Chronicle
Albania’s last “restaurant bear” has arrived in the Arbesbach bear forest (Zwettl district). After initial hesitation, brown bear Mark explored the snowy winter landscape. When the acclimatization period is over, he should get an even larger outdoor enclosure.
According to the animal protection organization Four Paws, brown bear Mark was not immediately ready to explore the winter landscape in Arbesbach. “After more than 20 years in a small concrete cage, it took him a while to feel natural ground under his paws for the first time,” the animal welfare organization reported. Mark was the last “restaurant bear” in Albania to be rescued by animal rights activists – more on that in Animal rights activists free “restaurant bears” (noe.ORF.at, 17.11.2022).
On Friday he finally arrived in the Arbesbach Bear Sanctuary. “It was a great and emotional moment for the whole team to watch Mark’s first steps in his new home. During the trip, he gradually gave us more insights into his character, and we can hardly wait to be able to follow his further development,” said Eva Rosenberg, Country Manager of Four Paws Austria.
During Mark’s adjustment period, he will remain in a smaller outdoor enclosure with an artificial den built for him. As soon as he is ready, he will be released into his large enclosure, they say. “When the door of his carrier opened, Mark lay quietly inside, curiously gazing at the snow-covered forest ahead. But he didn’t move outside for the time being,” it said. In the end, however, he decided to “put his paws on the forest floor and start his new life”.
Four Paws: “Cruel practice ended”
After the departure of the Four Paws team with Mark, the restaurant owner in Albania had already ordered the destruction of the cage next to the restaurant, the organization said. “With Mark’s rescue, we have ended the cruel practice of keeping him next to a restaurant to attract and entertain visitors,” said Four Paws CEO Josef Pfabigan.