Belitsa Bear Park Celebrates 25th Birthday

BTA correspondent Desislava Velkova

BTA Photo/Krasimir Nikolov

Belitsa, southern Bulgaria,

04.09.2025 18:57

(BTA)

The Four Paws Foundation celebrated 25 years since its establishment in Bulgaria and the opening of the Dancing Bear Park and Sanctuary in Belitsa in the presence of representatives of the international nature conservation organization and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, as well as many people involved in animal welfare and the protection of their rights. Among the guests were representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Environment and Water.

More than a quarter of a century ago, one of the main driving forces behind the opening of the Dancing Bear Park was Dr. Amir Khalil, director of the Four Paws Foundation's rescue missions department. He told BTA that one of the biggest challenges at the time was to convince the residents of Belitsa that the dancing bears would not pose a danger to them, that they could not escape or cause problems. “We tried to show them that this would actually create jobs, which they saw when work on the park began,” he explained.

The location was chosen because the area is a natural habitat for wild brown bears. The park is over 1,200 metrеs above sea level, which, however, creates a challenge when transporting materials.

At that time, it was also a challenge to keep the wild bears away, as they were curious about the new "residents," said Dr. Khalil.

Halil also recalled the dancing bears of the past. It was a cruel practice, the way the cubs were taken from their mothers and taught to "dance" with hot iron or fire, as well as having chains placed on their noses without anesthesia, he added. Many people thought at the time that the bears were dancing, but they associate the pain and the music they heard while trying not to burn, he explained

Now the bears have the opportunity to be bears, they have places to hide, they even hibernate in the Bear Park, which does not happen in captivity, Halil added. They also receive a lot of support from the government and local authorities. “It was a long journey, but I can say "Bravo Bulgaria," it was a historic decision,” he added in connection with the 2007 decision to legally ban the practice of dancing bears.

The first dancing bears entered the park a quarter of a century ago. Currently, 15 bears live here, only six of which are dancing bears. The park in Belitsa also houses bears from other Balkan countries, dancing bears or bears raised in poor conditions. The oldest of them is Svetla, who is 35 years old, a ripe old age for bears, which live for about 20-25 years in the wild, said park director Nikola Popkostadinov. The youngest bears are Riku, Teddy, and Iva, who are housed in a sector with another young bear, Yeta.

“We are celebrating our anniversary here at the bear park, where it all began 25 years ago, during which time we have carried out a number of campaigns and projects,” Dr. Ventsislava Taseva, Director of Four Paws Bulgaria, told BTA. She pointed out that among the organization's greatest achievements in Bulgaria, along with the opening of the Bear Park, were also the neutering of over 50,000 stray animals, the creation of the first veterinary clinic for stray animals in Bankya, the ban on mink farms in Bulgaria, participation in legislative changes, and a number of other campaigns and missions. Dr. Taseva added that their the main aim is a more humane treatment of animals.

To mark the anniversary, the renovated visitor centre was opened in the park, allowing visitors to experience the life of captive dancing bears through virtual reality. In addition, the centre provides information about the campaigns of the Four Paws Foundation around the world, the actions of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, and information about a more nature-friendly way of life.

/DT/