"Please Look After This Bear" Celebrating World Bear Day and The Gift of Freedom for Retta, from Broken to Beautiful

World Bear Day (23rd March) is the perfect time to reflect on International Animal Rescue’s (IAR) work with bears, and one extraordinary tale of hope stands out. 

In 2024, the IAR team met Margaretta (Retta), an ex-circus bear who spent years confined in a tiny cage, serving as a sad spectacle for visitors at a tourist resort in Armenia. The tale was tragic and, as the photo clearly shows, heartbreaking for poor Retta.

But today, Retta's life is transformed. Thanks to an extraordinary rescue mission by International Animal Rescue (IAR) and its Armenian partners, FPWC (Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets), Retta now roams freely.

Retta's heartbreaking journey began in captivity, where she suffered for many years of neglect and isolation. Her cage, a small concrete closet, was her entire world; with no chance to explore, play, or feel the earth's warmth beneath her paws, Retta's life was a shadow of what it should have been.

This changed when animal protection and conservation charity International Animal Rescue (IAR) and FPWC launched a daring rescue to free Retta from her cage and transport her to safety. Working tirelessly with local authorities and police; the team navigated logistical challenges to ensure Retta could begin a new chapter of life.

Two years on, Retta now lives a life where she is cared for and looked after at International Animal Rescue and FPWC's bear sanctuary, where she can finally live as nature intended, enjoying a life she never knew existed.

International Animal Rescue's President, Alan Knight OBE, told That's Green: "Rescuing Retta was a monumental effort, but seeing her rediscover her instincts and joy make it all worth it. Her resilience inspires us to keep fighting for animals like her, who desperately need a second chance at a life worth living."

Sharing Retta's story this World Bear Day couldn't be more timely, as Paddington the musical celebrates award wins sweeping across the board, Retta's story echoes this famous bear's plea: "Please look after this bear." Retta reminds us that acts of kindness, big or small, can create miracles. 

"But our work and Retta’s journey doesn’t stop here Retta will need daily care and support for the rest of her life, which is only possible because of our wonderful supporters.

International Animal Rescue invites you to read more inspiring stories or support our bears at www.internationalanimalrescue.org.

Peek-A-Bear! Rescued mum and dad wake baby bear following her first hibernation

One year on ‘The great bear rescue’ family successfully hibernate in Armenia.

A year ago, International Animal Rescue (IAR) took part in the rescue of three Syrian brown bears, Aram, Nairi and their young daughter Lola. 

Today, IAR are happy to report that the bears have successfully undergone their first-ever natural hibernation period in the sanctuary, thanks to the expert care they received following their rescue.

When their colleagues at the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) discovered Aram and Nairi confined to filthy cages in someone’s backyard in Yerevan, Armenia, they had suffered years of appalling abuse. 

The pair were denied even basic husbandry and Nairi was regularly bred with by the owner to produce cubs which were sold on.

Little girl bear Lola was kept imprisoned with them and her mother, having been born in captivity. This winter, after months of recuperating from their rescue at FPWC’s wildlife rescue centre with support from International Animal Rescue, all three of these bears have been able to undergo their first-ever proper winter rest periods – a sure sign that they have physically recovered from their ordeal and learned to trust that rescue teams will keep them safe.

Confined to filthy cages and denied even the most basic of care, the bears were discovered during an investigation by the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) following a public tip-off.

Their rescue saw FPWC and International Animal Rescue coming together to secure their freedom. Described by International Animal Rescue (IAR) as their “most difficult rescue to date”, it took over 12 hours. The rescue involved a court-ordered confiscation, police intervention, and transport under heavy rain and during darkness.

This difficult rescue started when the team arrived at the property at 9 am, but the bear’s owner refused entry despite a legal order. 

After a prolonged standoff, they finally gained access as night fell and worked into the night to sedate and remove the bears from their appalling conditions.

Alan Knight OBE, President of International Animal Rescue was on the ground to witness their their rescue.

Alan told That's Green: “This difficult rescue started when the team arrived at the property at 9 am, but the bear’s owner refused entry despite a legal order. After a prolonged standoff, they finally gained access as night fell and worked into the night to sedate and remove the bears from their appalling conditions. 

"These bears had clearly suffered for many years and these were some of the worst conditions I have ever seen. The stench, the filth, the sheer cruelty of locking these animals up in tiny cages."

Today, thanks to veterinary care and round-the-clock specialist care at FPWC’s wildlife rescue centre, just a few months after the rescue, all three bears have been able to settle into their new home. 

“To see them happy and healthy, knowing they have a future now, makes everything we went through worth it. Completing their first hibernation and exhibiting these natural behaviours is an incredible sight. We are so grateful to the FPWC team and all of our donors and supporters for making this a reality.”

Donate to the bear appeal here https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/appeal/bearfamily.