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 DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa - a Paradise for bears
Let us put an end to the torture!
Dancing bears in Bulgaria do not have to dance on hot surfaces any longer, neither have they to wear nose rings. DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa is their home!
Why do the bears dance, actually? Why do they obey?
 The way, in which the bears are tamed is by all means a most terrible method. The cubs are trained to dance on hot metal plates. The unfortunate animals jump around in pain, while the same music is playing over and over again. When they hear the music, they "learn" to "dance" immediately because they fear the unbearable pains, caused by the hot metal. This is such an easy way to tame the bears… The nose ring transforms the bear into a slave before the eyes of the spectators. They stare at the show with admiration when they see the huge animal follow its owner like a puppy. They do not know that each step the bear makes causes incredible pain. A single snatch of the rope or the chain makes the powerful animal helpless because the nose and the inferior lip are extremely sensitive. In order to create the horrifying instrument for torment, the nose or the lip of the bear is pierced with a hot metal spike, without any kind of anesthesia. Afterwards, blood and pus ooze continuously and not even a single day passes without pain and suffering.
The existence of dancing bears is illegal in Bulgaria
 Although the ownership of dancing bears is forbidden, many dancing bears are registered throughout the country. Our goal is to free them all, an intention which the Minister of Environment and Waters supports. In the year 2000, FOUR PAWS released the bears Mariana, Stefan and Kalinka and brought them to the natural park in Belitsa. In March 2001, the female bear Stanka arrived in terrible physical condition. On June 11, 2001, the famous dancing bear Gosho and his brother in suffering, Bobby, joined the bears in the park. Two days later, these two bears and the female Mariana were already bathing and playing together while they searched for food in the forest. The park in Belitsa is their new home now. Still, after Mariana, Stefan, Kalinka, Stanka, Gosho and Bobby were released, 19 bears remained in captivity. So far FOUR PAWS succeeded to rescue 22 of all 25 registered dancing bears. The ultimate aim of FOUR PAWS is to help to the last 3 animals, who still go around the streets of Bulgaria. The park waits for them, already ...
The legitimate home of the bears
DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa is located in the Rhila Mauntain, 1200 meters above sea level, about 180 kilometers south of Sofia. The area is covered with natural woods, glades and many water pools, and like the bear park in Arbesbach-Schonfeld, Austraia has many lakes for bathing and caves for hibernation. The park is already a favorite place for both the youth and the old: the students of the Veterinary Faculty of Sofia spent their first summer practice here. The people of Belitsa are very proud of the center and support it by all means.
History of DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa
 FOUR PAWS started the struggle against the torment of bears in Bulgaria in 1999. The project, named DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa was launched in May, a year later. The brown bears Mariana, Stefan and Kalinka were the first dwellers of the park in October 2000. In March 2001, the bear Stanka arrived; Gosho and Bobby joined her in June. The park gives them the opportunity to live like free bears. DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa is located in the midst of an idyllic region, covered with forests, glades and natural waters, where live wild bears. The local authorities fully support the project of FOUR PAWS and hope that it will provoke the interest of the tourists.
The park, occupying 1,2 hectares municipal land, was officially opened on 17th of November 2000. The local priest came to inaugurate the park. The event was visited by 2500 people. The presence of the 200 folk musicians and dancers transformed the opening into a real folk-feast. Only the bears did not participate in the dances.
Dr. Amir Khalil, the project manager of DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa, was delighted: "This park is the first step toward the bright future of the Bulgarian "dancing" bears."
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry gave to Beltsa Municipality 8,6 hectares to be used by FOUR PAWS for its ambitious project. The organization invested in its own land too. The total area of the park is now 12 hectares. We can develop the project only through your donations.
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