The Bear, listed on the RA Animal’s Red Register, which was being kept in Artashat city, Ararat Province, is moved to the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge (CWR) in Urtsadzor with the support of the International Animal Rescue (IAR)

The bear was kept in awful conditions for five years in the same cage, without the necessary minimum conditions and care. According to the caretaker of the bear, the animal is about 9-10 years old. The Ministry of Defense passed it to them about 5 years ago.

The FPWC in partnership with the IAR is continuing the realization of the “Bear Rescue” project, the primary goal of which is providing better conditions for the captive bears, all around Armenia. The animals are being kept in cages mainly due to the human factor, and now they need special care. There are still many captive animals in several entertainment facilities and restaurants, around Armenia, waiting for their turn to be rescued.

The Syrian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos syriacus) is listed in the Red Register of Armenia and now is included in the IUCN Red List (ver.1.1) as “Least Concern”. According to IUCN Red Listing Standards, VU B2ab (iii, iv) it is assessed as Vulnerable. According to the data of Red book of Armenia, the species has a very large habitat (Eurasia and North America). In Armenia, they live in Ararat, Vayots Dzor, Syunik, Tavush, Lori, Kotayk, and Gegharkunik regions.

Sometimes they can be seen at Shirak and Aragatsotn regions. They were spotted on heights ranging from 400-500 to 3,000m. above sea level. According to the RA Red Register, their number is unknown, but it is likely to be stable. The fact that the bears often enter the villages, damaging the fruit orchards and beehives, cannot be considered as a sign of the existence of large numbers. More likely, this is a result of biotopes degradation and lack of feeding resources, which leads to the fragmentation of the animal population.