Albania’s final ‘restaurant bear’ has arrived in a wildlife sanctuary after spending 20 years in captivity, the place he lived on a concrete flooring and had cracked tooth from biting the bars.
Mark, a 24-year previous brown bear, is the final of the so-called ‘restaurant bears’, which have been traditionally saved in tiny cages for the amusement of tourists in Tirana.
The previous bear had spent most of his life within the dismal 1,300 square-foot cage within the Albanian capital, however on Friday, he was lastly launched due to a marketing campaign from animal welfare group 4 Paws.
Mark travelled by North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary earlier than lastly reaching his new residence at an Austrian wildlife sanctuary.
A December {photograph} reveals the brown bear Mark, inside his cage at a restaurant in Tirana. He’s Albania’s final ‘restaurant bear’, traditionally used to lure diners in to see the bear
The 24-year-old bear had cracked tooth and was chubby after spending most of his life within the dismal 1,300 square-foot cage. Brown bears normally reside into their late twenties within the wild, however can typically die youthful whereas in captivity
Animal welfare activists of the 4 Paws animal welfare organisation transfer the brown bear Mark from his cage at a restaurant in Tirana on December 7, ending his twenty years spent entertaining restaurant company
Mark is proven arriving at his new residence. Mark could have a 27,000 square-foot pure enclosure, with bushes, bushes, the chance to hibernate, in addition to meals and medical care after travelling by seven international locations to succeed in his new residence
In Austria, Mark now has a 27,000 square-foot pure enclosure, with bushes, bushes, the chance to hibernate and the suitable meals and medical care.
The homeowners willingly gave Mark away after mounting strain from the marketing campaign group.
‘As we speak I’m not feeling good as a result of they’re taking the bear away. We’ve got been used to dwelling with (him),’ mentioned Misir Maxhuku, whose duties have included caring for Mark for the previous 4 years.
When Mark arrived on the Sofra e Ariut (Bear’s Desk) restaurant, he was only a cub, mentioned Scherk Trettin, estimating him to have been born in 1998. There isn’t any report with how he was initially captured.
Brown bears normally reside into their late twenties within the wild, however can typically die youthful whereas in captivity.
The restaurant modified palms a 12 months in the past, and its new homeowners selected handy Mark over and plan to dismantle his cage — to the displeasure of not less than considered one of their staff.
4 Paws says insufficient laws means bears and different wild animals stay liable to being abused as pets or vacationer sights in Albania, the place it has rescued 11 different bears.
It has additionally saved 16 in neighbouring Kosovo, the place it operates a second sanctuary.
Consultants say that, throughout the Western Balkans, numbers of bears within the wild have fallen drastically previously twenty years following the destruction of their habitat and unlawful looking.
4 Paws started the journey with the 24-year-old bear with a big file of paperwork to get him throughout the a number of nationwide borders.
Vets and animal specialists from the 4 Paws Worldwide, rescue Mark, a 24 previous brown bear that may later be transported to Austria
The vets verify the bears claws for injury. Greater than captive 30 bears saved subsequent to eating places and different public locations in Albania have been rescued since 2015. The rescue group mentioned the bear was fed inappropriate meals, which had made him chubby, and his tooth have been broken
The unconscious brown bear is pictured earlier than he’s transported on his lengthy journey to his new residence. Main veterinarian Julia Bohner sedated Mark earlier than placing him into the van that may take him to the Arbesbach sanctuary. Mark travelled by North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary earlier than lastly reaching his new residence
Main veterinarian Julia Bohner sedated Mark earlier than placing him into the van that may take him to the Arbesbach sanctuary, 90 miles west of Vienna.
‘The final bear that was saved in such a tiny cage, we’ll as we speak rescue him,’ mentioned Magdalena Scherk-Trettin, 4 Paws coordinator.
The rescue group mentioned the bear was fed inappropriate meals, which had made him chubby, and his tooth have been broken.
‘We additionally see that he isn’t strolling correctly, not behaving correctly,’ mentioned Scherk-Trettin, including, nonetheless, that they have been so happy the homeowners willingly gave Mark to them.
Greater than captive 30 bears saved subsequent to eating places and different public locations in Albania have been rescued since 2015.
4 Paws rescued 11 of these, whereas others have been despatched to sanctuaries or zoos in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Greece and Britain in cooperation with different organizations.
In line with Albanian legislation, seizing wild animals and protecting them is prohibited but when a bear or large cat is born in captivity, it may be saved.
Wildlife organizations need authorities to strengthen and implement the laws, but additionally work on the rising unlawful commerce in wildlife.
‘We’re very a lot in favor that the Albanian authorities set up a wild animal sanctuary within the nation in order that … different animals sooner or later can keep within the nation and reside in rather more applicable circumstances,’ mentioned Scherk-Trettin.
