Romanian Bear Sanctuary

While Bolik is still auditioning for the role of “Sleeping Beauty', Grisha and Jean are fully booked with their daily activities — Jean is -guess what- inspecting the fence, taking a quick rest now and then in the weak winter sun. And Grisha is, as always, the undisputed foodie.

Grisha’s past wasn’t an easy one. In his previous life behind bars, food wasn’t something you enjoyed — it was something you survived. And because of that, he’s developed a special (and rather hilarious) relationship with meals. Dinner time, for Grisha, is not a calm event. It’s a serious matter.

The moment food appears, he grabs it like a tiny furry mastermind, sneaks off, and digs a secret stash in the ground — carefully hiding his treasure like a woodland pirate. One bite for now… one bite for the emergency apocalypse later.

When Grisha first arrived, he was heartbreakingly thin — only about 25% of the weight he is now.
That’s why his food quirks make so much sense. After what he’s been through, his brain still occasionally goes: “Quick! Hide the lunch! Winter is here!"

But besides this odd behavior now and then Grisha is healthy and happy.  Grisha didn’t just gain weight — he gained safety, routine, trust, and a future. And apparently also the confidence to celebrate lunch with Olympic-level spinning: on days like today, the joy is simply too big to contain. The second his lunch arrived, Grisha started spinning in circles like he’d just won the lottery — equal parts “This is the best day of my life!” and “I can’t believe this keeps happening!”

From survival to spinning: Grisha is learning, day by day, that food is safe, life is good, and lunch is worth celebrating with maximum drama. Meanwhile Jean stays close by, keeping things steady — and Bolik… remains committed to his long-term research project on the science of naps.

Over 100 bears at the Libearty Bear Sanctuary depend on us every day. They require more than two tons of food daily and ongoing medical care to recover from their traumatic past. Your donation can help prevent malnutrition and serious health issues.
Thank you for making a difference!

August at Libearty: It’s always lunchtime somewhere!

If you’ve been wondering what the bears are up to this summer… the answer is simple: eating, splashing, and repeating.
At feeding time, visitors often get the best view: Libearty's care takers place the food just next to them, so people and bears share the same excitement for a good meal.

Take Jean, for example. Once known as a bit of a loner, this “tour-operator” has decided that lunch is best enjoyed in good company. These days, he sits down with his fellow bears, finally discovering that friends make mealtime even better. A round of applause for Jean!

Meanwhile, Grisha has his priorities straight. He strolls calmly through the oak forest like he’s on a nature walk… but you can bet he’s never late for lunch. And once the belly is full, you’ll find him hopping into the pool, where he bobs and splashes around like a carefree cub.

He’s not alone: Bolik is also a big pool fan. Honestly, if they'd charged admission for their synchronized swimming shows, the sanctuary could fund itself.

So whether it’s a feast under the trees or a splash in the pool, August has been all about good food, good company, and good fun. Ofcourse, nothing beats seeing a bear in the wild, but watching our bears thrive in this little paradise is second best!

It is our mission at World Animal Protection to end the illegal practice of keeping bears in private and cruel captive conditions and ensure the lifetime care of those bears. You can help support the bears in the Libearty bear sanctuary!

There are currently over a 100 bears in the Libearty bear sanctuary. Together they eat more than two tons of food a day and need veterinary care to recover from their traumatic past. That involves significant expenses. Would you help prevent malnutrition and health problems by making a donation?
Thank you!