Chained and exploited... but hope is coming to some of the saddest bears in the world
HOPE is coming to some the saddest bears in the world.
Chained and exploited bears are rolled out as a tourist attraction
Chained and exploited as seaside "selfie" props or for street sideshows, these proud animals endure a miserable existence.
The sad apex predators have been stolen from the wild as cubs only to live in squalid conditions behind the rusty bars of cramped cages and then rolled out in daylight to amuse tourists.
To make the bears behave, they have huge metal rings driven through their noses and, to keep them under control, they are shackled with chains when they go on show along Albania's beaches or at it famous sightseeing locations.
As many as 80 brown bears are feared to be held in captivity in the country but now their suffering is hopefully coming to an end.
First, we want to focus on ending the cruellest forms of bear keeping in Albania
Leading animal welfare charity FOUR PAWS, which has a base in London, says its has reached an agreement with Albania's environment minister to help the country's mistreated bears.
The charity's founder Heli Dungler and the Albanian Minister of Environment, Lefter Koka, have signed a memorandum of understanding, agreeing to work together to "find sustainable and animal-friendly solutions" for Albania's brown bears.
The new agreement will see Albania's penal system being tightened and a registration system for captive brown bears developed alongside new guidelines for operating sanctuaries.
The captive bears are used as seaside 'selfie' props or for street sideshows
Existing conservation laws to protect wildlife are also being extended to include all forms of cruel private keeping.
Lefter Koka, Minister of Environment of Albania, said today: "First, we want to focus on ending the cruellest forms of bear keeping in Albania..
"There are many bears abused to attract tourists, for example in tiny cages near restaurants, on beaches or near famous sights.
As many as 80 brown bears are feared to be held in captivity in the country
"We want to strengthen the image of Albania as a responsible tourism destination, where cruelty towards animals has no legitimate place."
FOUR PAWS says almost all bears in private keeping in Albania have been illegally captured as cubs from the wild.
It means that with only 250 animals left at large across the country the species remains endangered, even though wild brown bears do have legal protection.
The bears are stolen as cubs and raised in squalid conditions their whole life
Sadly for the bears, violations rarely end with prosecutions and, if so, result in nominal fines.
Over the past three years, stiffer penalties for illegal bear ownership have been introduced in neighbouring Kosovo where FOUR PAWS runs a bear sanctuary.
Heli Dungler, founder and president of FOUR PAWS said: "In Albania there are still approximately up to 80 bears leading a miserable existence in captivity.
A lonely bear pushing its nose against the rusty bars of their enclosure
"We are very happy to offer our support and long-term experience in bear management to the Albanian government and hope that with joint forces we can improve the situation of the bears in the country.
"Our long-term goal is to completely end cruel private keeping similar to what was achieved in Kosovo."
The new agreement with Albania was signed at the FOUR PAWS bear sanctuary in the Kosovan capital of Prishtina during a festival to mark plans for a new enclosure to welcome more rescued bears, possibly including animals from Albania.