Brown bear 'Mark', locked in a cage in a restaurant in Albania for 20 years, is ready for a new life.

(AFP)

[Compilation Guan Shuping/Comprehensive Report] A brown bear named "Mark (Mark)" was kept in a cage in a restaurant in Albania shortly after birth, and let the customers who came to dine to watch. After 20 years After the "cage life", the brown bear finally regained his freedom on the 7th and was sent to Australia to spend the rest of his life.

"Agence France-Presse" reported on the 8th that Mark had lived in the "Bear Restaurant" (Sofra e Ariut) in Tirana (Tirana), the capital of Albania, until he embarked on a journey to Australia on the 7th. With the help of Four Paws, Mark will start a new life in an animal sanctuary in northern Australia. Unfortunately, the female bear "Liza" (Liza), who has been imprisoned with him for 20 years, has been released for 2 years. Died before, too late to enjoy freedom.

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Four Paws Albania mission coordinator and biodiversity expert Sajmir Shehu said Mark and Lisa were taken to the restaurant 20 years ago when their mother was shot dead after giving birth to him and Lisa. Live in cages about 100 square meters in size, with concrete floors, poor living conditions, no proper diet, and they are never allowed to hibernate.

Mark, who weighs 250 kilograms, is overweight and has difficulty moving. The boring and stressful life in the cage for a long time made him anxious and irritable. He growled and wanted to attack people at the slightest noise. The situation became more serious.

Hiqmet Murati, who has been taking care of Mark for 20 years, said, "Mark would cry for 2 to 3 months." The owner even let the two bears mate, but because they were too stressed, the cubs were all Bitten to death, none survived.

"Four Claws" said that due to 20 years of miserable life, Mark had problems with his joints, muscles, eyes and vital organs. He needed emergency treatment and care in order to survive. After arriving at the shelter in Australia, he will be treated by a veterinarian and provided with It needs a proper diet, "so that it can recover as soon as possible and enjoy a good bear life".

Xiehu said that Mark is the last so-called "restaurant ornamental bear" in Albania, but it is not the only case they have dealt with. They have rescued 33 such cases in Albania before. Take urgent action on the animal trade," calling for legislation to curb this animal cruelty that keeps animals for entertainment and attracts tourists.

The Albanian government said it was considering opening a sanctuary to house seized smuggled animals.

Mark, a brown bear locked in a cage at a restaurant in Albania for 20 years, is about to start a new life.

(AFP)

The staff of the "Four Paws" animal welfare organization anesthetized "Mark" on the 7th, and moved him out of the cage in the restaurant, ready to be sent to Australia.

(AFP)