LiBEARty Bear Sanctuary

Over one-third of Europe’s brown bear population inhabits Romania, so it is no surprise that Europe’s largest bear reserve is also located there.  The LiBEARty Bear Sanctuary is currently home to and a haven for 70 European brown bears (Ursus arctos arctos) and one Asian black bear, a refugee from the United States. 

The Sanctuary was founded in 2005 by Cristina Lapis, a Romanian journalist and animal rights activist.  The inspiration for the Sanctuary was Maya, a European brown bear confined to a small, damp cage and neglected in the yard of a hotel near Bran Castle.  Beginning in 1998, and for four years thereafter, Lapis and her husband visited Maya daily, providing her with desperately needed food, water, and companionship. 

Unfortunately, there was no sanctuary to which the bear could be relocated, and the zoos at the time offered little improvement.  Maya became so depressed by her confinement that she began to self-mutilate and tore the flesh of her front paw to the bone.  Despite veterinary intervention, Maya passed away in Lapis’ arms on March 11, 2002.  As Maya was dying, Lapis promised her that she would do everything in her power to prevent other bears from suffering. 

Tragically, Maya’s story was not unique.  Brown bears were kept captive throughout Romania in circuses and as tourist attractions in hotels, restaurants, and gas station parking lots.  Confined to small cages, some were blinded, defanged, and declawed.  They were often drugged or forced to consume alcohol laced with tranquilizers.  Tourists would taunt them and throw projectiles at the captive animals.  The rusted cage once occupied by a bear named Odi is on display to show his former horrendous living conditions. 

In 2006, Lapis opened the doors of LiBEARty Sanctuary with the support of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, and Vets United of Germany.  At the same time, Romania made it illegal to privately own brown bears taken from the wild.  The town of Zărnești donated the LiBEARty land, and the “Milioane de Prieteni (Millions of Friends) Association” operates the Sanctuary. 

Since its founding, 130 bears have passed through the Sanctuary’s gates.  No longer confined and neglected, the bears at LiBEARty flourish.  They spend their days swimming, tree-climbing, and roaming freely throughout their habitats.  They receive abundant food, medical care, and plenty of ursine companionship.  For a treat, they get bread dipped in honey.  But most importantly, they enjoy freedom from cages for the first time in their lives.