial in determining his fate,” the IAR wrote. “He is a brave little bear and we are all hopeful that he will overcome the trauma and the terror he has suffered. We wil, of course,e keep you updated.”
The Dodo reports that more than 60 bears are being kept in captivity in Armenia.
They’re often kept to be put on display as attractions to entertain tourists or restaurant guests.
Some are hidden away in warehouses. But this is changing thanks to the IAR and FPWC.
“Had it not been for the internet, we might never have known about him — or only when it was already too late to save to him,” Key said. “Thankfully, he is in safe hands now and on the road to a much brighter future.”
You can help bears like Leo by making a donation to IAR. You can see the IAR’s full post and video below.
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