Martin and Cenusareasa (Romanian for Cindarella), two bear cubs held captive near a restaurant in the Romanian mountain resort of Straja, were freed last weekend and sent to the Libearty reservation in the nearby town of Zarnesti.
The move was part of a campaign organized by the “Millions of Friends” Association with support from HotNews.ro, the National Geographic Romania and the Radio 21 station.
A representative for the Libearty bear reservation says that a third cub is still held captive but would soon be released as well.
The Libearty-Millions of Friends Association, HotNews.ro and other partners have launched a campaign to free bears held captive abusively across Romania.
Democratic Party (PD) official Ioan Oltean announced last weekend that people who hold and treat animals abusively would be sanctioned with up to three years in prison as changes to the current law on the protection of animals expect parliamentary approval.
