Halloween Treats for Ben the Bear
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- BEN'S CARETAKERS HAVE PREPARED A SPECIAL HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR THIS SPECIAL BEAR. WATCH HIM ENJOY!
2017 marks five years since Ben, a hybrid black bear, arrived at PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary. He is the only one of our bears who can claim to have been transported to PAWS via "Bear Force One," courtesy of FedEx!
Ben came from Jambbas Ranch Tours in North Carolina, where he was confined in a small and barren cement-floored cage for six long years, just so tourists could gawk at him. Bears are intelligent, curious and active animals, yet Ben was unable to do anything that wild bears naturally do, such as climb, forage or explore. His only source of enrichment was an old bowling ball and a few decrepit stumps of wood. Ben spent his time repetitively pacing in his cage - a sign of chronic stress and boredom.
Thanks to efforts by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, PETA and concerned citizens, Ben was finally freed from his miserable cage and readied for transfer to ARK 2000. Upon hearing Ben's story, FedEx agreed to fly him to California, dubbing the plane "Bear Force One." When Ben was released into his new sanctuary home, it was likely the first time he had ever felt grass beneath his feet.
Today, Ben explores a spacious enclosure in the Bob Barker Bear Habitat where space is measured in acres, not feet. He enjoys searching for favorite foods that his caretakers hide for him, including watermelon, apples and berries, as well as the acorns that fall from the trees inside his habitat. His enclosure is filled with shady trees, natural vegetation, grass, and a pool that Ben loves to swim in year round. Sadly, Ben had been declawed, so it is harder for him to engage in certain bear behaviors, such as tearing apart logs to root out insects. Nevertheless, he is an easy-going and responsive bear who has grown confident in his surroundings.
PAWS is pleased to report that Jambbas Ranch Tours is no longer open to the public. The anniversary of Ben's arrival reminds us that there are other bears who still suffer in horrific conditions in roadside attractions, cruelly forced to perform ridiculous tricks in traveling shows, and bred for cub petting operations where the cubs are discarded after they become larger and more dangerous to handle. Thanks to your support, PAWS is there to provide safe refuge for bears like Ben and other wild animals in need.
Please consider making a special donation to PAWS in honor of Ben. It costs us approximately $15,000 per year to feed and care for one healthy bear. Eight bears currently live at our sanctuaries. pawsweb.org/don...
Visit our website at pawsweb.org/ for more information about Ben and the other animals who live at our sanctuaries.
Sound of his chewing is oddly relaxing. _Takes nap._
He's gorgous!! What a handsome boy!
What an absolute beauty he is! 😍😘🐻❤️ thank you so much for giving him love and safety! 🙏🏼💖
What a dainty eater! The blackest black I have ever seen was on a big black bear. He is gorgeous.
He's half black-bear, half-Grizzly. :-)
What a beautiful bear!
He was so excited seeing this round thing in his habitat that he could eat!
Apparently bears love pumpkins! What a beautiful looking animal.
Gentle giant enjoying his treat!
What a beautiful beast
I could listen to him crunch food all day. It's so heartwarming!
A declawed bear, how sad 😔
Wow he looks beautiful now!