Rescue Bear Yavor

After more than a decade at Zoo Lovech in Bulgaria, 22-year-old brown bear Yavor has been rescued by FOUR PAWS and relocated to BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa. At the request of the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW), Yavor now has a permanent home where he can live in a species-appropriate environment. 

Yavor had been kept at Zoo Lovech since 2012. He lived alone in a concrete enclosure with no vegetation, enrichment or climbing structures, only having access to a small pool, and no suitable place to retreat from visitors.  

After his arrival at BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa, Yavor will be given time to settle into his new surroundings and receive individual care. As he has never undergone a thorough veterinary examination, his health status is not yet fully known. A medical examination will take place in 2027 to assess his condition and establish an appropriate long-term care plan. 

Yavor’s relocation was requested by the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water as part of ongoing efforts to improve living conditions for the bears at Zoo Lovech. The zoo now keeps four bears instead of five. This reduction creates an opportunity to begin renovating the bear enclosures and improve conditions for the remaining animals. 

Yavor’s rescue is therefore an important first step towards ending the inappropriate keeping of bears at Zoo Lovech and contributing to better standards for bears in Bulgarian zoos.  

Yavor’s rescue is an important success of the FOUR PAWS Bulgaria zoo campaign, which has been running since 2021 to improve the welfare and living conditions of bears, big cats and other wild animals kept in Bulgarian zoos. 

The campaign has helped raise the welfare of wild animals in Bulgarian zoos on the political agenda and contributed to positive developments, including making municipal zoos eligible to apply for funding opportunities under the EU Environment Programme (2021 - 2027) to improve infrastructure and animal husbandry standards. Yavor’s rescue is a powerful example of how long-term advocacy and cooperation can drive meaningful change for animals.

At BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa, a FOUR PAWS project in cooperation with the Fondation Brigitte Bardot, Yavor can finally live in an environment that meets his needs as a bear. He now has the space to roam, explore his surroundings and behave naturally, with access to a more enriching and appropriate environment. After spending many years in unsuitable conditions, Yavor’s arrival at the sanctuary gives him the chance to live a natural and fulfilling life.