Vienna, 12 May 2025 – Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS rescued one of Slovenia’s last two 'restaurant bears' on 8 May. At 34 years, bear Felix is already an oldie. He will spend his golden years in his new forever home at BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach in Lower Austria, where he is now the oldest resident bear. After more than three decades of entertaining and attracting guests, Felix has finally retired now. He spent his entire life in a small concrete enclosure next to a restaurant on a busy road in Kočevje, Southeast Slovenia. Following a public campaign by FOUR PAWS, Felix’ owner decided in February to act in the best interest of the bear and provide him with a better future. Almost 100,000 supporters have joined FOUR PAWS’ call since March 2024 to free bear Felix and four other Slovenian bears from poor private keeping in Slovenia.

Shortly after arriving at BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach, senior bear Felix did not wait long to explore: After stepping out of his transport box, he cautiously started exploring his new surroundings, drank, and ate his first snacks. It was heartwarming to see how he even started digging a pit and building his first ever straw bed – activities he got to experience for the very first time in his life.

“At 34 years, bear Felix is a lovely oldie, and it fills us with joy to finally provide him with a bear-worthy life for the time he has left. We are looking forward to seeing him thrive. For the first time ever, he can now feel the soil under his paws. His curious nature will help to make himself comfortable in his new home. Right after his arrival, he started to familiarise himself with his acclimatisation enclosure and enjoyed some snacks, which is a good sign. Our experienced team at BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach will support him in settling in, which sometimes can be challenging for senior animals,” says Patricia Tiplea, Head of Wild Animal Rescue and Advocacy at FOUR PAWS, who joined his rescue.

Bear Felix was transported by an experienced team during an eight-hour drive to Austria. He was closely monitored by a wildlife veterinarian of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, who also examined him under anaesthesia prior to departure. The senior bear is visibly suffering from age-related conditions, including degenerative joint disease with obvious stiffness at his hindlegs and impaired sight. In line with the upcoming results from his veterinary examination, a special treatment plan will be developed by the team of BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach for Felix.

Felix’s new home in Austria

After spending his whole life in captivity, bear Felix can now roam a forest-like outdoor enclosure of 1600 m2, with trees, bushes, rocks and a large pond. His entire enclosure was designed to fit the needs of a senior bear: A ramp gives him easy access to his pond, which also has shallow areas, so he can just lounge and relax in the water without swimming. For trust-building with his new caretakers and to get slowly accustomed to his new home, Felix will spend the first three weeks in a smaller area in quarantine. His indoor box can be heated and is equipped with hay, straw and other materials for him to sleep comfortably.

“It was a very emotional moment for us when Felix arrived in his forever home. We are so relieved that the rescue and transport went smoothly and are happy to offer Felix a better life. In the upcoming weeks, we will monitor him closely to understand what his individual needs are, which food he likes and how we can provide him with the best veterinary care possible. We hope his future at BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach is filled with many joyful years,” says Eva Rosenberg, Director of FOUR PAWS Austria, who attended the rescue

Bears Tim and Mici still need help

While Felix story found a happy ending, Slovenian bears Mici and Tim remain at a private zoo and restaurant. The two bears urgently need species-appropriate care, as years of private keeping have taken their toll. They are kept in small enclosures and need professional treatment due to their health conditions. Originally FOUR PAWS has been advocating to rescue five bears from poor private keeping in Slovenia since autumn 2022. Unfortunately, two of them died last year. FOUR PAWS now urges the owners of the remaining two bears - Mici and Tim – to give them a chance at a bear-worthy life.

To help bears Mici and Tim, you can support the campaign by FOUR PAWS for their rescue and sign the petition.

About BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach

BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach is one of seven FOUR PAWS bear sanctuaries. With the arrival of Felix, four brown bears - Brumca, Erich, and Mark - currently live in Arbesbach on a total of 14,000 square metres. You can find further information on BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach here.