FOUR PAWS Visit in Slovenia 

Ljubljana/Vienna, 15 April 2026 - Owner denies animal welfare activists to see bear Tim.  

Tim is Slovenia’s last remaining bear in inappropriate keeping and currently lives in a small enclosure with little enrichment and mostly concrete flooring. Wildlife veterinarian strongly recommends relocation to species-appropriate home. 

FOUR PAWS renews its offer to take in Tim at BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach, Austria, where a 3,500m2 natural outdoor enclosure is waiting for him. 

Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS confronted the owner of Zoo park Rožman on Tuesday, 14 April, about the poor living conditions of bear Tim, urging him to voluntarily relocate Tim to BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach in Austria. While the representatives were denied entry to the private zoo in Horjul, a wildlife veterinarian from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna engaged by the organisation was allowed to see Tim, finding him in distress and strongly recommending his relocation.  

From just watching Tim from afar, he has lost weight and his condition seemed to have improved from 2023, when Tim was covered in open and infected wounds. But only a detailed veterinary check under anesthesia can give comprehensive information about his health condition.  

“The refusal to let us see Tim is deeply alarming. If the zoo owner insists that Tim is doing so well, why block entry to FOUR PAWS? We are worried about Tim and urge his owner to finally allow him the chance at a dignified, bear-worthy life. At BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach, a spacious, forest-like habitat is waiting for him — along with specialised caretakers, veterinarians, and animal behaviourists dedicated to Tim’s wellbeing,” says Patricia Tiplea, responsible for rescues at FOUR PAWS. The enclosure prepared for Tim spans 3,500 m² and offers a natural environment with trees, bushes, several dens, and a large pool which can easily be entered and exited by elderly bears. Tim would receive individualised care, a seasonal diet, and regular enrichment to keep him stimulated and active. This environment would encourage him to express natural bear behaviours, such as bathing, rubbing against trees, and digging dens. 

In a recent TV report, Jože Rožmanec is shown feeding bear Tim in direct contact, standing in his enclosure. This practice contradicts established animal welfare and safety standards, which require that caretakers never enter an enclosure or interact directly with a wild animal. “Such direct handling of a bear demonstrates serious irresponsibility and unprofessional handling of wild animals. Actions like this place both Mr. Rožmanec and others at significant risk and compromise Tim’s welfare. Close interaction with bears can lead to severe or even fatal injuries, and it is highly stressful and unnatural for the animal,” says Patricia Tiplea. 

Since their arrival at BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach, the two senior bears, formerly kept to attract guests at restaurants in Slovenia, have been recovering very well from their past. Bear Felix, rescued in May 2025, recently completed the first hibernation of his life. Bear Mici, who was relocated to Arbesbach in November 2025, loves to play with her enrichment, her favorite toy being a volleyball. 

BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach in Austria is one of the 13 wild animal sanctuaries and cooperation projects by the global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS. In 1998, it opened as FOUR PAWS’ first wild animal sanctuary to provide a safe haven for bears kept in poor conditions. Just recently, BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach was enlarged from 16,000 m² to 24,000 m². The sanctuary has seven large outdoor enclosures, which are several thousand square meters in size and offer natural environments for its bears. The sanctuary provides an appropriate, lifelong home for bears that were kept in inadequate conditions in circuses, private captivity and zoos. The sanctuary is currently home to five bears: Brumca, Erich, Felix, Dunbar and Mici.