Beautiful Bear With Sad Eyes Rescued After 30 Years Locked In A Tiny Cage

For 20 years, the bears were locked in rusty metal cages with concrete floors and nothing more than a rundown doghouse for shelter.

Stephanie

• Published in Animal Stories
• November 25, 2021

Over 30 years ago, a beautiful Syrian brown bear cub named Fifi went to live at a Pennsylvanian roadside zoo. She was forced to perform tricks and entertain customers until the zoo finally closed down in 1995.

Sadly, when the zoo closed its doors, the owners left Fifi and three other bears to waste away in tiny cages. For 20 years, the bears were locked in rusty metal cages with concrete floors and nothing more than a rundown doghouse for shelter.

Fifi's eyes were incredibly sad. She can be seen on film pawing at the cage, desperate to get out.

After a kind whistleblower alerted PETA to the bears' heartbreaking predicament, the animal rights organization was able to go in with The Wild Animal Sanctuary and rescue Fifi and her friends, Bruno, Pocahontas, and Marsha, in July 2015. When her rescuers arrived, Fifi's fur was dull, and her eyes were sunken; she was painfully thin and suffering terribly from untreated arthritis in her rear legs.

PETA arranged for a bear expert to assess the bears' health and to ascertain whether they would be well enough to travel. The bears were given the thumbs up and were taken to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, accompanied by two veterinarians in case of emergency.

Syrian brown bear, Fifi, was confined to a tiny cage for more than 30 years.

Her fur was dull, her eyes were sunken, and she was suffering from untreated arthritis.

The sadness in Fifi's eyes is obvious.

She was desperate to be free.

After decades of suffering, Fifi was finally given the home and the care she so desperately needed and deserved. Her new home was filled with beautiful grass, swimming holes, underground dens, and veterinary care on hand.

Understandably, Bruno, Pocahontas, and Marsha were cautious when their cage doors were opened. But Fifi, on the other hand, immediately stepped out into her new surroundings and headed right to the tub for a dip.

It took the bears some time to adjust to their new home. They spent around a week in temporary, separate enclosures - larger than their former cages but much smaller than their new habitat, to give them a chance to get used to things before they were given full access to their incredible new forever home.

Fifi, Bruno, Pocahontas, and Marsha were at last no longer confined to tiny cages. The bears had freedom; they could socialize in groups, and for the first time in their lives, they had dens and were able to hibernate.

Fifi's sad eyes finally showed signs of happiness and relief.

After just five months at the sanctuary, Fifi was healthy and happy. She had a full coat, and her legs were getting stronger and stronger by the day.

Sadly, beautiful Fifi passed away in 2019.

But she lived out her final years being cared for in the best way possible.

Fifi's life made a difference, and her suffering was not in vain. People from all over the world fell in love with Fifi and were motivated by her story to speak out against keeping bears in such cruel conditions.

Well done, Fifi! Your strength and determination to survive will never be forgotten.

Stephanie