The Bear Sanctuary Prishtina (Albanian: Pylli i arinjve Prishtina) is a sanctuary for rescued brown bears in Kosovo at around 22 km (14 mi) close to the city of Prishtina.[1] The sanctuary is located near the Badoc Lake.
| Bear Sanctuary Prishtina | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The building of the sanctuary | |
 | |
| Date opened | May 2013 |
| Location | Bear Sanctuary Prishtina |
| Land area | 16 hectares (40 acres) |
| No. of animals | 20 brown bears |
| Director | Afrim Mahmuti |
| Public transit access | Trafiku Urban |
| Website | https://www.bearsanctuary-prishtina.org/ |
Background
editFor many years, there was no law against keeping brown bears in Kosovo. All privately kept brown bears lived in small cages at restaurants. They were born mostly in the forests of Kosovo or Albania and snatched from their mothers by animal dealers. As restaurant bears they were supposed to attract customers, and thus profit, for their owners. In November 2010, when it became illegal to keep bears privately, there was a need for a national park as a new home for the restaurant bears rescued from captivity.[2]
The Park
editFoundation
editThe Bear Sanctuary Prishtina was founded in 2013 by Four Paws in collaboration with KFOR, the Municipality of Pristina, and the Ministry of Environment in Kosovo.[3] The sanctuary provides species-appropriate place for all "restaurant bears", who now enjoy their life in large enclosures resembling the bears’ natural habitat.
The bears
editThe Bear Sanctuary Prishtina has currently in care 20 brown bears (as of January 2020). These "restaurant bears" had been tracked down and registered by the government of Kosovo during the last few years and have been rescued in 2013.[4]
Two restaurant bears, named Rambo and Luta, could not be saved, because their proprietors killed the bears only hours before the rescue team arrived.[5]
Facilities
editThe sanctuary is built on an area of sixteen hectares. In addition to the existing facilities, a new environmental education center "Thesaret e Natyrës" is opened in 2018 in order to improve the public attention to animal welfare and environmental issues in Kosovo.[6]
Gallery
edit.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina - a FOUR PAWS Project". BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina - a FOUR PAWS Project. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
- ^ "Captive Brown Bears Gain Fresh Start in Kosovo". Balkaninsight.com. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "Republika E Kosovës Ministria E Mjedisit, Planifikimit Hapësinor Dhe Infrastrukturës". www.mit-ks.net. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
- ^ "Rescue of brown bears in Kosovo". Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
- ^ "Help for Bears". Four-paws.org.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "Remaining restaurant bears in Kosovo have been rescued" (PDF). Franke-ip.com. Retrieved 2013-08-21.