Abused Peruvian ex-circus bear’s rehabilitation

This video says about itself:

Cholita the bear takes her first steps to freedom!

1 May 2015

Cholita the ‘real-life Paddington bear‘ who was abused at the circus and captured the world’s hearts has taken her first steps to freedom with Animal Defenders International (ADI). The hairless bear was signed into the organisation’s custody and rescued in a two day mission. Cholita is now safe in the ADI ‘Spirit of Freedom’ rescue centre where she is receiving specialist care ahead of her flight to the United States where she will enjoy a new life along with 33 lions who have been rescued from circuses across Peru and Colombia by ADI.

Find out more about ADI’s campaign to save Cholita and our Operation Spirit of Freedom rescue here.

From Wildlife Extra:

Film footage show Cholita the abused ex-circus bear taking first steps to freedom

The abused circus bear Cholita rescued from a zoo in Peru by Animal Defenders International (ADI) has taken her first steps to freedom.

Cholita is an endangered Spectacled bear who was kept illegally by a circus. The stress and trauma of her living conditions has left Cholita suffering from severe hair loss – where she should have thick, black fur she has none, leaving her almost completely bald.

Other scars of her abusive past include fingers brutally cut down to stumps to remove her front claws, and broken teeth, leaving her defenceless.

She is now at the rescue centre in Peru where, for the first time in her life, she is nesting in straw, enjoying a natural diet including her favourite grapes, playing in her bath while being closely monitored to establish her level of health ahead of her flight to the United States where she will enjoy a new life along with 34 big cats who have been rescued from circuses across Peru and Colombia.

ADI President Jan Creamer said, “Cholita has taken her first steps to freedom and is clearly enjoying herself at the ADI rescue centre, making cosy deep straw nests and eating her favourite foods, especially grapes. She is elderly and quite frail so we are keeping her under close observation to monitor her health. With the public’s continuing and heartfelt response we can give this sweet bear the brighter future she deserves.”

Cholita was confiscated from a circus in Peru ten years ago and has been living in a zoo near Piura ever since, as no suitable permanent home could be found for her due to her poor health and lack of hair.

Peruvian authorities requested that ADI find a home for Cholita, along with the 33 lions and a tiger saved during the ADI Operation Spirit of Freedom rescue mission, planned for rehoming at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in the US. Over the past eight months ADI has assisted Peru’s wildlife officials with the enforcement of the country’s ban on wild animals in circuses, and has started the same process to save animals from Colombia’s circuses.

Cholita’s rescue brings the number of animals saved by ADI since August last year, to 79. ADI has worked with Peru’s authorities to raid circuses all over the country in the biggest rescue and enforcement operation of its kind. During the mission, the organisation has also saved dozens of monkeys and other animals from the illegal wildlife trade.