Bears are truly magnificent creatures, and in my opinion, they belong in their natural habitat, not confined to captivity.
The story of these two bears only strengthens that conviction.
For ten agonizing years, Misha and Dasha, two brown bears, were trapped in a small, rusty cage outside a restaurant in Armenia. Their sole purpose was to act as tourist attractions. With no room to roam and no mental stimulation, they spent their days endlessly pacing, climbing the bars, or banging their heads against the cold metal, trying to cope with the harsh and monotonous life they were forced to endure.
To make matters worse, their cage was placed dangerously close to a riverbank, leaving them vulnerable to seasonal floods. One year, a disaster nearly occurred when rising river waters engulfed their cage, putting them in grave danger of drowning. The helpless bears were trapped behind iron bars, unable to escape the rising water.
“Several years ago, the river flooded, and the bears came close to drowning,” said Lis Key, PR and communications manager for International Animal Rescue (IAR). “The rescue team had to cut through the cages to free them. They must have been trapped when the river flooded and were at serious risk of drowning.”
For years, IAR worked relentlessly alongside the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) to convince the restaurant owners to release the bears. Their tireless efforts finally paid off.
The rescue team arrived, equipped with tools to cut through the steel that had kept Misha and Dasha imprisoned for a decade.
Once freed, the bears were sedated and transported to a sanctuary located in the mountains — a place where they could finally live the life they had been denied for so long. It was there that they were given the freedom to roam, explore, and simply live as bears.
Then, something remarkable happened. As winter arrived, Misha and Dasha settled into a cave to hibernate. But when spring came, the world was shocked to learn that Dasha had given birth to two cubs.
Rescuers were amazed. No one had known that Dasha was pregnant at the time of her rescue. “She received all the care she needed after being freed — fruits, vegetables, nuts, and honey — to gain weight and prepare for hibernation. But no one guessed her hearty appetite was due to pregnancy,” explained Vicky Mkrtchyan, environmental projects coordinator for FPWC.
Dasha, once a symbol of suffering and captivity, had become a devoted mother, fiercely protecting and nurturing her cubs in the safety of her new home.
“It was already uplifting to see Dasha freed from the barren cage by the river and begin to show interest in life and her surroundings,” Mkrtchyan said. “Now, seeing her with her two little cubs is simply beautiful. It’s deeply moving to reflect on her miserable life behind bars and then see her now — a natural mother, protecting her cubs with all the love and care she can give.”
From years of suffering to a future full of hope, Misha and Dasha’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the tireless efforts of animal rights advocates. Their story is a reminder that no animal should ever have to endure a life of cruelty for human entertainment.
Today, Dasha and her cubs are thriving, and thanks to the dedication of those who fought for their freedom, they will never again have to suffer.
Watch their inspiring rescue below, and please SHARE to help raise awareness about the fight to end animal captivity.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible!