Парк за танцуващи мечки, Bear sanctuary in Belitsa, Bulgaria.
The Dancing Bears Park covers 120,000 m2 in the Andrianov Chark area of the southwestern Rila Mountains, between 1200 and 1345 m elevation, about 12 km from Belitsa. Dense forest and hills alternate with meadows and purpose-built sunny resting spots, plus lakes of varying size and shape for bathing and dens for sleeping.
The facility was established in 2000 through a partnership between Four Paws Foundation, Brigitte Bardot Foundation, and Belitsa Municipality. This creation responded to Bulgaria's long history of bears being abused and exploited for public entertainment.
This sanctuary represents a major shift in Bulgarian animal welfare by ending centuries of bears being used for street performances. Visitors today see animals living in conditions where they can act out natural behaviors they would have in the wild.
Visitors can join guided tours and explore the grounds independently; sturdy footwear is essential due to forest paths and uneven terrain. Warmer months offer the best experience, with easier ground access and more active bears.
Each of the more than 20 bears has its own area with natural features like tree stumps and streams where it can dig and bathe again. These individual spaces let animals rediscover skills lost during years in captivity.
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