Ljubljana/Vienna, 17 September 2025 – One of the last two Slovenian bears in private keeping will be rescued. After spending over two decades at a restaurant in Žirovnica, Mici finally gets a new chance at life, after her owner voluntarily gave her to FOUR PAWS. In mid-November, the global animal welfare organisation will rehome the approximately 24-year-old female bear to BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz in Germany. Then Tim will be Slovenia’s last bear in inappropriate keeping at an unlicensed zoo called Zoopark Rozman, near Ljubljana. FOUR PAWS is urging Tim’s owner to follow suit and finally provide him with much needed species-appropriate care by handing him over to the animal welfare organisation.

Bear Mici is fit for transport
To prepare Mici for her upcoming transfer, a FOUR PAWS team visited her at the Lovski dom Stol restaurant on 10 September. The approximately 24-year-old female bear was visually examined and vaccinated by wildlife veterinarian Szilvia Kalogeropoulu from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. “We’re pleased to confirm that Mici is fit for transport and full of energy,” Kalogeropoulu said. Being displayed to restaurant guests has caused her considerable stress. “Mici is an extremely nervous bear and becomes visibly distressed when people approach her enclosure,” she added. At BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz, Mici will be living in a forest-like enclosure offering her peace and privacy, allowing her to recover in a more natural environment.

Private keeping is coming to an end

Following recent amendments to the Slovenian Animal Welfare Act, the private keeping of bears and other dangerous wild animals is expected to be fully prohibited by summer 2026. To ensure Tim receives the much-needed, species-appropriate care as soon as possible, FOUR PAWS is calling on the owner of Tim, to no longer wait and surrender him voluntarily now. The 22-year-old male bear is currently living in a small concrete enclosure without enrichment. FOUR PAWS has already offered its support to the authorities and Tim’s owner, proposing to give Tim a bear-worthy future at one of its sanctuaries.

FOUR PAWS campaign for Slovenian bears

Since autumn 2022, FOUR PAWS has been advocating to rescue five bears from inappropriate private keeping in Slovenia. In 2024 a public campaign received overwhelming public support, with over 100,000 people worldwide joining the call to end the suffering of bears held at three restaurants and a private zoo. Unfortunately, two bears passed away last year. A major milestone was reached in May 2025 with the successful rescue of Felix, a 34-year-old male bear, who was transferred from a restaurant in Kočevje, Southeast Slovenia, to BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach in Austria.

About BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz

BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz in Germany is one of 13 wild animal sanctuaries and cooperation projects FOUR PAWS has established worldwide for rescued wild animals. Currently the sanctuary provides a species-

appropriate home to nine rescued brown bears. BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz was established by FOUR PAWS in 2006 and comprises 16 hectares, with large outdoor enclosures that offer a varied landscape with mixed woodland, grasslands, forest glades, hillsides and a natural water course for the bears.

About FOUR PAWS

FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions, as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam, as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions.