Animal rescue stories remind us of the power of compassion and the resilience of animals in the face of cruelty. Misha and Dasha, two bears who spent an agonizing decade confined to a tiny cage near a restaurant in Armenia, are now experiencing the freedom they had long been denied. Their story of suffering and rescue serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting wildlife from captivity and neglect.
For ten years, Misha and Dasha were kept in a cage so small that they could barely move. Located near a riverbank, their cage was often flooded, and they spent their days pacing endlessly, desperate for some space to roam. The saddest part of their existence was that tourists who dined at the nearby restaurant would watch them in their misery without offering any help. The bears’ lives were reduced to mere attractions, and they were left to endure constant distress.
Their suffering reached a peak when the river flooded one year, nearly drowning them. “A few years back, the river flooded, and the bears almost drowned,” said Lis Key, PR and communications manager for International Animal Rescue (IAR). “The rescue team had to cut through the cages to release them, so they must have been trapped when the river flooded and in serious danger of drowning.”
Despite their dire situation, the restaurant owner refused to release the bears, making their rescue efforts difficult. However, with the help of the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC), IAR was able to negotiate the bears’ release and bring them to safety. After years of suffering, Misha and Dasha were finally transported to a beautiful sanctuary in the mountains, where they could roam freely in a natural habitat.
As the winter approached, the two bears found comfort in a cave and prepared to hibernate. What happened next was a surprise to everyone: Dasha, who had been rescued unaware that she was pregnant, gave birth to two healthy cubs. “She received all necessary care after being rescued, enough fruits, veggies, nuts, and honey to gain weight and fat before hibernation… But nobody guessed her good appetite was a result of pregnancy,” explained Vicky Mkrtchyan, environmental projects coordinator for FPWC.
Today, Misha, Dasha, and their two cubs are thriving in the sanctuary, living a life that they had always deserved. They are no longer confined to a cage, and they can now experience the freedom of nature.
Dasha had given birth to two cubs.
The bear family’s journey from suffering to freedom is a testament to the importance of animal rescue efforts and the need for stronger protections for wildlife. Share their incredible story and spread awareness about the importance of ending animal cruelty.
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