Royal Canin pledges full support to FOUR PAWS in rescuing baiting bears

 Pet food producer takes on responsibility and wishes to participate in long-term solution

Vienna, 31st July 2013 During yesterday’s meetings in Vienna, Royal Canin made a commitment to FOUR PAWS to accept responsibility: the company will support the rescue of the bears, which have been tormented during brutal dog training. The meetings were triggered by last week’s publication by FOUR PAWS of video material which exposed Royal Canin as sponsor of the cruel events in Ukraine. The publication resulted in vehement protests worldwide, intensive media reporting and a public apology by the company.

After the bear baiting was uncovered FOUR PAWS presented a project proposal to the Ukrainian government, and then yesterday also to Royal Canin. A reception station should be set up where the 15-20 bears concerned can spend the rest of their lives in species-appropriate conditions. The organisation points to its years of experience in rescuing bears and its successful management of four sanctuaries in Bulgaria, Germany, Austria and, starting a few weeks ago, in Kosovo.

Dr. Amir Khalil, Director of Project Development and chief negotiator at FOUR PAWS, explains: “I am pleased that we have now been able to sit down with Royal Canin to discuss tangible solutions. We welcome Royal Canin’s willingness to take on responsibility. But of course words alone are not enough – now we need to see actions.”

Over the next few weeks a detailed project plan will be drawn up by the FOUR PAWS and Royal Canin negotiating teams. Dr. Khalil: “As part of this we will then also work together to map out the particulars of the support.”

“Royal Canin looks forward to opening this new chapter by helping to promote animal welfare in Ukraine. Therefore, we intend to provide funding for this project. We will also take the lead in building an alliance to include additional volunteering parties (business partners, associations, NGO etc…) to ensure the project is secured for the long term”, says Hervé Marc, Global Corporate Affairs Director with Royal Canin.

Dr. Khalil emphasises that this project is only at the start: “But it is already clear that we need the support of the Ukrainian authorities if we are to end the bears’ suffering. A project like this is very demanding logistically, financially and bureaucratically, and as such it also needs a lot of time.”

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The Recovery of Traumatized Restaurant Bears in the FOUR PAWS Bear Sanctuary, Kosovo

Biologists and animal keepers are currently helping the brave bears to settle in at their new home.

South Africa, 5 July 2013 – All of the thirteen restaurant bears that were rescued from the very poor conditions where they were living, by the international animal protection organisation FOUR PAWS, are doing well. They are recovering slowly from their physical wounds and traumatizing past in the adaption enclosure of the FOUR PAWS BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina in Kosovo, which measures several hundred square meters. Here, they can feel the grass under their paws for the first time, dip into the pool, dig, play and move around freely.

For the past few weeks, the biologists and animal keepers of the organisation have been working intensively with the traumatised bears in the BEAR SANCTUARY  to help them adjust to their new living conditions.  Several times a day, they provide them with substantial food and keep their search for food varied by hiding treats in the enclosure. Biologists are carefully observing their behaviour, to identify the individual characteristics and needs of every bear. “We are glad, that all our bears are on the road to recovery,” explains FOUR PAWS project leader Carsten Hertwig. “Their coats are shining again, they have a healthy appetite and they are bathing regularly and playing.”

All thirteen bears were kept under extremely poor conditions. For many years they were living in cages which were far too small, at restaurants. An emergency rescue team from the animal protection organisation rescued and transferred them in March and May 2013 to the FOUR PAWS BEAR SANCTUARY with the help of the Kosovo Ministry of Environment, the police and the KFOR. Most of the bears were malnourished and some had bite injuries from other bears, which they were forced to share a confined and insufferable living space with. Bear Stivi has even gone blind because of very painful wounds in his eyes. Furthermore, some of the bears show massive behavioral disorders, caused by their inappropriate living conditions before their rescue. “Ari, Kassandra and blind Stivi, for example, are running up and down the same short distance path for many hours a day”, says Carsten Hertwig. “From our experience some bears discard these stereotypes rather fast, whereas others continue with them for months or even years.”

FOUR PAWS is currently building a several acres  large outdoor enclosure which will be similar to the bears natural environment, at the area for all thirteen former restaurant bears. Next autumn, they will be able to move to their permanent home. “With varying landscapes within the outdoor enclosure we are going to reactivate their natural instincts.”, says Carsten Hertwig. “And we are hoping that this will help to gradually reduce their behavioral disorders.”

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