Mark the bear and his sister Liza have been dropped at the restaurant as cubs 20 years in the past after their mom was shot useless, in accordance with its then house owners.
(AFP)
After greater than 20 years in a cage at an Albanian restaurant for diners to take a look at, brown bear Mark is heading in direction of a greater life in an Austrian sanctuary.
On Wednesday, beneath heavy anaesthetic, he began his journey to the Aberbasch shelter in northern Austria, because of the 4 Paws animal welfare group.
Till now, he has spent his life entertaining guests to the Sofra e Ariut (Bear’s Desk) restaurant in Tirana alongside together with his sister Liza.
Their rescue operation got here too late for his sister nevertheless. She died two years in the past.
Each bears have been dropped at the restaurant as cubs 20 years in the past after their mom was shot useless, in accordance with its then house owners.
There, they lived within the cage of some 100 sq. metres (1,075 sq. toes), with concrete flooring, in poor situations and on an insufficient food plan, stated Sajmir Shehu, the 4 Paws challenge coordinator in Albania.
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Well being issues
Now Mark, at 250 kilos is obese and has difficulties transferring. As a consequence of boredom and stress he has developed anxiousness issues, changing into aggressive and growling on the slightest noise.
And his situation solely worsened in 2020 when Liza died.
“Mark could not cease crying for 2 or three months,” Hiqmet Murati, the bears’ keeper for 20 years, advised AFP information company.
Their house owners even let the pair mate, however not one of the cubs survived as a result of their stressed-out dad and mom bit them to demise, he added.
On account of his ill-treatment, the bear wants emergency care to outlive, stated Shehu.
His poor food plan and 20 years in a cage means he suffers from joint, muscle, eye and very important organs issues, stated the 4 Paws consultants.
As soon as within the sanctuary, Mark will get the veterinary care and correct meals he wants “so he can recuperate shortly and revel in a life worthy of a bear”, stated Shehu.
However this bear’s plight is just not the one case that 4 Paws has needed to take care of, stated Shehu, who’s a biodiversity professional.
Not noted within the open and on the mercy of maximum climate the bears have been by no means allowed to hibernate, stated 4 Paws.
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Supply: AFP
