On October 6, the professional team of the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC), in cooperation with the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body (EPMIB), rescued two bears kept in captivity from the "Hrashq Aygi" restaurant complex and transferred them to the Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC).

According to information provided by the restaurant’s caretaker, the pair had been kept in captivity at the restaurant for more than 10 years. During that time, the female bear regularly gave birth to cubs, whose subsequent fate and whereabouts remain unknown. According to the caretaker, the female bear is currently pregnant again, which requires an even more vigilant and professional approach from the veterinary team.

The operation proceeded in accordance with established medical standards: chemical immobilization (sedation) of the animals was carried out by the FPWC veterinary team under constant monitoring of vital signs (respiration, heart rate, body temperature). The transportation passed without complications, and the animals safely woke up in the specialized enclosure at the Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC).

Currently, the animals are undergoing a mandatory quarantine period, during which the following are being carried out:

Comprehensive veterinary diagnostics: laboratory testing, parasitological examinations, and vaccinations.

Gradual diet adjustment: transitioning from improper feeding in captivity to a balanced, semi-natural scheduled diet.

Behavioral monitoring: assessing the extent of stereotypic (pathological) behavior caused by years of captivity.

Following the completion of the quarantine phase, the bears will be transferred to WRC’s spacious, semi-natural enclosures.

Having spent more than a decade in captivity, these animals have lost their natural instincts and, unfortunately, can no longer return to the wild. FPWC, together with its main international partner, International Animal Rescue (IAR), is assuming their guardianship, ensuring dignified conditions, essential medical care, and specialized behavioral enrichment programs.

FPWC continues its consistent steps toward ending illegal wild animal captivity in Armenia and bringing wildlife protection to a new level.