 Fred, a Former Circus Bear
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Dec. 18, 2003 — The last circus bear in Britain flew off to Canada on Thursday to start a new life in the wilds of northern Ontario — complete with swimming pool.
Fred, a 10-year-old American black bear, will live in a sanctuary run by Bear With Us, a Canadian bear charity, where he will mix with other bears for the first time in his life.
On Wednesday, former owner Jeffrey Mackie handed him over to the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA.) The following day Fred was placed aboard a British Airways flight from London to Toronto.
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Mackie, the former proprietor of Circus King in Grantham, Lincolnshire in the east of England, had kept Fred as a pet since the animal retired from the circus three years ago.
He contacted the WSPA, which campaigns against keeping live bears captive, asking if they could find a good home for Fred, who has lived in Britain his entire life and could live for another 10 to 20 years.
WSPA Wildlife Director Victor Watkins said he had no doubt that Fred — who until now has lived in a fairly small enclosure — would be happy in his new home in Sprucedale, Ontario, which is about 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Toronto.
"He seems to have been well-cared for, but it was no place for a bear to be living," Watkins said. "Fred's got a great character. Some bears can be a little aggressive but Fred just seems like a soppy, big old teddy bear, really."
Bear With Us says it has rehabilitated and released into the wild more than 100 bears — including circus veterans from Britain and Ireland — since it was founded nearly 12 years ago.
Earlier this month the WSPA issued a report exposing the "medieval conditions" in which hundreds of bears are kept at eight public bear parks in Japan, where they're made to beg for food from tourists.
The WSPA estimates there are still 800 dancing bears in Pakistan and 2,000 in India. In China there are 9,000 caged bears on 167 bear bile farms, where they endure a daily agony of having their bile drained from open wounds.
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Name: American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Primary Classification: Ursidae (Bears) Location: North America. Habitat: Mostly forest with thick understory vegetation and abundant food sources. Diet: Mostly vegetation, like roots, buds, shoots, fruits, nuts and berries. Also worms, grubs, and fish. Size: Up to 6.5 ft in length and 660 lbs in weight. Description: Black or brown fur; large, erect ears; small eyes; prehensile lip; massive body; short tail. Cool Facts: It can remain dormant during winter for up to seven months, during which time it does not eat or relieve itself. Its is an adept climber and fast runner, able to exceed 30 mph. Conservation Status: Lower Risk (Near Threatened) Major Threat: Habitat loss. What Can I Do?: Visit the Black Bear Conservation Committee and Bear Trust International for information on how you can help. |
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