Restaurant bear Mici moves to a new location after two decades
Slovenia is set to bid farewell to its last privately owned bear, Mici, as animal welfare organisation Vier Pfoten announced her upcoming transfer. The 24-year-old bear has spent over two decades living in a cage next to a restaurant, but her days of confinement are numbered.
Mici is one of the two remaining bears in private ownership in Slovenia. Efforts are underway to move the bear to a bear park in Austria, which would make her the last bear in private ownership in the country if the transfer is successful.
The private keeping of bears and other dangerous wild animals in Slovenia is expected to be banned by summer 2026, following recent changes to the animal protection law. This ban is a part of the country's ongoing efforts to improve animal welfare and ensure the safety of its citizens.
The ban on private keeping of bears and dangerous wild animals is a result of the recent changes to the animal protection law. The new law will make it illegal for individuals to keep bears and other dangerous wild animals as pets or in private zoos without a valid license.
The bear park in Austria where Mici is expected to be moved is known as Bear Forest Müritz. It is a facility that houses brown bears rescued from poor keeping conditions. The Bear Forest team is preparing for Mici's arrival in November.
Similarly, efforts are underway to move another privately owned bear, Tim, to the Bear Protection Centre in the Mecklenburg Lake District. Tim currently lives in a private zoo without a valid license. If Tim is moved to the bear park, he would be the last bear in private ownership in Slovenia.
The Slovenian animal protection law is undergoing significant changes, and the ban on private keeping of bears and dangerous wild animals is just one aspect of these changes. The law is expected to have a positive impact on the welfare of these animals and ensure they are provided with appropriate living conditions.
The exact details of Mici's transfer to the bear park in Austria are yet to be revealed. However, it is clear that Mici and other bears in private ownership in Slovenia will soon have a new home where they can live in a more natural and humane environment.
