Retired Dancing Bears Relax in Bulgarian Park

By Toni Maskrachka

waz.euobserver.com

Twenty-seven retired dancing bears from Bulgaria and Serbia are slowly returning to their natural way of life in the wild in a readjustment park near the southwestern town of Belitsa on the outskirts of the Rila Mountain in Bulgaria.

The ten year-old project, which is unique for Eastern Europe, was inspired by former French movie star-turned animal protection activist Brigitte Bardot and the Four Paws wild life foundation. It hosts 24 former dancing bears from Bulgaria and 3 more from Serbia.

"This winter there was only one bear that did not go into hibernation, the rest did. This is a sort of record and a serious indication that the animals are gradually resuming their habits and adjusting to life in the wild, a proof that the park offers a natural living environment", park employee Vasil Madolev said.

Most of the quadrupeds dug lairs in the woods themselves and did not resort to the artificial ones that the workers had prepared for them. A couple of days ago, with the weather getting warmer, they began to wake up. The greatest sleeper was Vela who slept for four months.

For years the animals' owners had used them to entertain tourists in cities and resorts. The mouths of all bears are damaged with holes pierced in their lips to hold chains and metal rings that were used to bind them. The park team is now focusing mostly on healing wounds on their snouts and treating their teeth.

"The constant trauma that they have lived with for years has changed the structure of their throats and it has been difficult for them to eat and drink," Mr Madolev said.

He added that some bears are totally blind because of the alcohol former owners gave them. Two of the beasts have had their eyes gouged out so that they would be easier to control.

"A medical team is treating the animals so that they adjust well to the environment," park manager Dimitar Ivanov said.

In May, all bears are due for an annual health check. As part of it, they will see German dentist Dr. Mark Luse and the team of his Bulgarian colleague Bogdan Aminkov.

An ophthalmologist will also be called in to examine the blind animals and assess if at least a part of their vision can be restored by an operation.

While under anaesthesia, they will also receive antiparasitic medication, be examined for body injuries, have their pulse and blood pressure measured and blood samples taken. Every bear has a personal medical record.

After the hibernation, during which bears lose up to 30 percent of the body weight, park wardens start to gradually feed them. "We start with a daily ration of 5-6 kilograms of fruit, vegetables and bread. The weaker ones are also given honey to strengthen them. We include chicken or fish in their menu once a week," Mr Ivanov said.

So far, the food has been scattered around a conspicuous place, but from this spring the caretakers will hide it under trunks and in hollows so the bears search for it like they would do in the wild.

They roam in a fenced area of 120,000 square meters, 12 kilometres from Belitsa and around 180 kilometres south west of Sofia.

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