Rescued 'Restaurant Bear' Makes His First Friend

Tomi lived in a cage for almost his entire life. He was kept as a “restaurant bear” in Albania, used as a prop for photos and to attract clientele. Fed only bread and leftovers, Tomi endured four years of this bleak existence until FOUR PAWS stepped in.

FOUR PAWS, a global animal welfare organization, noted that in cases like Tomi’s, it often takes multiple groups working together to secure an animal’s freedom. In his case, they spent months in discussion with his keepers (who viewed him as property) before successfully negotiating his release.

When the time came, FOUR PAWS coordinated with local police and government officials to secure and transport Tomi to Bear Sanctuary Prishtina, one of their sanctuaries in Kosovo.

When Tomi first arrived, he didn’t know what to make of the grass and dirt—having only known concrete and metal. But everything changed when he met Hope, a female bear who became his very first friend.

Watch Tomi’s emotional rescue and see his new life unfold in the video below.