Chada, who was born on Christmas Eve 25 years ago, was brought to the attention of animal rescuers in Ukraine in 2018 when activists discovered her in a tiny cage at a car service station. Zoologist Maryna Shkvyria, 41, who founded the Save Wild foundation with her husband and runs White Rock Bear Shelter near Kyiv, Ukraine, stepped in.
Chada, the elderly circus bear who was rescued and rehabilitated at White Rock Bear Shelter. Courtesy of Save Wild and WHITE ROCK bear shelter
Chada is an endangered Himalayan subspecies of brown bear, one of only several hundred left in the world. Many are still in circuses or held in private captivity and can live to around the age of 30.
“It’s a beautiful day, a nervous day, of course, when we open the box and, for the first time, the bear can go out and see grass and water, trees, the bush,” Ms. Shkvyria said. “Most bears, they are too scared to go out on the first day. … They are afraid of these new smells, new senses, bears in neighboring [enclosures].
Chada’s former keepers had fed her human food, including sugary treats, and, as a result, she suffered from rotten teeth and a damaged digestive system. After quarantine and veterinary checks, sanctuary staff developed a special diet for Chada—to help her body recover from decades of confinement—comprising saltwater fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and goat’s cheese.
Chada enjoying her new life at White Rock Bear Shelter. Courtesy of Matasova Daryna via Save Wild
Sanctuary staff have made several adaptations to Chada’s enclosure to help her acclimatize including moving her to a space with a smaller pool, since she loves to splash, and teaching her to play with toys.
While Chada does not like people, and the staff respect her space, she’s learned to recognize the sound of the gates opening for veterinary visits and will walk herself to the right location. She cannot integrate with other bears though since she is so small but will communicate with her “neighbors” through the fence surrounding her enclosure and will even sniff or rub paws and noses with them.
After four years in her safe sanctuary home, Chada has become “very self-confident and much more calm,” compared to when she first arrived. But rescuing an elderly bear is bittersweet, said Ms. Shkvyria, since their painful past cannot be undone.
