bears in SerbiA
FOUR PAWS is committed to improving the living conditions of bears in captivity
FOUR PAWS has been operating in Serbia for many years to help bears kept in bad conditions.
With significant success:
Together with the Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection, FOUR PAWS has put an end to the keeping of dancing bears in Serbia and rescued, and transferred, the last Serbian circus bears to sanctuaries in Germany and Switzerland.
In the future, FOUR PAWS would like to continue to support the Serbian authorities. We hope to bring an end to the unsuitable keeping of brown bears in Serbia and find adequate living environments for all confiscated animals.
Timeline of our activities and achievements
July 2018
FOUR PAWS transports the last remaining Serbian circus bear to Switzerland. The bear, named Napa, is the first resident at the new Arosa Bear Sanctuary.
November 2017
Two Serbian circus bears, Pavle and Sylvia, are transferred to BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz in Germany.
October 2016
Together with Serbian authorities, FOUR PAWS rescues three circus bears. FOUR PAWS expresses its willingness to assume care of the animals as soon as procedures concerning their permanent home are completed. In the meantime, the bears are temporarily housed in Serbian zoos.
July 2015
FOUR PAWS and the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection sign a joint declaration of intent. This declaration includes a goal of ending unsuitable keeping conditions for bears in Serbia, as well as finding homes for the confiscated wild animals.
June 2014
FOUR PAWS supports the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection during the transfer of three bear orphans to a bear rescue center in Romania.
Summer 2009
The Serbian government introduces a general ban on wild animals in circuses.
January 2009
FOUR PAWS transfers the last three Serbian dancing bears to DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa, marking the end of the keeping of dancing bears in Serbia. The Bulgarian sanctuary is run in cooperation with the French Brigitte Bardot Foundation and is funded by both organizations.
