After 24 years trapped in a tiny cage, Baloo the bear has endured enough. We’re still fighting for his freedom.
Baloo should have lived roaming the Romanian forests, but for 24 years, he’s been stuck in a cage—next to a noisy ski lift and mountain biking trail in Straja. Tourists feed him cereal, lemonade, and even alcohol. Children poke him with sticks. He’s alone, visibly traumatized, and pacing endlessly in a barren enclosure that offers nothing but misery.
Baloo’s tragic story began when he was found injured as a cub and taken in by forest rangers. Instead of receiving the care he needed, he became the “property” of a businessman who has kept him as a roadside attraction ever since. Despite Romania banning private ownership of bears in 2005, the law has failed Baloo—and so many animals like him.
World Animal Protection has worked for years with our partner, Millions of Friends Association (AMP), to free Baloo and bring him to the Libearty Bear Sanctuary, a 69-hectare oasis in the Carpathian Mountains. There, more than 100 rescued bears live out their lives in peace, surrounded by forests, lakes, and proper veterinary care. This is what Baloo deserves—not another day in a cage.
World Animal Protection engaged Romanian lawyers to explore legal avenues for his relocation in the past year—requesting information from various agencies to strengthen the legal case. After we delivered nearly 180,000 petition signatures to the Romanian Ministry of Environment demanding freedom for Baloo, we were met with a lack of action. We also recently attended a hearing with the animal police and sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Romania, requesting Baloo’s release.
In 2024, we conducted expert welfare assessments, and the results were heartbreaking: Baloo is suffering from mobility issues, an inappropriate diet, lack of enrichment, and severely inadequate care. He needs urgent intervention, yet legal and political hurdles continue to delay his rescue.
Because Baloo’s living conditions were so dire, in December 2024, we sent a letter to the Ministry of Environment, Waters, and Forests ahead of the planned parliamentary elections that same month, emphasizing that any incoming Prime Minister be informed of Baloo’s deteriorating situation. However, the elections have since been postponed to May 2025.
We are still working with the current minister and are working to secure a meeting with them to share our latest expert reports on Baloo’s living conditions. Once a new minister is elected, we intend to engage with them directly to plead Baloo’s case.
Additionally, a public survey conducted by World Animal Protection last year clearly demonstrated support for relocating Baloo, with eighty-five percent of respondents agreeing that it’s the most ethical thing to do. While this is significant, we must work with the authorities who can objectively assess Baloo’s situation and have the power to do something about it. And while progress has been slower than we’d like, we are not giving up until Baloo is free.
To help animals like Baloo, World Animal Protection needs sustained resources to support our work. By joining The Wild Side as a monthly donor, you can help us continue our fight against animal cruelty and suffering every day of the year. Please join today.