“Bears were held under cruel conditions in many places across the country, both before and even after the revolution. Bears kept in circuses or as pets in confined cages, used for bear-dancing or tied in front of restaurants, were mostly severely underfed. To rescue these animals a special safety shelter, the Libearty Bear Sanctuary, was founded in the mountains near Zărnești in 2005. These days more than seventy bears live in the 70 hectares of oak forest. The bear in the photograph arrived with its sibling in 2006. The then two-year-old cubs were in such bad condition that it took nearly five years for them to completely recover. Although before – or even after – the revolution bears were not regarded as animals of some value requiring special protection, Ceaușescu banned the general hunting of bears, keeping the privilege for himself alone.”