Max's first steps of freedom

Max's first careful (and shaky!) steps into a new life. Max is a blind bear that spent his life in tiny, rusting cage, has found a new home in the large woodland enclosures of Europe's biggest bear sanctuary, as part of a groundbreaking project funded by WSPA.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• WSPA
• bear
• bears
• romania
• sanctuary
• tim
• minchin
• animal
• protection
• welfare
• animals
• society
• world

[gordonshum]

What a beautiful animal. I hope Max enjoys a peaceful happy life in the sanctuary. I wonder if Max is completely blind, or like some people, if they have less than a certain percentage of sight are condsidered legally blind. I had a cat who was partially blind but never had a problem functioning, especially when it came to finding the food bowl!

[WSPAUK]

I'm Katharine, I work in the WSPA UK press office and was in Romania last year when we released Max into his sanctuary enclosure. He is sadly totally blind - we flew out a team of specialist eye vets to make sure we had done everything we could for his welfare before his release. Luckily, Max has a good sense of smell/hearing and has settled in v. well. He has probably been blind since birth but our bear expert assures me that this is just how Max's world is for him. Thanks for your support :)

[Sezzie86]

Max is absolutely stunning! I recently donated to the International Animal Rescue's appeal for the blind bears in Agra, to buy them items to keep their minds stimulated, such as honey logs & wobble trees :D It's such a pity that these beautiful animals are abused but I hope Max & many others (through the amazing work of animal charities)have the fantastic lives they deserve!