Zarnesti Libearty Bear Sanctuary

How do you describe life defining moments? Have you ever had to stop and try to process an event, a conversation, a meeting or a vision that made you feel like you needed to do something? Or that made you feel like it happened at exactly the right place and the right time for you to change something about your life or about your outlook on life? I can only think of those are life defining moments, and although I can't say that I have had plenty of those in my life, I can say that, for me, those have been shattering and shocking. But necessary.

I am not hard to please, and I am not hard to offend. I pride myself in being open minded and flexible with arguments and opinions. Some people define that as being weak and fickle - although I disagree, I have come to terms with the fact that to some, that is a reality. However, the following are some of the many facts that are true to me: 

* Animals feel

* Zoos are glorified cages

* Culture is not supposed to be studied like a specimen; it is supposed to be experienced. 

These are facts that I feel do not need an explanation or evidence. To me, to my own perspective, they are truth. If I am ever met with an opposition to these facts, I wouldn't care to contest it, because really nothing anyone could ever say or do would ever make me feel or think other wise.

Recently, we visited the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti, Romania. We were nervous about going, since we know very well that not all sanctuaries are what they claim to be. A lot of these places are nothing less than torturous prisons, which sole purpose is to amuse and entertain the tourists: Chained up elephants, caged bears and lions who have never felt grass under their feet; all of these animals are terrorized, tortured and tamed for fucking entertainment. And these places exist everywhere. 

Thankfully, the Libearty Bear Sanctuary was not one of these places. We were walked into a small cabin first, where they played a video of how and why this Sanctuary was made. Of course, the main purpose of this place was to rescue bears who were kept as touristic attractions; some were kept by private owners, others by circuses and others by zoos. The founder, Cristina Lapis, got the place started after a bear she was trying to rescue, Maya, mutilated herself out of stress for being caged. I immediately got emotional watching the video. They showed shots of cubs playfully nibbling at their keepers, who smiled and even pet the cubs on occasion; while Lapis' voice explained how these bears have never known the freedom of the mountains and the forest, and how they will never learn how to survive in the wild on their own.

"These animals do not need human selfish love" 

That shook me. It shook me for truth hurts. 

This Sanctuary actually exists to give back to the bears the opportunity of a life stolen from them; a life that belongs to them and that they have every right to enjoy as fellow beings of this planet. The sanctuary is made of 160 acres of oak and forest, and although it is fenced in - these bears truly do not have a better chance at their deserved life. They explain to you the story of most of these bears and how they came to the sanctuary; I learned about Max, a bear who was blinded and drugged in order to keep him tame and 'nice' so that people could take pictures with him; I learned about Mona, who is easily distinguishable for her arms which hang down in a semi-circle since she was born and raised to ride a bike in circus shows. As I heard about these stories, my heart kept aching and I felt shame, and pain as much as I felt absolute gratitude for this place to exist for them.

There have been so many times when I have caught myself thinking "This is just the way of the world, and there is nothing I can do to change it". When I am questioned by society and its expectations; when I see hatred towards humanity from humanity; when I read the news, when I hear the news. What can I do? When I hear of another shooting, another mass murder, another national threat, I ask myself, what I can I do? And I have never known what to do other than move on - move on because this is just the way the world works. And it's devastating, and heart breaking - to have been so used to violence and hate, to dehumanize, to literally accept it as a reality. And of course, if we are able to dehumanize one another, how could we possibly respect other species of this planet? One a smaller scale, visiting the sanctuary was one of those moments where I knew I needed to do something. Anything to help. I have always thought that there is nothing I can possibly do - helping in anything takes money, and money I do not always have for 'charity'. But I truly felt like this is exactly where my money needs to go; to help the people who are sacrificing so much in order to provide these animals with the life that was taken from them for absolute selfish and cruel reasons. It was strange really, because I am not often moved, and not often am I moved with such intensity. It is so easy to acknowledge, and just hope for the best - it is harder to do something. And sure - there is no guarantee that my money will not be pocketed or kept for other reasons, but I can vouch for the Libearty Sanctuary. Not only have they rescued bears, but they've also taken in baby does who have been neglected by their mothers, a goat, a horse, and a some wolves, plus the dogs - probably some cats too. As long as they're able to feed them and house them, they'll keep taking them.

I don't really know how, if ever, things could change. I would really hope so. I would like to be able to do something - not just for the bears, but for all of the beings who deserve a chance to life. Our own species included.

If anyone is interested in helping: www.ampbears.ro/en